Page 72 of For Fox Sake

“Thank you. It is weird, but it’s also kind of not, if that makes sense?”

She leans back with a chuckle. “It does make sense, in a strange way.”

It’s like when I met Jake. What’s weird is that it’s not uncomfortable or awkward. Maybe it’s because of Aria and that connection between our families. Maybe it’s because they are such a welcoming group. I only had Mia and Mom for most of my life, so I’m not used to a large, rowdy family.

“It’s pie time, the most wonderful time of the year.” Jake appears in the doorway, a pie box in his hands while Ari is on his back, laughing and having a grand time.

“Pie for dinner and pie for dessert,” Archer says.

Jake groans, setting the pie on the table. “For the last time, pizza is not a pie, just like a hot dog is not a sandwich.”

“Not this again,” Finley says under her breath, right as the whole table explodes into loud and rambunctious debate.

Chapter Nineteen

Jake

Mindy rests a hand on Taylor’s shoulder. “She’s right, Jake. There’s even a song. Something about the moon hitting your eye like a big pizza pie, or whatever.”

Ugh. They’re ganging up on me now. I shake my head in disgust. “I miss when you two hated each other. Family dinner just isn’t the same.”

Taylor lifts her brows. “Are you saying you enjoyed it when we would start yelling at each other randomly?”

“Yes. Someone would start a fight, people would stomp off, and then someone else could eat their feelings by devouring the food left behind.”

Archer, standing at the head of the table cutting up the grape pie, hands Ryan a slice. “It’s Jake. He was the one eating all the food left behind.”

I cross my arms over my chest and shrug. “I don’t believe in food waste.”

“How very noble of you,” Piper says drily.

“I think so.”

We laugh and talk and eat the pie. Every time I glance over at Ryan, she and Finley are leaning close, chatting with each other. Ari is in my lap, her mouth smeared with fruit from the pie.

The whole scene spreads contentment through my bones. I’ve always loved time with my family, chatting, debating, and laughing with them, but it’s like Ryan and Ari’s presence adds an extra layer of satisfaction.

Once the pie has been demolished, Taylor, Atticus, Mindy, and Luke all bail for the night. They have work in the morning because of the upcoming festival, and Mindy and Luke are staying with them at their place, on the other side of town.

With their departure, the volume in the room cuts in half.

Ari yanks on my hand, jumping up and down. “What are we doing now?”

Ryan winces. “I’m afraid after the nap on the plane and all that sugar in the pie, someone is a little hyper.”

I shrug. “It’s only about six back in Dull.”

“True.”

Archer grabs a stack of dirty plates and cups, heading toward the kitchen. “You can take her down to firepit one. We have glow-in-the-dark ring toss and one of those giant-sized Connect Four games.”

“Yes!” Ari shouts, the hopping growing more enthusiastic.

We pile into a couple of golf carts parked on the side of the house, Ari, Ryan, Piper, and me in one, and Archer, Finley and Oliver in another, and drive down into camp to the main firepit.

Archer lights the fire, and Piper and Finley pull out the games.

After about an hour of ring toss and Connect Four, her boundless energy finally starts to ebb.

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