Chapter 43 #2
My mom shakes her fork back and forth at me, “No way, Mr. You will take whatever Levi wishes to dish out after the shots you have fired tonight. Mr. Boobie Builder.” I drift my eyes to Levi, who is smirking at me with a mouth full of spaghetti.
Then I feel another meatball hit my chest, only it came from my mother.
Levi and my dad laugh, following suit with the girls, who cannot get their laughs under control.
“Mother!” Complete shock fuels me. “You just threw a meatball at me.” I look at her, flabbergasted.
Looking over at Scarlett for backup, only she shakes her head and puts her hands up in surrender while laughing for mercy.
“Come here, baby.” I smile at her before pulling her face into mine, wiping meat sauce from my face to hers.
“Let me share the love,” she squeals and laughs, now with matching red cheeks.
Mom pulls my attention back after she finally stops laughing. “Quit picking on my Levi, and I wouldn’t have to use force by meatball.” Levi sits there with a big smile on his face, and honestly, I couldn't be happier.
“Ma, it’s my job to pick on him. Tell her, Levi, tell her how much you like it… or I’ll tell you how much your sister likes—” Levi cuts me off with a flying noodle, ducking before it can stick to my face. “Ha! Boob noodles missed me.” Levi laughs and takes another bite.
“So, guys, tell us, how is it dating each other's best friend? Just a group of besties. How cute.” Mom is trying so hard to redirect this boob talk and jumped right into How is it banging your best friend's sister/ brother. Levi looks at me while his smile grows wide.
“Spencer, this is a delicious spaghetti, and the boob was a great touch.” Mom sits back in her seat, wiping her garlic bread hands.
“Glad you like it, made it with love and everything.” I smile, trying my best to avoid the question.
To both Levi’s and my surprise, Maddie answers. “It’s great, Mrs. Collins, being able to love them both, it’s amazing.” My mom shakes her head and tells her she knows that feeling.
After dinner, we all cleaned up the mess of shots fired, enjoying the best dinner we had in a long time.
Every time I’ve sat with my parents around this table, I never thought we were missing anything.
We always had love and good conversations; we laughed and talked about our day.
But this family dinner was magical. It added more love, greater laughs, and deeper conversations.
We found something we never intended to find, and now I pray it never goes away.
After we cleaned up from dinner, Mom busted out dessert. “Your favorite, double chocolate brownie cookie made just for you with Levi’s help.” Maddie blushes, while we all take a seat around the table once more, indulging in too much sugar, more laughs, and more dirty jokes, naturally.
Dessert comes to an end as the sun is already beginning to set, and the streetlights have come on.
Maddie thanks my parents with a warm hug, gives me a soft punch, and then hugs Scarlett.
Levi walks her out, while we finish cleaning up from dessert and four rounds of blackjack, placing bets on who makes dinner next.
I lost every single round, so I’m in charge of dinner. Easy. Mac n’ cheese, boom.
Levi strolls back in, the minute his foot hits the kitchen, I throw my arm around him. “I like what this girl does to you. Keep her.” He gives me a nod, his smile wide, lighting his eyes.
“She’s terrific, sweetie, thank you for bringing her,” Mom says sweetly.
“Great choice, bud. She was really sweet, and she’s welcome anytime.” My dad grabs his usual eight p.m. coffee and takes a seat at the island.
Scarlett walks over, hugging Levi. “I have a secret.” Levi turns and looks at Spencer with a deep, mean mug.
“Dude, I didn’t knock her up, quit looking at me like that, don’t worry, I’ll marry her first, not without your blessing, but I'm a gentleman, so easy on the death stare.” Turning towards Scarlett, she laughs while squeezing him tightly.
“It was my idea to make boobs. Spence wanted a dick, but I said it should definitely be a nice set of tits.” My dad nearly spits out his coffee, and then mom can’t help but laugh.
“You!” He shakes his head. “You two are trouble, you know it.” I look at Scarlett as she scrunches her nose and smiles. I love that little nose scrunch, with two lines on the left and three on the right side of her nose, which makes me melt.
Levi hugs her. “It was perfect, that was the best first family dinner we have ever had. I’m afraid we need to get home.
It's been two days.” The thought makes my heart race and my stomach churn.
No, don’t go. Make this your home, this can be your home.
Stay. Please. Levi and Scarlett hug my parents before I walk them to the door.
“I don’t want you guys to go.” Truth seeps out of me, unable to stop it. “Make this your home, both of you.” Levi puts his hand on my shoulder, giving me a small, sad smile.
“Doesn’t work that way, brother. I’ve got her. I promise. Now kiss her and tell her you love her so that we can get out of your hair.” But I want her in my hair, in my space, my bed. I want this to be our space; my king-size bed needs a queen, and I've chosen her.
I do as he says, pulling her in close to me, before they go, I grab her phone and call my number.
My phone rings, so I answer it quickly and then hand it back to her.
“Don’t hang up, Scar. All night long. This phone stays on.
We talk all night, or you can do whatever girly things you do while I’m not around, but please don't hang up this phone. I want to hear you snore, pee, and breathe. Got me?” I whisper into her mouth until she answers me with a kiss.
“Got you. I love you.”