Page 63 of Savage Heart

“I just had to deal with Millie Claire.”

“Oh. Enough said.” She leans her head on my arm. “Mom made mac and cheese. That should make you feel better.”

That does perk me up. She makes the best. “Is any left?”

“Yes.” She snorts. “I guess I’ll let your foul attitude slide since you were practically a saint for the past two weeks.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Charlie says. She grins up at me. “But you were pretty great with the kids.”

“God, you’re making me sound like an ogre.” I move toward the table, mac and cheese my only goal.

“You are the ogre,” Cameron says. “Was there ever any doubt?”

He cuts in front of me and spoons a huge helping of mac and cheese on his plate.

I grab another spoon and slide it off his plate and onto mine.

“What the fuck?” he says, half laughing, half outraged.

“You wanna see an ogre, cut in front of me again.”

He puts his hand on my head and roughs my hair up. “You are so adorable when you’re hungry.”

I bare my teeth, and he just laughs.

“Mav’s been on his best behavior too long,” Grady says, grinning at me. “We all have. It’s nice to not have dozens of eyes on me all day long, assessing my every move.” He goes to the apple pie and takes out two massive slices, slapping them onto his plate. “And I can take however much fucking pie I want.”

“Who are these animals in my kitchen?” Mom says, scowling at all of us. She puts her finger in Grady’s face. “You’re not too old for me to wash your mouth out with soap, Grady Harrington.”

He sets his pie down and lifts her off her feet in a hug, until she’s laughing so hard, she can’t speak.

I chuckle under my breath. We’ve all officially lost it.

“How you holding up, Son?” Dad asks.

“Doing all right. Glad to have camp behind us. As everyone else is, it seems.”

He nods and runs his hand over his beard. “Can’t say I minded having all those kiddos running around here. Made me miss when you all were little, but that’s nothing new, is it?” He chuckles. “Sure wish you’d get after giving me some grandkids,” he says loudly, looking us all over.

We all groan.

He points at Grady and me. “You’re not getting any younger. I’d like to be young enough to give them a run for their money, so get after it.” He claps his hands together once. “Pronto.”

“If only it were as easy as a hand clap,” Grady says.

“In my day, I just thought about a hand clap, and your mom was pregnant,” Dad says, grabbing my mom around the waist.

“Hatcher!” she says, mortified.

“What?” He laughs.

“What do I have to do to find the whiskey around here?” Uncle Clive says, moving through the kitchen.

The mood sobers instantly, and my dad straightens, looking at his brother.

“Hey, haven’t seen you in a while,” he says, putting his hand on Uncle Clive’s shoulder.

“Don’t act like you didn’t get me tossed out of here while those kids were taking over this place,” Uncle Clive slurs.