It looked like there was a mass homework session going on the dining room. The youngest Svenssons were completing worksheets, while the high schoolers were doing complicated math problems. Weston, Parker, Blade, and Hunter were answering questions and giving tips.
"You guys want to take a study break?" I announced. "I have cake. I want to see how it tastes."
"Don't crowd her!" Hunter bellowed as Garrett came into the dining room.
His expression was neutral. What did he think of all my texts?
52
Garrett
Any concern I had that Penny didn't really care about me dissipated when I saw the twenty texts and ten missed calls from this morning. I scrolled through the messages while she greeted my little brothers.
"I'll go in the kitchen and cut this," she said, my little brothers crowding around her.
I went around to the other kitchen entrance so it didn't look like I was following her. Penny opened the plastic carrier then carefully sliced into the fancifully decorated cake. Though my little brothers weren't making it easy.
"You're going to have some in a few minutes," I promised the boys, "but no one wants to eat anything you've all been breathing on. Here, take these dessert plates into the dining room. The last thing Penny wants is an audience while she tries to cut the cake."
"I somehow forget how many there are of you! It's like I can't count past ten!" Penny giggled. "I'm more worried I won't be able to split it."
"They don't need a whole tiered wedding cake worth of desserts," I said.
After handing out stacks of utensils and plates, I shooed the kids out of the kitchen. As soon as they were gone, I wrapped Penny in my arms, kissing her, reminding her of last night.
"You could just let them starve. We can go upstairs," I murmured against her mouth.
"You're not mad I kicked you out without your wallet?" Penny asked.
"No," I said, "but you can make it up to me anyway."
"You just look so comfy and soft and touchable. I just want to squeeze you," she said, slipping her hands under the waistband of my sweatpants.
"Cake!" Arlo and Otis said from the doorway, jumping up and down. I picked up the cake platter.
"You all need to stop acting like animals," I said as Penny followed me into the dining room.
The dining room was packed. Word had gone around that there was food.
"Wow!" Hazel marveled as she helped pass out the perfectly layered pieces of cake. "This is a beautiful cake. How did you create the layers so even? It's almost too pretty to eat."
"Patience is key, and putting it together really slowly," Penny said with a laugh.
"I’m glad you're back in Penny's good graces, Garrett," Archer said after scarfing down his cake.
"Archer," Hazel said "Did you tell Garrett and Penny about the surprise?" They exchanged a look.
"I'm slightly worried," Penny said.
"We entered you in the Halloween costume contest," Archer stated. "Hazel and I are of course the team to beat, but you know, good luck anyway!"
"I won the contest my senior year in high school," Penny said. "I am very competitive. You're going down, Archer!"
"Please," Archer snorted. "I have a foolproof Halloween costume idea. And an artist!"
"I'm not sure a contest is a good idea," I remarked. "I don't know if I can take any more tight pants or shirtless outfits."
"You finally found a normal woman who puts up with you. You have to meet her where she is, and if it's in a seasonal Halloween shop, then so be it," Archer said as he snagged a bite of cake off Davy's plate. Davy tried to stab him with the fork.
