Page 43 of Run Home

You twisted my arm. I’m going to stop home to change clothes, and then I’ll be over!

Chapter eighteen

Sam

“I’m sorry in advance about dinner,” Danae whispers with urgency as she opens the door to me. “I had the conversation with Jason this morning that we’re not going to invite his biological grandmother to the wedding. I know he understands, but—”

Placing a hand on her arm, I finish her statement. “But big feelings?”

She heaves a sigh. “Very big. All day. So I pivoted, and we’re having canned ravioli for dinner.”

Wrapping my arms around Danae, I say, “Good thing I love a classic canned-ravioli meal.”

I know this is one of Jason’s comfort foods from his before life—before Danae, before foster care, before his father went to prison. I don’t mind forking down the bright orange sauce if it soothes Jason’s subconscious.

He comes barreling through the sliding door from the small back porch off the living room, yelling about being hungry. His stormy eyes brighten when he sees me, and he sprints over to us.

“Sammi! I didn’t know you were coming over!” he exclaims as he hugs me. His eyes grow suspicious when he pulls back. “Are you here to talk about wedding planning?”

“Not tonight,” I answer. “I’m hanging out for dinner and cards. It’s been too long since the three of us got to hang without that annoying brother of mine around.”

His eyes light up again, and we walk to the kitchen for dinner. Danae has tossed together a salad in addition to the ravioli, and we take opposite-sized portions of the two in comparison to Jason. He talks my ear off about his baseball practices and the latest MLB rankings that he and Griffin will talk about on their podcast this week.

When he starts breaking down the highlights of the Crowns game today, including Adrian’s significant contribution, Danae looks at me with a sparkling, knowing expression. Jason’s too busy talking to notice her smug smile, thank goodness.

He continues chattering away as he takes our plates over to the sink, and I glance at Danae in time to see her relieved expression. He seems to be back in a regulated state if he’s voluntarily picking up dishes. She brings playing cards over to the table, shuffling two decks together, then dealing out ten cards to each of us for Trash.

We take turns swapping out the face-down cards with the correct numbers or wild cards until someone goes out and forces the end of a hand. Several rounds later, Jason is crowing with glee.

“I can’t believe I’m still on seven cards when you’re down to two!” I exclaim. “At least Danae is in the game with four. I’ll never win.”

“What can I say? I’m the best at Trash,” Jason gloats.

“I taught you this game, you know,” I remind him. “You should go easy on me.”

Danae laughs. “This is a game of pure chance. Jason’s unreasonably lucky.”

Grinning at her, he says, “It takes skill to be this lucky.”

I groan and roll my eyes. “You’re starting to take after Adrian too much,” I joke, then snap my mouth shut.

Blushing, I catch Danae smirking at me. This must have been what I always looked like when I was pushing her toward Griffin. I slightly narrow my eyes and flick them to Jason, asking the telepathic question. She almost imperceptibly shakes her head as Jason deals out the next round of cards to us.

After two wins by Jason and one by Danae, she announces that it’s time for him to get ready for bed.

“But it’s summer!” he protests. “And Sammi is here!”

“Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean all routines go out the window,” Danae says gently. “Besides, you’re recording the podcast with Griffin tomorrow, so I have a feeling you’ll be sneaking out of bed extra early in the morning to watch the highlights from tonight’s late games.”

Jason gives her a sheepish look, knowing he’s been caught. “I thought I was being quiet!”

Danae laughs and says, “You are incapable of watching a baseball game without making constant commentary on the plays. Loudly.” He grins and shrugs, and Danae asks, “Do you want me to read with you tonight?”

He shakes his head. “Nah. I’m gonna read the new graphic novel from the library.”

“Okay. I’ll be up in a few minutes to tell you good night,” Danae says. “Be sure you brush the backs of your teeth.”

“I know!” Jason groans, and I stifle a laugh. He gives me a hug and says, “Thanks for coming over, Sammi!” He runs through the living room and up the stairs with the speed and chaos of a bull running the streets of Spain.