Page 48 of The Lucky List
“Is it really lava?” Micah asks, sounding unsure.
“No, it’s just gravy.” I show him the inside of the pan with the brown mixture.
“I don’t like gravy,” Micah says, looking at it like it’s going to burn him.
“That’s okay. There is plenty of lava-free volcano if you want don’t want any.”
Micah folds his arms over his body, gripping his cast with one hand as if to shield himself from the gravy. Lucy gives me an apologetic look, and I smile in return.
I move closer to Levi and help him as he pours the gravy into the volcano. It spills over the top, down the channel I created, and then pools at the bottom.
“Cool!” he shouts.
Micah peeks his head over to check it out, and Lucy sets out plates so we can dig in. She scoops a little potato and broccoli onto each of their plates and loads them up with nuggets while I pull our chicken out of the oven.
I set the hot pan onto a potholder on the counter and start to prepare plates for Lucy and myself when she screams.
“Levi, no!”
Levi has his eyes locked on the volcano, and he’s doing a little shimmy like a cat about to pounce.
“Don’t you do it!” Lucy shouts, jumping out of her stool to lunge for him.
It all happens so fast. Before she can reach him, he throws his hands in the air and shouts, “LAVA!” then face-plants into what’s left of the volcano, flattening it as gravy goes everywhere.
Lucy stands there stunned, frozen in place. A million emotions cross her face, probably thinking about the mess she’s going to have to clean up.
I feel bad for a split second and then break into a fit of laughter. It’s a deep belly laugh, and I bend over clutching my knees trying to compose myself.
When Levi’s head pops up, his arms still in the air, he breaks into a fit of giggles. Even Micah is laughing. Lucy has one arm crossed over her chest, propping the other up to cover her mouth.
“LAVA!” Levi bellows again.
The minute he smooshes his face into the baking sheet a second time, Lucy loses her battle with composure, letting out the most beautiful melodic laugh. Fuck, I want more of that laugh.
“I’m a lava monster!” Levi says, popping up again, and we all lose it, howling and cackling for a solid minute.
After I quickly scrub Levi with some wet paper towels, we settle in to eat our meal. When both boys finish all their food,Lucy nods her head toward me, giving me a silent golf clap in appreciation.
“Alright, boys, we definitely need a more thorough cleaning after that. Go get the bath started, and I’ll be up there in a little bit,” Lucy says before turning toward me. “You’re so good with them.”
“Thanks.” I watch as Levi chases his brother upstairs. “It’s probably because I never grew up myself.”
She smirks as she sits on one of the stools at the island. I round the counter, dusting nugget crumbs from the stool onto my hand before sitting beside her.
“You ever think about having more?” I ask as I dump the crumbs onto a plate in front of me.
She shifts, taking a big sip from her wine glass.
Shite. I’m coming on too strong. Feckin’ eejit.
“I don’t think I could handle any more kids on my own. I love them, but I’m exhausted. What about you? Do you want kids one day?”
“At least four, maybe five.”
She spits out her wine, spraying me with chardonnay. “Holy shit. I’m so sorry!”
I grab her wrist before she can scramble off her stool. “If you want to spit in my face or my mouth, you only need to add it to the list.” I’m rewarded with the prettiest blush dusting her cheeks at my words.
