“This is better,” Charlie says.
“Yeah. You can talk about adult things while we sleep.”
“I love sleeping in the grass. It’s better than sleeping in the trees.”
“How has he not sweated to death in that hoodie?” Daphne whispers to me.
“It’s teenage boy magic,” I murmur back. “Griff did it too. Forthreesummers. And then he wouldn’t wear a coat in the winter. But he survived. And now he claims it was training to help him play in any weather.”
“Boys are annoying. Why do we like them again?”
“Evolution and genetics hate us.”
“I can hear both of you,” Ryker says to us as the boys dart off the deck with both security agents following behind.
I smile at my brother. “Good. Don’t be a stupid boy.” I move to Charlie’s spot across from Simon.
Daphne moves to Eddie’s spot between Simon and Ryker.
Hudson gets up for thirds.
Ryker slinks back in his chair and rolls his eyes at us.
Simon takes Charlie’s plate, then shoots a look out at his boys, who are making a show of sprawling in the grass beneath a tree, next to the dogs.
“They’re up to something,” he says.
I giggle.
Daphne laughs.
Ryker smirks. “You think?”
Simon smiles awhat can you do?smile. “Time will tell what.”
Ryker looks out at the boys too, and then he sighs.
“Gonna put the goats up?” I ask him.
“Seems smart.” He climbs out of his seat too. “Hudson. Get out here and help me.”
“It’srisotto, dude. Wait a minute,” Hudson replies from inside.
Daph shoots to her feet. “I’ll help.”
I grab the belt loop on her jean shorts and tug her back into the seat. “Hudson, he’s loaning them out for goat yoga tomorrow, and that can’t happen if they’re stressed.”
“I don’t stress the goats,” Daphne says.
“You stress me, and that stresses the goats,” Ryker replies.
Daph makes a face at him. “Everything stresses you.”
I hide another grin behind my wine.
Hudson appears at the screen door. “Tomorrow’s goat yoga day?”
Ryker hooks his thumbs in his overalls. “Thursday. Duh.”
