“Sit down,” Jason orders.“You’re the special guest.”
“I live here.“
“Unh-uh.” He takes the pitcher from me. “Sit,” he orders, pointing to the dining room table.
I roll my eyes, heading for the table while Damian laughs. Jason busies himself in the kitchen and I sit with Alana and Mike.
“Your son is bossy,” I tell them.
“We noticed,” Mike says, laughing.
“He’s lucky I like him.”
Alana reaches across the table and pats my hand. “We all are, honey.”
Hunter arrives and helps Jason and Damian in the kitchen. Then, Andrew, Rose, and Arissa return with enough food to feed an army. Alana and I get up to help.
Jason points to me. “Sit.”
I sigh dramatically, having learned well from Arissa, and plant myself back in the chair.
“Jason,” Andrew says, “would you prefer to start the grill or season the steaks?”
“Your home, your grill. I’ll take the steaks.”
“Can I help, please?” I ask.
“No,” Jason answers, clacking a pair of tongs at me.
“Meanie.”
“I love you too.” He gives me a playful grin.
I glance at Mike. “Why did you have to have a son who is so adorable, it’s hard to stay mad at him?”
Mike shrugs. “I had to have a carbon copy of me.”
We break into easy laughter, the kind that is carefree and conveys joy without the hardship we live with daily. The kind that makes you forget everything wrong and horrible in your life.
“What is with them?” I ask Alana, joking.
“Try living with them,” Alana chimes in.
“Mom!” Jason cocks his head to the side, then sets his hand over his heart. “You wound me.”
Alana throws a dish towel at him and he catches it easily.
Everyone moves around the kitchen in a whirlwind. Arissa chops vegetables. Alana mixes together some dressings. Rose pulls out more pitchers and brews more tea. Damian scrubs potatoes at the sink and wraps them in foil. Jason lays out the steaks on a tray and uses the tongs to flip them over, seasoning both sides. Hunter gets out the plates and utensils. I’m dizzy from watching.
Andrew slides the glass door open and pokes his head inside. “Mike, would you like to come outside?”
“I’d love to.”
Andrew wheels Mike out while I roll my glass of tea between my hands. Jason strolls over and nuzzles my nose with his.
“You’re obstinate,” I whisper.
“Yeah, but you still love me.” He grins, placing a warm kiss on my nose, then grabbing a red plastic cup.
Rose sets out an ice bucket and a fresh pitcher of tea on the table.
“Just what I wanted!” Jason exclaims. Rose snickers as he takes the lid off the ice bucket and scoops out ice with his cup. He pours himself some tea and joins Andrew and Mike outside.
Hunter sits next to me, draping his arm over my shoulder. “You okay?”
I rest my head on him. “Relieved.”
He tugs me close and sets his head on mine. Arissa drops a serving bowl on the table and startles us.
“Jeez, Riss. Careful with that.”
She glares at me and I give her a questioning look. Her glower flickers to Hunter. His arm falls off my shoulders and he resumes work in the kitchen. She plants her hands on the table and leans in. “You said you were just friends.”
“We are.”
“You look too cozy to be just friends.”
I thought she understood my friendship with him after his party.
“Draw me a picture,” she says.
“Seriously?”
She stares at me and points to the sliding glass door. “Your boyfriend is outside,” she stabs the table, “and you’re in here with Hunter’s arm around you looking like he’s the one who’s your boyfriend.”
I press my lips together for a moment. “I spent most of my life without anyone giving me physical affection. No one hugged me until I met you or your parents. I was like a dying plant that was finally watered regularly, only to thirst in the midst of another drought.
“Hunter was my water. He hugged me, he held me, he let me cry on his shoulder. He was there for me the morning after Manny tried to rape me.
“He knew I loved Jason and never made a move on me. Not once. Don’t you think if he was going to, it would’ve been when Jason was out of the picture and not when I’m back with him?”
“How do I know he didn’t?”
I hit the table with the side of my fist, drawing stares from the kitchen. “Because I said he didn’t and I’m your best