I rubbed my hands together as Damien put it on my plate. “Come to mama.”
“Tell me that in bed tonight,” he said, making me grin. “Please.”
At that moment, Alec walked out of the kitchen and into the back garden. When his eyes landed on me, he sucked in a startled breath, and Branna looked like she was about to run away as I bit into the first grilled burger of the summer.
“Branna,” he all but snarled, his eyes on the burger I held tightly. “What in God’s name is this?”
“Um …” She twitched. “Ye’ … ye’ said years ago that she could be your stand-in for first servin’s if you were ever absent or late to a meal.”
“That privilege was revoked the second she broke my favourite cup!”
“Well, how was I supposed to know that?”
“Because you know me!” Alec stressed.
“I’m sorry, okay?”
He put his back to Branna.
“The betrayal,” he said and placed his hand over his chest. “It runs deep.”
Nico rolled his eyes at his older brother’s dramatics as he bounced Georgie on his knee while everyone else watched the scene unfold with amusement.
“This tastes so good,” I hummed. “It’s really incredible.”
Alec spun around and pointed at me, his hand shaking with obvious anger. “You and me are blood enemies from this day forth, Ryan!”
I had no idea what a blood enemy was, and I didn’t care.
“Fine by me, tight arse.”
Keela covered up a laugh by covering her mouth with both of her hands while Alec glared holes into my forehead.
“I’ll make it up to ye’,” Branna said to Alec, slightly gaining his attention. “In fact, I’ve an offerin’ that will make up for this situation right now.”
“How?” he demanded, refusing to look at her. “That monster used my cup, then fucking broke it, and now she has eaten the sacred first grilled feast of summer. What can you possibly do to make this better?”
“I’ve a bigger plate made up with your name on it.”
I heard Alec swallow. “How big of a plate are we talking here, Branna?”
Hook, line, and sinker.
“Practically triple what everyone else is gettin’.”
His four brothers cursed in outrage while Alec turned to face Branna with the biggest smile I had ever seen on his too attractive face.
“I accept your offering and forgive you for feeding Pennywise first.”
I rolled my eyes, not offended.
“You’d sell your own child for a plate of dinner.”
Alec bared his teeth and hissed at me while holding up his hands and putting his two fingers together to form the symbol of a cross.
“Be gone, demon spawn.”
I opened my mouth so he could see the half-eaten burger and then closed it when he pulled a face of disgust.
“You’re gross,” Alec informed me.
I swallowed then smiled. “Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Sure, it was,” I beamed. “You’ve practically just told me ye’ love me.”
Alec’s left eye twitched. “I’m going to shove the rest of that damn burger into your mouth.”
I chuckled as I put the burger down and got to my feet.
“I got ye’ somethin’,” I said as I grabbed the small bag that sat next to the doorway.
“You got me something?”
“Yeah,” I answered Alec. “Though I’m not sure you deserve it.”
He snatched the bag from my grasp before I could finish my sentence. He rustled through it, then removed a box from the inside. Alec sucked in a sharp breath when he realised what I had gotten him.
“You did not!”
I most definitely did.
“Alannah!” He beamed as he removed his brand new, extra-large Harry Potter Mischief Manage cup from the box. “It’s huge!”
“That’s what she said,” I answered, making everyone snort.
Everyone except Alec, who walked inside the house, brought his cup over to the kettle and switched it on. I followed him, leaned on the counter, and together, we waited for the kettle to boil. When the switch flipped, Alec popped a tea bag into his new cup, filled it with boiling water, and leaned down and watched the blackness fade, revealing the secret footsteps and popular Harry Potter book quote.
I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.
“I’ve missed this so much,” he said and looked at me. “Thank you.”
I nodded. “You’re welcome.”
“Now.” He grinned, his grey eyes shining. “Never fucking touch my cup again.”
I grinned. “No promises.”
“No promises, Lord Alec,” he corrected.
I scowled. “I still think it was a fluke that Tyson barked and ran to find you when Keela’s water broke.”
“You lost the bet, stick to your terms. You have to call me Lord Alec for one whole month.”
“I hate ye’ … Lord Alec.”
Alec beamed. “This is one of the best days of my life. I want you to know that, demon spawn.”
I huffed.
“You all need to admit that I’m the baby whisperer and the dog whisperer. Things would just be easier if you accept the gift that is me. I’m a blessing. I’m practically a modern-day Jesus.”