Page 46 of Out Of A Fix

“Yeah. Splurge day will be pizza or burgers.”

Tatum clapped as Darwin gave a whoop of joy that startled his father.

“What the hell is⁠—”

“Correct,” I said loudly. “And I was lookin’ forward to having Mexican like you wanted.”

He groaned.

“And why did all that happen?” I pressed.

He gestured at his father. “Because I got mad at him.”

“Why?”

“Because he hasn’t been here, so he doesn’t know that I’ve got this.”

“As well as…?”

He thought a moment. “Oh. Yeah. I didn’t put myself in his place.”

“That’s right. So have a do-over.”

Exhaling deeply, he faced his father. “I’m sorry. That was stupid. I should’ve taken a moment and thought how freaked out you probably were to see what you thought was fire. But in my defense, you⁠—”

I coughed. Loudly.

“Never mind. No matter what you did, it doesn’t justify me yelling at you.”

Luke Duchesne looked like a deer caught in headlights, glancing at me, then at Tatum, who was nodding, then at Darwin, who was busy with his muffins, and finally back to his oldest.

“Good job,” I praised Griff before turning to Luke. “Something to say to your son?”

He appeared confused.

I squinted at him.

Luke took a quick breath and addressed Griff. “I didn’t realize you started cooking while I was gone, so I apologize for losing my mind a second ago.”

“Okay,” Griff said, then focused on me. “Can I finish now?”

“I dunno, can you?”

He groaned like he was going to die. “I hate it when you do that.”

“Well, then maybe pick the correct word,” I said with a shrug, leaving him to retake my seat at the table.

“May I finish now?”

“Yes, you may,” I said snidely. “Tatum, please bring your dad some coffee.”

She looked at her father. “Do you want coffee?”

“I would love some, thank you.”

“Sit down in your place, and I’ll bring it.”

He moved to the head of the table near me, and suddenly I had all his attention. “He cooks?”