Page 40 of Cloudless

CUMIN

KAM

A deep crease forms between Wyatt’s brows as he looks down at the painted sweatshirt that fits snugly against his chest. “I can’t believe I let you guys talk me into this.”

My grin breaks free as he crosses his arms. “Ah, come on, Ranger. It’s not that bad.”

His deadpan look makes me lose the battle I’ve been fighting against my laugh since he walked downstairs. “I have an ice cream cone on my head, Cap. A fucking ice cream cone.”

I hold my finger up to halt his complaints. “A foam ice cream cone headband .”

He raises his brows as his scowl deepens. “Is that supposed to make it sound better?”

Dax struts into the kitchen like you would down a runway. His mint green shirt glowing under the fluorescent kitchen lights highlights the badly painted chocolate chips on his chest. “I, for one, am feeling great about our costume choice.”

Mace follows closely behind with a grin on his face as he adjusts the headband on his head. Brightly colored sprinkles are scattered across his chocolate brown sweatshirt. “Me too!”

Wyatt rolls his eyes as he fidgets with the headband on his head. “You’re just happy we’re dressed as food, Mace.”

Mace shrugs without a care in the world. “We could have been spices. Be glad I didn’t make you walk around all night with ‘Cumin’ written on your chest.”

Wyatt tilts his head in thought before he nods his head. “You’re right. That makes me feel better about walking around as a six-foot-four chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream scoop with a cone on my head.”

Mace smacks him on the back on his way to the fridge. “That’s what I’m here for, buddy.”

The snap of Dax opening a bottle of water fills the kitchen. “You’re just worried about this ruining the dark and mysterious aura you’ve got going on. It’s hard to look like you’re mad at the world when you have an ice cream cone on your head.”

Wyatt rolls his eyes as he straightens the headband for the third time in as many minutes. “No, what I’m worried about is this thing cutting off the circulation to my brain. How do girls wear these things all the time?”

I lean back against the counter as a headache blooms behind my eyes. “Well, they’re not made for your gigantic head, Ranger.”

“Oh. My. God.” I turn in time to watch my sister's face transform with utter delight as her eyes roam over our small group. “You guys look adorable.” She digs in the back pocket of her jeans without moving her eyes away from us. “I’ve got to take a picture.”

Dax pulls us all into a tight hug as he grins from ear to ear. “Heck yeah! We need to document this moment. We can print out the picture and hang it in Coach's office!”

A huff leaves Wyatt’s lips as he reluctantly poses. “There’s no chance Coach wants to stare at your face all day, Dax.”

I can hear the eye roll in Dax’s voice. “I’ll let him be the judge of that, thank you very much.”

The sprinkles drawn on Ellie’s rainbow colored sweatshirt dance as she adjusts her position in front of us. “Everyone say ‘ice cream’!”

Even Wyatt echoes the sentiment under Ellie’s command as she clicks away on her phone.

Dax releases his death grip as Ellie flicks through the many photos she just took of us with a smile on her face. He races over to her like a giddy child. “Let me see them!” His eyes light up as he points at her screen. “I like that one! You even got Ranger to smile!”

My heart takes flight as the familiar sound of the front door opening brightens my smile. The pitter-patter of little feet on the hardwood makes a rush of warmth flow through me that has nothing to do with the thick sweatshirt I have on.

Jasper’s ice cream cone headband slides around on top of his head as he rounds the corner at full speed. “Kam!”

He runs into my open arms with a thunk. The Neapolitan colored paint on his shirt crinkles as he squeezes me. “Tank!” His headband lands on the floor at our feet with a light thunk as he wiggles out of my arms to run to the fridge with a grin on his face. “Mace! Can I have a popsicle?”

Posey launches herself into my arms as soon as I let go of her brother. “Hi, Kam!”

The flush of her cheeks matches her strawberry pink shirt. “Hey there, Rosie Posey!”

Her feet have barely touched the ground before she’s running to my sister. They collide in a hug so tight their matching sprinkles form an undefined blob. “Posey-Pop!”

My ray of sunshine appears in the doorway with a smile so bright she lights up the entire room. Her eyes lock on mine as my heart stutters in my chest.

I move through the room with an efficiency that’s only rivaled by my time on the ice.

My arms automatically find their way around her waist as I breathe her in like I haven't seen her in days instead of hours. My voice falls to a whisper. “You’re the cutest scoop of lemon ice cream I’ve ever seen, Sunshine. ”

Her smile transforms into a grin as she winds her arms around my neck. Her chest molds to mine as I feel every breath she takes. She leans in for what I think is a kiss before she deviates, so her lips brush against my ear to whisper, “Yeah, well, cookies and cream has always been my favorite.”

She pulls back to send me a wink that shoots straight to my dick before she walks away to hug my sister like she didn’t just leave a bomb at my feet. The innocent look on her face doesn’t match the words coming from her mouth.

I never thought I would be grateful to be dressed as a cookies and cream ice cream scoop, but here I am.

Ellie claps her hands like our first grade teacher used to do to get everyone’s attention. I welcome the distraction from the heat currently coursing through my body from a simple wink. “Alright guys! I’ve got our evening planned out!”

A grin breaks out on my face as I mumble, “Of course you do.”

Her eyes snap to mine with laser accuracy as her smile turns sinister.

“That’ll be all the commentary we need from you tonight, Goose.

” Her smile turns soft as she glances around our group.

“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted. We will leave for trick-or-treating in approximately…” She glances at her phone screen with a look of concentration reserved only for my sister.

“...seven minutes. When we get back, we will go straight into a movie marathon I’ve planned around the twins’ bedtime.

If anyone needs a bathroom break before we leave, now would be the time.

” Her eyes swivel to Dax. “I’m looking at you, Hayes. ”

He rolls his eyes as he reluctantly heads toward the bathroom. “I peed in a bottle one time …”

Lila’s eyes connect with mine as his voice fades into the distance. Her brows lift in a silent question as I mouth, I’ll tell you later .

Lila nods before looking around the room. A gentle smile blooms on her face as she clears her throat to quieten the room. “I wanted to let everyone know that Jasper and Posey have a birthday coming up. They wanted to invite you all to their party next weekend.”

A chorus of excitement flows through the room as voices overlap.

“Of course we’ll be there!”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Posey-Pop!”

“Can I make your cake?”

“Did you wait till I left the room to invite everyone on purpose, Sullivan?” The grin on Dax’s face betrays the stern tone of his voice.

A lightness enters Lila’s eyes that’s a far cry from the clouds I’ve gotten so used to seeing. She mimes zipping her lips and tossing the key over her shoulder as a smile takes over her face. “I’ll never tell.”