Page 54 of The Love You Fight For
“No,” she repeats, and I laugh.
“Then trust me.” I grab her hand and gently move it so I can put a scoop of coleslaw on top of the barbeque.
She doesn’t stop me, but she sneers at it with disdain. I put some chips on her plate, then a hunk of watermelon before finally steering her toward a picnic table where Macon and Lennon are sitting.
“Moment of truth,” I say as she eyes the sandwich. “Don’t be a wuss, Sam. Go on.”
She looks at Lennon. “Did you eat this?”
“I did.” Lennon grins. “It’s very good.”
She scowls at it, and Macon laughs.
“C’mon on, Harper,” he says jokingly. “Take a polite bite.”
Sam flips him off on instinct, then quickly puts her hand in her lap and looks around to make sure no kids saw her. I shake my head at her, and she rolls her eyes.
“Fine.” She picks up the sandwich and carefully takes a bite.
The moment her eyes flare with surprise, I let out a whoop of victory.
“Told ya,” I say smugly. “Smoked it ten hours.”
“You did this?” she asks while chewing, and I nod.
She smiles and raises her sandwich in my direction before taking another bite, so I pretend to take a bow at her applause, then I stand and gather Lennon’s and Macon’s empty plates.
“Be right back,” I tell them and head into the house.
When I walk through the sliding doors, I hear hushed arguing coming from the laundry room off the kitchen. It’s my sister’s and Michael’s voices, so I turn to head back outside and give them privacy until I hear Sam’s name. Then mine. I sigh at the ceiling and head toward the laundry room.
I knock once and the arguing halts, so I open the door and bounce my eyes between Tiff and Michael.
“This isn’t subtle.” I lean on the doorframe and fold my arms across my chest. “I could hear you in the kitchen.”
“This is ridiculous, Chris. Having her here? My blood pressure is through the freaking roof,” Tiffany hisses, and Michael rubs his hand over her back.
“You’re overreacting,” I say, and Michael glares at me.
I realize my mistake just as Tiffany punches my shoulder.
“You do notevertell a pregnant woman she’s overreacting,” Tiffany snaps.
I wince.
“I know. I’m sorry. But, Tiff, I really think you’re making this bigger than it needs to be,” I say cautiously, though the way she scowls tells me she doesn’t appreciate my not-so-clever rewording.
“She’s not hurting anyone or anything by being here,” I say, and when Tiff opens her mouth, I shut her down. “Dad is fine. Michael is fine.”
I look at Michael.
“Are you fine?”
He nods at my sister.
“I’m really fine, babe.”
“Sam is not her father, Tiffany. She’s not. You can’t hold the sins of her family against her. She’s not guilty of them.”
