Chapter 20 #2
It’s sweet. But it also makes me feel wistful. They’re all so at ease with each other. When I’m with my family they find it hard to know how to talk to me. I’m just so different from them and they don’t understand what I do.
Maybe they don’t try to understand it.
Sophie rolls her eyes at her husband and brother-in-law trying to one-up each other, and tops up my wine glass. “Boys,” she mutters. “Don’t even get me started on the subject of the Salinger Olympics.”
“The Salinger Olympics?” I repeat. “What’s that?”
Ava groans. “You don’t want to know.”
“But I do. What is it?”
“It’s my brothers’ way of trying to prove who has the biggest dick,” Eli says, kissing my neck. He’s holding a gift in one hand and Francie’s tiny hand in the other. He passes the gift to Francie. “Give this to Charlie,” he says. “And ask him if you can be friends again.”
She nods, her face serious, then walks over to where her – I guess Charlie must be her nephew – is sitting. She passes him the gift and he leans forward to kiss her cheek.
“Oh. Those two.” Ava shakes her head. “They’re giving me whiplash.” She looks at me. “Myles made up the Salinger Olympics to keep his brothers out of mischief every summer. They’d compete against each other to see who’d win Gold.”
“What would they compete at?” I ask.
“Swimming. Tree climbing. Fighting.” Ava shrugs. “Seriously, they’re such boys.”
“I usually won,” Myles says pointedly.
Eli lifts a brow. “No you didn’t.”
“Exactly. I’m the overall winner. I have the most gold medals,” Liam says proudly.
They get into another spat, and Ava opens up the photo app on her phone, passing it to me. “This is from the year Myles and I got together,” she says. “I got to experience the Olympics first hand. Start at that one and scroll down.”
So I do. And with each passing picture I get more and more amused.
Six grown men, looking stupidly handsome in their shorts and sports tops, battling for victory.
In one of them Eli is raising his hands in victory, his top off, his skin glistening with perspiration.
In another he’s standing by the side looking furious.
My man hates to lose. My face flushes at the memories of how single minded he can be.
“What are you showing her?” Eli asks, sounding suspicious.
“Just some photos,” Ava says.
“Not baby ones, right?” He glances awkwardly at the kitchen door, where his mom has just walked in. “Tell me they’re not the baby ones,” he begs.
“Eli was a beautiful baby,” Linda says, smiling at me. “But he wouldn’t wear clothes.”
I can’t help it, I laugh. “I need to see those photos, too.” His family is a hoot. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun.
Linda’s face lights up. “I have some on my phone.”
“No.” Eli walks up to his mom, holding out his hand. “Those need to be deleted. And we need to talk about you carrying around naked photos of me.”
“You were a baby,” she says, rolling her eyes. “And you were adorable.”
“You’re not looking at them,” Eli tells me.
I shrug. I’ll let them battle it out. And then I’ll look because I’m way too nosy not to.
Linda grumbles and slides her thumb on her phone, taking forever before she holds it out to Eli, as though she’s admitting defeat.
But then Ava’s phone pings in my hand.
“Mom,” Eli says, his voice low. “Did you just send them to Mackenzie?”
“Technically, she sent them to Ava,” I say. “I’m holding her phone.”
Eli lunges for it. I raise my hand up, trying to get the phone out of his way because I need to see baby Eli in all his glory. He reaches again and I back away.
“Give it to me.” His voice is cajoling. “You don’t want to see them.”
“I really do,” I breathe. My heart is pounding as he takes another step toward me. He’s like a lion, eyes on his prey. I love the way he’s looking at me.
“Remember how big his little peter was?” Linda says.
“Mom!” Eli growls. “Stop it.”
I’m shaking with laughter. I look over his shoulder, assessing my chances of getting past him long enough to look at these pictures. They’re not good.
He’s big and he’s fast and I’m me. But I have one advantage. Determination. I’m going to see those photos, even if it kills me.
“Come on,” Eli murmurs, taking another step forward.
I take one more back. My ass hits a tabletop. Damn.
“There’s no escape,” Eli tells me. “Give me the phone, Mackenzie.”
“But you had a big peter,” I tell him. “Your mom says so.”
Myles coughs out a laugh and it distracts Eli long enough for me to duck around him, making a sprint for victory. But then his arm curls around my waist and I’m lifted through the air until my back thuds against his hard chest.
“Got you,” he whispers in my ear. He takes the phone and slides his finger over it. “If you want to see how big my peter is, you only have to ask nicely.”
I wrinkle my nose at him. “Spoilsport.”
“It’s okay,” Sophie shouts out. “Linda sent a whole bunch of their baby photos to our group chat. Just tell me your phone number, Mackenzie.”
Eli groans. And I smile because I like to win, too.