Sugar Rush

23- It's Like High School in One House

“I won’t be able to live longer if you won’t let go.” I choked the words out and wondered if he actually understood. I took it as a yes when he let go of me and immediately I started gasping for my dear oxygen.

Thankfully, Andrea had left us as soon as she realized that the attention was now on Marcus who tried to squeeze me to death.

“Dani owes fifty bucks.” Marcus smirked, stating proudly.

I shook my head at him. I can’t believe they betted again on me! Didn’t they have anything else fun to do? Or have anything to work on? It seemed like I wasn’t the only one disappointed. Dorothy was shaking her head too.

Half an hour later, dinner was served. We never hired a caterer to provide us with the food or drinks because my mom and aunts and uncles were good cooks. I was in charge with the desserts (no surprise there, but my mom always makes the sorbet is it’s all good) and had them delivered yesterday. My mom loved to cook and bake and I guess that’s where I got my passion for baking.

My sister however didn’t share any passion with us that had something to do with the kitchen except for eating. We seemed pretty good at that.

“You’re right.” Blake said beside me, nodding to himself. “The wings, they are delicious.”

“Told you so.” I gave him a cheeky grin as I devoured my own chicken wing. With a stupid move, I took the wing and raised to eye level and turned to Blake. He looked at me weirdly at first, wondering what the hell I was doing before proceeding to do the exact same thing.

“Cheers to….” Blake trailed off, looking for the right word.

“Delicious wings.” I finished as we both touched our food together in midair before continuing to eat them. We received a few disapproving glances from my aunts and uncles and few more amused looks from my cousins.

“Aunt Beth!” The familiar voice echoed throughout the noisy room and suddenly I get hugged by Liam. He was hugging my side tightly, like he hasn’t seen me in years; it has been less than twenty four hours after our last encounter.

I dropped the wing on my plate and cleaned my fingers with a paper towel before carrying Liam on my lap. “Hey kid. How are you doing?”

“I missed you!” he squealed, jumping on my lap. “And Al-ee, and- where’s Al-ee?”

He asked Blake when his eyes landed on Allie’s father who sat beside me with a chicken wing in one hand and a glass of water in the other. Blake dropped the bird on the plate and wiped his fingers with the paper towel.

“She’s staying over with her grandparents.” Blake answered the curious child who was on my lap. Liam frowned, and looked down, his head nodding slowly.

“Where’s your mom?”

“Aw, my baby sister missed me.” Reese appeared with a grin as she took the empty seat beside me. “I knew you would.”

“Keep dreaming.” I rolled my eyes at her.

My sister made a face before turning her attention to the person beside me, completely ignoring her four year old son who was busy spooning all the cake I got for dessert in his mouth on my lap- he didn’t eat his dinner yet.

“And you must be Blake?”

“Yes, I am.” Blake replied. “Reese?”

Reese nodded as Blake offered his hand out to shake hers. Her smile grew wide as she sent me a look, a look that said ‘I approve big time and I expect to an aunt tomorrow so move fast’.  I mouthed a ‘shut up’ to her. She smirked, telling me that I shouldn’t have done that.