Page 30 of Night of the Living Manny
The front door opened, then shut. Susanna strode into the kitchen, where she dropped her backpack on the floor before slumping dramatically into a chair at the table. “OMG, guys.”
Peter deliberately ignored her, but Britt widened her eyes. “What happened?”
“Well, first Mrs. Leon called in sick. Like, really sick. She went to the hospital with all these hives last night. But that wasn’t even the freakiest thing.” Her eyes sparkled; she was the center of attention, and she knew it.
“What was the weirdest thing?” Peter asked, sotto voce. He was playing along but making sure they all knew he wasn’t really interested.
“There was this weird guy who ran out in front of our car at a stoplight. Shelly’s mom almost hit him. He was all dirty and gross.”
Brenden frowned. “Not a lot of homeless types here, are there?”
“No. That was why it was so scary!” Susanna shook her head. “Anyway, I have to practice my choir stuff for next week. What’s for supper?”
“Pot roast.”
She sniffed. “Well, I hope Dad comes home. He loves that stuff.”
“Would you like me to make a big salad to go with it?”
She gave him a suspicious look. “You would do that?”
“Of course I would. We could all use some roughage.” He bit back his smile.
“Cool. Thanks.” She beamed at him before heading off upstairs.
“You know you don’t have to suck up to her,” Peter said.
“I know that, kiddo, but your dad says she prefers less meaty stuff, so I can add a salad. Is there something you want for dessert?”
Peter’s eyes went wide. “I get to pick?”
“As long as it’s something I have the stuff to make it.” He didn’t have time to run to the store, but he had a huge list of supplies that were in the pantry.
“Boston cream pie.”
Brenden blinked. “Hey, I can do that.” There was a mix in the pantry. It was called something else, but it was essentially Boston cream pie.
“Awesome!” Peter held up a fist to bump, so Brenden punched it out.
Maybe he was making some progress. Once Peter left, he looked at Britt. “Did you want something to go with dinner?”
“I like pot roast. Daddy gets me the canned kind, but this will be better.”
Yeah, he had Britt on his side for sure.
His phone binged, and he pulled it out.
Will be home for supper. Have to be back here at midnight for an all-nighter.
Pot roast and salad. Yay for home for supper.
His heart kicked into high gear. Liam was coming home instead of just staying at the lab. Since he was here to cover situations just like this, he hoped he was part of Liam’s decision to come home. They were maybe moving too fast, but Brenden was falling. Hard.
See you in 10.
He didn’t do a dance. Okay, from the way Britt and Moose looked at him, maybe he had. But Brenden had cake to make, so he got busy.
He had the cakes in the oven and the pudding chilling in the fridge by the time Liam walked into the kitchen, so it had probably been more than ten minutes, but the way Britt lit up made him grin, happy Liam had made the time.
