I don’t think Hope has gotten a bite in yet. As quickly as she cuts into one, the baby beside her in the highchair devours it.
Finn, to my surprise, cut up pancakes for Gracie and Mari before anyone else had gotten settled, allowing Hope to focus on Emmy Lou.
“I still don’t understand why you’re always here.” I peer over at Hope, who’s focused on the baby, then zero in on my brother.
He drops his shirt with a sigh and heaves himself forward.
JJ chuckles under his breath. He’s probably been watching the idiot make a fool of himself as well.
“Don’t you have to meet Savannah at the arena soon?” Finn snaps.
Frowning, JJ sets his fork down. “Why are you meeting her there?”
“She’s taking pretty pictures today.” Avery tilts her head up and grins at me, a smear of chocolate across her chin. “Right, Addie?”
I cringe, picking up my water glass. Shit. I’d totally forgotten about that. “Oh yeah. I guess I am.”
“At the arena?” JJ asks, his words measured. He’s trying to keep his cool, trying to hide his annoyance about the article, and he’s failing spectacularly.
“They want to get some shots of you on the ice, right?” Hope asks, finally looking up.
I shrug, going for nonchalant.
“She also mentioned girls’ night,” she says, lips twisting.
“You should come.” I snatch my phone off the table and check my calendar. The pink notation on the 20th of November tells me that I don’t have a game and we’re apparently going pole dancing again. Lips pressed together, I survey her. “But I have to warn you, it was Savannah’s choice this month and she always picks the same thing.”
Laughing, Hope peers over at Finn quickly before looking back my way. “I heard.”
“Why did you say it like that?” Finn asks, squinting at her.
JJ shakes his head. He knows exactly what Savannah always picks. I’ve told him before. “Little ears,” he reminds Finn.
He throws visual daggers my way. “What could you possibly do on girls’ night that little ears can’t hear about?”
I make a twirling motion with my fingers to signify spinning on a pole.
“Magical snow?” he guesses.
JJ scowls. “Why would you guess magical snow?”
“Isn’t that what Elsa does to summon the snow?”
“Elsa! I love Elsa. Can we watch her?” Gracie says.
“Elsa,” Mari squeals.
Vivi picks up her plate and stands. “Come on, girls. I’ll put the movie on for you.”
All three big girls jump up and rush toward the back room where my dad set up a movie screen. The place is brimming with all the toys he’s bought for his grandkids.
Before Vivi passes me, I reach for her wrist. “You okay?”
She nods. “Just feel a little off.”
“You weren’t feeling good yesterday morning either,” Hope points out. “Maybe you should go to the doctor. It is flu season.”
Vivi shakes her head, her face a sickly pale color.
