Page 24 of Inhuman Nature

“DJ, care to share with the class?” came the obnoxious uncle’s voice over the din of the room. Rake’s ears burned with embarrassment at forgetting he was surrounded by DJ’s family.

DJ rolled his eyes. “Mind your own business, Will.”

Will spread his hands in a show of surrender. “Just pointing out that you two have been whispering to each other like a couple of teenage girls. We’re having dinner. You’re supposed to talk with the family.”

“Dad, shut up,” Katie said. Now that she’d defended them, Rake felt guilty for not listening to her explain the differences between the BMW and Audi she had her eyes on.

The table descended into a cacophony of voices as Will argued his point against Katie whilst the others all chimed in with their own opinions. Rake screwed one eye shut and tried to drown out the sounds.

Femi appeared at his side, beckoning him away from the table—an out which he gladly took. DJ followed him as they traipsed into the kitchen. Femi and Tom’s dog, an elderly Jack Russell named Bernie, lifted his head up from his dog bed. Rake went over and crouched to pet him, the sweet-natured terrier eagerly accepting the attention.

“You okay, Rake?” Femi asked, voice casual as she clattered around with some pots and pans.

“I am,” he said. It wasn’t the first time Femi had stepped in, and likely wouldn’t be the last.

DJ knelt beside Rake and started scratching Bernie’s tummy. Their fingers fought to get where Bernie enjoyed being petted most, sending them both into fits of laughter when the dog started wiggling around maniacally.

“Do you want to go?” DJ asked.

This time, Rake didn’t pretend. “Yes.”

“Mum,” DJ said, turning to Femi. “We’re gonna head.”

“Thanks for dinner,” Rake said. “It was amazing, as always.”

Femi gathered DJ up in a big hug whilst giving Rake a wide smile. “You boys come here any time and I’ll feed you.”

“Wecancook ourselves,” DJ pointed out.

“Heating something up in the oven does not count as cooking, Delroy James.”

“I do more than that!”

She just raised an eyebrow in response. She didn’t initiate a hug with Rake, but pressed a Tupperware container filled to the brim with slices of cake into his hands. “Can’t let you go without taking some,” she said.

Rake lifted one edge of the Tupperware and sniffed. “Coconut?”

“Ugh, Mum, I’ll end up eating it all,” DJ said.

“It’s there to be eaten,” Femi insisted.

“Thanks, Femi,” Rake said.

Her eyes twinkled as she ushered them to the door. Bernie followed, getting stuck underfoot and almost tripping DJ. Tom came out to the hallway. “You boys leaving?”

“Yeah. We’ve got to drive back,” DJ said.

Tom came up alongside Femi, throwing a casual arm around her waist. “Come back and visit soon, kiddo. We’ll do a night just for us,” Tom said.

“Sure, Dad.”

“Thanks, Tom,” Rake said, then spotted Katie heading towards the living room. He took a few strides over to her. “Audi,” he blurted.

Her brows rose.

“You should get an Audi, not a BMW,” he continued. “Most people consider BMW drivers to be arseholes.”

She snorted a laugh. “Noted.”