Page 130 of Make the Play

Like clockwork, a high-pitched voice yells, “UNCLE CHAAAAASE!”

Footsteps thunder down the hallway, and two tiny, sugar-powered missiles called Meadow and Noah explode into the room.

“Can we have waffles for dinner?” Noah asks, skidding across the hardwood in socks.

“Uncle Chase! I made you a bracelet!” Meadow beams, holding up something sparkly and vaguely glue-scented.

Chase drops to one knee like she’s presenting a royal heirloom.

“Are you serious? This isincredible. Can I wear it right now?”

Meadow nods so hard her pigtails bounce. “Only if younevertake it off.”

“I would die before I betray you,” he says solemnly.

“Oh mygod,” I mutter. “They’ve formed a cult.”

Jake appears again, keys in one hand, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, and a piece of loose string tangled in his hair. “Okay. Okay, I think we’re ready.”

“Youareready,” Charlie says, stepping into his space and picking the string from his hair. “Now go get in the car before I have this baby on the damn welcome mat.”

Jake swallows hard. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” She kisses him quickly, then turns to the rest of us. “Waffles are fine for dinner. Screen time only once you start to lose the will to live. Meadow needs her unicorn plushie to sleep, Noah’s been trying to reprogram the toaster, and bedtime is firm at eight.”

I nod. “We’ve got this.”

Charlie arches a single eyebrow, looking between the two of us, clearly assessing our chances of survival. Chase is now wearing a glitter bracelet, while Noah’s halfway up his back like a monkey.

“Good luck!” She winks at me, then waddles out the door.

***

Ten minutes later, I’m in the kitchen trying to find something vaguely vegetable-adjacent to make for dinner while Meadow sprints through the hallway screaming about evil queens, and Noah’s trying to convince Chase to let him watchJohn Wick.

“It’s got a dog,” Noah argues. “It’s basically a dog movie.”

“It’s a dogrevengemovie,” I call over my shoulder. “And you’re seven.”

“I’m almost eight!”

Chase ruffles his hair. “He’s got a point. I watchedGladiatorwhen I was six.”

I whip around. “Absolutely not. You’re not corrupting these children in a single evening.”

“Too late,” he mutters, grabbing a toy gun off the shelf. “What’s this? Tactical artillery?”

“That’s mine!” Noah yells, snatching it out of his hands. “And girlsaren’tallowed to use it.”

Meadow appears from the hallway, righteous fury in her eyes. “Yes, weARE!”

Chase grins, eyes lighting up in the worst possible way. “Boys versus girls?”

“Oh no,” I say, backing up. “No, I—”

“Nerf battle!” Meadow shrieks, launching a foam dart directly into my chest.

I stare at her, betrayed. “I carried you up the stairs when you were three.”

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