Page 22 of Sanctuary After Dark

"I wouldn't have to if you weren't so old. I've seen glaciers hustle faster than you, grandpa."

Chuckling, I shook my head before flipping the hot dogs around.

"Watch it. My hand is just itching to see that ass of yours red."

"Bring it, old man. Gotta be careful, though. Don't want your arthritis flaring up."

I turned slowly to look at him and saw him smirking at me with his hands on his hips. The smug look on his face and the mischievous glint in his eyes just had me laughing darkly. He must have seen something in my eyes because the smirk dropped from his face and his hands fell from his hips.

"Oh, shit..."

"Run."

Oliver squeaked before he turned and ran away from the pool and out into the yard. I tossed the spatula to David, who was closest to the grill, as I took chase, my heart pounding as I grinned maniacally after him.

"Run, run, run, little brat! We'll see who's the slow one!"

My heart was pounding in my chest from adrenaline coursing through my body as I took off after him. He tried to run in a zig-zag, and it only made me laugh harder at how ridiculous he looked, flailing his arms and yelling at me.

"No! This isn't fair! Your legs are longer than mine! I didn't mean it!"

"Should have thought about that before mouthing off, brat! Now get your ass back here!" I called out to him as he rounded the large oak tree in the middle of the yard. Pushing myself to go a little faster, I rounded the tree on the other side, coming out in front of him and making him scream in surprise. Oliver tried to turn and run again, but my arm snaked out and hooked around his stomach, pulling him back in and hoisting him up off the ground, throwing him over my shoulder as he continued to yell and try to fight me.

"Motherfucker! Put me down! Lucas! Get your dumb brother under control!"

Lucas lifted his sunglasses some to look over at us and just laughed as I marched back over towards the pool with him squirming on my shoulder.

"You hear that, babe? He called you dumb."

Snorting a bit, I nodded and brought my hand down on Oliver's ass with a loud crack as it made contact with his wet speedo. He flinched and continued to beat his fists against my back and kick his legs.

"Yeah, I heard him. He just keeps digging his hole, doesn't he? But no one said brats were smart."

"Hey! I resent that comment!"

Snorting a little, I smacked his ass again.

"No, you resemble it."

Stepping up the stone steps and over to the edge of the pool, I grinned at the others in the water. Gripping Oliver again, I lifted him from my shoulder as he yelled at me louder this time, finally realizing what I was about to do. With one final heft, I launched him away from me and into the deep end of the pool; his body making a loud splash as it hit.

After a moment, his head popped up from under the water, sputtering and coughing as he wiped his hands over his face. His eyes were burning bright when he looked over at me and pointed.

"You asshole!!!"

"What was that now?"

I cupped my hand over my ear before stepping off the edge of the pool and dropping into the water. Pushing off the wall, I swam underneath and watched as he tried to swim away from me. Grabbing onto his ankle, I yanked him underwater before I pushed off from the bottom to surface. Breaking through the water, I couldn't help but laugh and swim backward when he surfaced again. The glare he shot my way had me smiling more and winking at him.

"Food's done!"

Glancing over at David as he held the plate with the burgers and hot dogs and another plate with the chicken, I laughed harder at Oliver's scowl as he swam over to the steps to climb out of the pool.

Making my way over to the steps as well, and to where Elias was sitting and watching the action, I smiled seeing him smiling as he looked around at everyone having fun. He looked adorable in his gray swimming trunks and the blue long sleeve swim shirt Lucas found for him.

"Hey, sweetheart. Having fun?"

I sat down on the step next to him and bumped his shoulder with mine while he grinned shyly and nodded.