Page 96 of Feels Like Home

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"Aidan!Stop. You’re putting too muchon!”

“There’s never too much, Bri. Do you knowanything?”

“I know a heck of a lot more than you do, obviously. And I’m saying it’s toomuch.”

“Reece. Tell her she’swrong.”

“I’m staying out of it. Just minding my own business overhere.”

“You’re such a suckup!”

“How is that sucking up? I’m saying I’m neutral. Not getting involved in whatever weird crap you two have goingon.”

I look at Christine and shrug my shoulders. Her wide smile proving that our extra time spent alone before joining the kids was definitely worthit.

In more ways thanone.

I wasn’t kidding when I said that she’s been a little out of it lately. Way more emotional than normal, but considering she’s sending Bri off to college soon, I getit.

“What are they talking about?” Christinewhispers.

“I have noidea.”

“Enough already! It will just be soggy and gross. Ugh. Move over and let me doit.”

“You don’t know everything, Bri. Just let ushelp.”

“Guys! Dad is going to be here any minute with Christine, and we want this done, right? Just…” We both hear Reece sigh like he’s irritated. “Stop arguing and work it out. It’s like one of our last nights together before Bri ditches us, and I don’t want to spend it fighting. Can’t we do one with extra andregular?”

I glance down at Christine as we stand on the other side of the wall that separates the kitchen and the living room while we eavesdrop on our kids. How they didn’t hear us walk in the house, I’ll neverknow.

“Regular? See! I knew you were taking herside.”

“Holy crap. Why are you acting like agirl?”

“Hey! I feel like I should beoffended.”

“Why?”

“Duh. ’Cause I’m agirl.”

“But you’re not like agirlgirl. You’re justBri.”

“Umm,thanks?”

I press my lips together. My how their image of her has changed. No longer are they harboring any crush-like feelings forher.

“They’re full on siblings now, huh?” Christine whispers, but her voicequivers.

I nod then look down at her. “You’re going to cry again, aren’tyou?”

“Shut up! I can’t help it,” she says through giggling tears as she wipes under hereyes.

I shake my head then pull her into the kitchen but stop short when I see what they were arguingover.

The kitchen counter is littered with ingredients. Pizza sauce, a half-empty package of pepperoni, chopped green peppers and onions, crumbled sausage, a can of mushrooms, and lots (and lots) of cheese. It looks like they even tried making their own pizzacrust.

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