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“It’s incredible, sweetie,” Mom said, leaning over the table to get a better look. “You did all this last night?”
Poppy shrugged and pulled a massive knife from the sideboard. “Rowan, do you want to impale Brad or should I?”
“I will if she won’t,” Chris said.
“Get in line, son,” Mom said.
I held out my hand for the knife and they all cheered, but as I served the cake, I couldn’t stop imagining how Cal Cardoso would look in a pair of scrubs.
Chapter three
Cal
Skye put her frontpaws on the door and started whining before the bell rang. When it did, she barked and wagged her butt so hard her tail blurred.
“You got to move so I can open it,” I told her. She wiggled behind me, every muscle tense with excitement. “Brace yourself,” I shouted before opening the door.
Theo had his arms out and ready to catch my seventy-five-pound Weimaraner, who should have grown out of her energetic puppy phase nine years ago. Aiden stood behind Theo, a case of IPAs against his chest as a bonus barrier.
“Who’s happy to see Uncle Theo?” Theo said, his deep voice raised a couple octaves. Skye licked his neck tattoos and beard.
Aiden shook his head. “The beer is getting skunked. Mind wrapping up the love fest?”
Theo put down Skye, and she rolled onto her back for belly scratches.
“Don’t mind me,” Aiden said, stepping over Theo as he crouched down to oblige my dog. I wished the couple whocrossed Main Street last week to avoid Theo’s face tattoos and piercings could see him now.
“Thanks, man,” I said, taking the case from Aiden. He nodded, acknowledging my gratitude for the beer and for tolerating Skye.
“Thank fuck Aiden got your air conditioner working again,” Theo said, rubbing Skye’s belly in just the right spot to make her leg kick.
“We could have watched the game at his place or yours,” I said.
“You know I don’t have a TV,” Theo said. “Aiden?”
“I’d rather fix Cal’s air conditioner than let the pair of you in my house.”
Theo raised his eyebrows at me and shrugged. “Worth a try,” he said.
Aiden bought a huge fixer-upper just outside town a couple years back and had yet to invite us over. He claimed it’s still a working construction zone, but I’ve imagined everything from a creepy doll collection to a BDSM chamber. Either would be a better explanation than unfinished floors or cracked tiles.
“Here comes the Goth Pixie,” Aiden said, catching sight of the black hearse accelerating down the street.
Theo spun around to watch Poppy Stevens pass in her morbid car.
“I don’t get why anyone would want to drive one of those unless they work at a funeral parlor,” Aiden said. “Aside from being creepy, the gas mileage must be terrible.”
Theo narrowed his eyes. Skye stopped wiggling and licked his hand. “It’s a practical vehicle for a sculptor. Some of her pieces are very large.”
“Couldn’t she drive a truck?” I asked.
Theo shrugged. “I guess. But a hearse fits better with her aesthetic.”
“I can see that,” Aiden said, closing the front door. “The hearse does match the whole Wednesday Addams vibe your girl’s got going on.”
“She’s not mine,” Theo said, straightening. “I mean, she’s just a friend.”
“How many of your art classes has she taken at the community center?” I asked, carrying the beer to the kitchen. Skye followed at our heels, leaving Aiden to settle in the armchair by the couch in peace.
