“I was trying,” Mitch confirmed. “Then Hayley and Caleb arrived and ruined it.”
“Sorry,” Hayley said as he hugged Mitch. “I was just excited.”
Avery hugged Caleb then Hayley. He wished all his friends could be there but he would see them the next night for Avery’s party. It was super hard to get everyone’s scheduled lined up, or so Daddy said, and Avery knew that he should be happy with the friends that could come.
“What are you building?” Caleb asked as he pointed to Avery’s sandbox.
Avery glanced over his shoulder and shrugged. “I’m not sure. I was just waiting on you guys to get here.”
“Oh.” Caleb tugged on the sleeve of his pretty sundress. “Are we late?”
“Not late,” Avery corrected. “I was just missing you guys.”
“We’ve missed you too,” Mitch said as he took Avery’s hand. “We’re very proud of you though.”
“So proud,” Hayley agreed.
“I made you a cake!” Caleb exclaimed.
“You did?” Avery danced. Caleb was the best cook in the entire world. No one cooked better than Caleb.
“No cake until after dinner!” Jace hollered from the back porch.
Avery turned to pout toward his Daddy. “But, Daddy! It’s my cake!”
Jace crossed the yard and booped Avery on the tip of his nose. “And I’m your Daddy who says no cake until after dinner.”
“Okay,” Avery immediately agreed. It was up to Daddy to make the big decisions. Like whether or not they could have cake before dinner. “Are we still making our own pizzas?”
“We are,” Jace said. “You each get to decorate your own pizza with whatever toppings you want.”
“I want pineapple!” Hayley claimed.
“Pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza!” Mac yelled from the porch.
Hayley shook his head. “Poor Daddy doesn’t know how to get pizza.”
Caleb was making a face so Avery thought that Caleb might agree with Mac.
“I guess I could try it,” Avery said.
“You don’t have to,” Jace said.
Avery shrugged. He didn’t want Hayley to feel like no one liked his idea.
“You don’t,” Hayley said. “That just means more for me.”
Avery was kind of relieved. It didn’t sound that yummy. “I like pepperoni.”
“Me too,” Mitch said.
“That’s boring,” Caleb complained.
“Not if we make them into a design,” Mitch argued.
“I can make mine into a dog!” Avery announced.
“I’ll make mine into a shark. They can be friends,” Mitch said.
