Ready For It (MacAteer Brothers #2) - M.L. Nystrom Page 0,36

argue.”

“Maybe he needs to kiss my ass.”

“That’s an all-day job.”

“You can kiss my ass, too.”

She laughed. I’m so lucky to have her as my BFF. Our banter might sound mean to other people, but I had no doubt she would always have my back. One distressed phone call would bring her and her family to stand with me no matter what.

I pulled out an unopened box of Little Debbie Swiss Rolls. I had another one of Zebra Cakes and Oatmeal Creme Pies in there as well. Her eyes lit up.

“You gonna share? If I buy those things for the kids, the most I get is a sniff before they’re devoured by the voracious mob.”

I ripped open the box, tearing off the lock tab in the process. They wouldn’t last long here either between the two of us horking them down. Besides that, there remained the potential of a juvenile or two in the hallway getting the scent and bringing the whole herd. “Knock yourself out.”

I tossed her one double pack and tore open another for myself. Oooooh, yeah baby! Rich oversweet creamy chocolate goodness!

“You coming to the game tonight?”

“Probably not. I’m really beat, and I have the summons to deal with on Saturday.” I shoved an entire roll in my mouth and chomped down. The decadent flavor burst on my tongue, and I groaned with appreciation. The morning sickness had gone away and left me in a perpetual state of hunger. I alternated cravings between sweet and salty. Mostly sweet. I even kept a stash of snack cakes in my kitchen and on the nightstand in my bedroom. I wasn’t usually a dessert-eating person, but these days I couldn’t resist those uber-sugary sweet treats. Mattie and I had a lot in common for the time being.

Beverly tore open her own pack. “Do you have to go to that vipers’ den?”

I shifted the massive bite to one cheek before answering. “It’s easier to give in than argue. I tried skipping out before, and it took them years to get over it. I still hear about that one missed party even now. I’ll make my rounds to keep my mother happy, glad-hand a few people, avoid Magnus like the plague, and get the hell outta there. I figure two hours should do it, then I’m not obligated again until next year.” My words were garbled with the masticated wad I had in my mouth, but manners be damned. This was Little Debbie!

“After the shitstorm last time you went there, I don’t want you to go by yourself.”

I grinned at Bevvie’s mama bear face. “You wanna come with me? Maybe I’ll take Mattie and let him swim in the fountain. That would make Magnus’s head explode.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “Mellie-Jellie, you are such a PITA.”

I blew out a crumb-filled raspberry at her. “You love me.”

“Yes, I do, but you’re still a big, fat PITA. I was thinking more on the lines of Owen.”

“Owen? Why?”

She dropped the wrapper in the trash can and ticked off her points finger by finger. “One, he’s big. Big enough no one will mess with him. Two, his quiet nature is intimidating when he wants it to be, and I’m sure he will want it to be at this shindig. Three, he’s protective of you. Four, it will make me feel a lot better knowing someone like him has your back for those two hours.”

I swallowed the mass in my mouth, and my throat worked to get it down in one go. “So you’re saying Owen needs to be my plus one because it makes you feel good?”

“Yes.”

I wanted to laugh. I really did, but the sincerity on Bevvie’s face had me thinking. It wasn’t such a bad idea to have someone I liked go with me. I thought about it for a hot minute. Owen did look intimidating. He might not scare Magnus, but I bet he would keep the other vultures off me. She was also right in that he seemed protective of me. After my last disastrous family gathering, he’d given me a long hug when I showed up at the MacAteer house. He kept our hotel night secret between us, and I’d been around him enough times to be comfortable with him. In fact, when I was with him, I felt safe. More than that. I felt… I felt… fuck, I couldn’t examine that right now.

I picked up my second roll, this time only biting half off so I could talk without looking