“Well, once Sunny finds out that Mav Meadows is interested, she won’t give Kai a second look,” Gabby declared. “There are three guys in school who all the girls would kill to date: DJ, Kai, and Mav. Sunny’s choosy, but Mav looks like Gavin Casalegno,andhe’s on the football team,andhe’s awesome to talk to,andhis family owns the huge ranch just outside town, which isso cool.”
“Looks like who?” Donovan asked, his face confused.
Gabby tapped on her cell phone and turned the screen toward Donovan. “He’s from the showThe Summer I Turned Pretty.”
Donovan looked up from the chopping board to study the screen and snorted. “Kai’s in trouble. If Mav Meadows looks like that dude,I’dfuckin’ date him.”
DJ threw his head back and laughed.
Gabby giggled, and Imogen copied her.
I shook my head, smiling.
“And Istillcan’t believe Kai put his arm around Sienna Barrington,” Donovan went on. “And inSunny’sface.”
I couldn’t help laughing at how invested he was in the whole epic saga.
He twisted his face toward me. “What? I hate thatbitch. Especially after what she did to Dahlia Harris in art class.”
“That was gnarly,” DJ agreed, nodding sagely. “Kai doesn’tlikeher, like her. She’s just easy.”
“DJ,” I berated softly. “Don’t talk about girls like that.”
“Well, she is,” he said defensively, his cheeks pinkening, suddenly unable to look me in the eye, which no doubt meant he’d gotten to some kind of base with her, though I hated to think which one.
High school was so damned incestuous.
I tipped the ground beef onto a paper towel to drain it and asked Donovan, “What time does the league start tonight?”
“Seven,” he answered. “But me and DJ are getting there about six to set up and make sure the equipment’s clean and spar a round or two.”
“Cool,” DJ breathed. “I’ll call Kai and let him know. He’ll get there early, too.”
I went to the sink to rinse the skillet under the tap. “I’ll cook the lasagna now, but we’ll eat later, which means you’ll need snacks before you go out.”
“Had a big lunch, Ma,” DJ muttered. “I’m good until later.”
“I won’t have time. I’m meeting Sunny and Kady soon for yoga class,” Gabby informed me. “And their moms are coming. You should too, Mom,” she said, almost as an afterthought.
“Thanks,” I said dryly. “But I’ll be looking after Imogen. Though I may take her to the gym and see how the boys get on at boxing. I think half the town’s turning out to watch.” I lookeddown at Immie, still chewing on her carrot stick. “What do you say, pretty girl? You wanna go see a bunch of young guys punch the snot out of each other?”
“Rara!” she babbled.
“It’s a date then,” I replied, holding my hand up for a baby high-five.
Immie tapped my hand enthusiastically, and we all cheered her, which made her clap her hands together and give us all a big, toothy, baby grin.
“I’m gonna go get my yoga gear on,” Gabby announced, swinging her ass off the stool.
“I need to grab my shit too,” DJ muttered.
“Can you stop saying shit?” I asked exasperatedly.
Deej sauntered over and kissed the top of my head, grinning. “Sure, I can,” he promised, even though we both knew he’d be cussing again within minutes.
I watched the kids head toward the stairs with a small smile playing around my lips, and my mind deep in thought.
“They’re good kids, Rosie,” Donovan told me, his eyes dropping to my mouth. “I love how just being around them makes you so happy.”
