Page 99 of Yours To Take
“Then set the table.” She pushes a stack of plates and silverware into my hands. “Dinner’s ready.”
“I just got here.” Dinner is never ready on time.
“And you were late. So was Mason.” She shoos me into the dining room. “And don’t think I haven’t noticed that he’s been grumpy too.”
“I don’t know anything about that.” I set each place setting with a little more force than necessary.
Peter and Nash are pouring the drinks. The only person missing is Logan.
“Is Logan not coming to dinner?” I ask Nash.
“No. He said he wasn’t feeling up to it.”
“I’ll take him a plate later,” Layla says. “Willow, do you want to go with me?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t want to. Uncle Logan was grumpy the last time I saw him.”
The way her lip quivers has my heart breaking. Out of all of us, she’s taking his change in mood the hardest. After his last surgery, he had a small setback. Nothing major, but it sent him spiraling. And he took it out on anyone who came to see him.
“It’s okay, sweetheart.” Mason rubs her back. “You and I can get ice cream on the way home. How does that sound?”
Her face lights up. “Sprinkles too?”
“Sprinkles too.”
The mention of sprinkles has the pieces of my heart cracking. It was the day Blake spent with us making sundaes.
Why do I have to miss him so much? He was never mine to take.
Mason brings dinner out. It’s a quieter affair than normal. More subdued. The clinking of forks against plates is loud in the room.
“You okay?” Layla nudges me from the side.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t sound fine,” Mason chimes in from his side of the table. His arms are crossed, giving me a fierce look.
“Why are you so concerned?”
“I can’t be concerned about my little sister?”
“Mason, leave her alone.” Layla comes to my defense.
“Why are you getting mad at me?” He throws his arms up in defense.
“Because I don’t want to talk about it!” I explode.
“Fine. Then I won’t ask again.” He stands, going to grab Willow’s plate.
“I’m not done yet!” She grabs the plate back. “Go be grumpy with Uncle Logan, Daddy.”
“Fine.” He storms off into the kitchen, the door swinging shut behind him.
“Okay, is it something in the water? Because first you and now Mason is stomping around.” Peter waggles a finger between my brother and me.
“Leave me alone, Peter.” I don’t want to be the center of attention right now.
“You’ve been sad ever since Blake left. I didn’t think he meant that much to you.”
