Page 41 of Never Stop

Brooke started to walk away. “I’ll distract you from everything.”

“How?” I inquired.

She smirked. “I’m sure I’ll think ofsomething.”

Right on cue, Cheyenne and the girls came into the backyard. “Is the food ready?” she asked.

“Yeah, Pea—”

I stopped myself. I had instructions to not call her Peanut in front of her friends.

“Everything just got done. Who wants cheese?”

After the girls finished eating, they sat in a circle in the living room and each wrote questions on the large bouncy ball we’d bought. Brooke and I were in the kitchen cleaning up and trying to give them space. My blood pressure had subsided and the burger and hot dog I scarfed down made me feel better as well. I hadn’t realized how hungry andcrankyI was until I took my first bite of the meaty goodness.

I rarely ate hamburgers or hot dogs since I needed to keep in shape. I worked too hard in the gym to not see results and if I ate carbs like they were celery then I would no longer have my eight pack. Today, though, I was going to have all that and the pink cake. I didn’t give a fuck. My Peanut was eleven anddatingboys. How the fuck did dating work at her age anyway?

As we picked up paper plates and refilled the chip bowl and veggie tray, I kept hearing: “My favorite color is green.” “My favorite game to play is Mind Craft.” “I like Robert.” “No, I like Robert.” “He texts me all the time.” “He texts me, too!”

I looked toward Brooke to silently ask if we should go into the living room and stop a fight that was surely brewing. She smiled tightly and turned and left, leaving me standing there. I didn’t follow her. She told me she’d distract me from all the girl drama, and I wasn’t going to put myself in it if she could control it.

I was going to needtwopieces of the chocolate cake with pink icing.

“Who said cake?”

I turned toward Avery’s voice and instantly wanted to hug him from adding testosterone in the mix. He and Nicole walked in, carrying a wrapped present inpinkpaper.

“Uncle A!” Cheyenne exclaimed. “Everyone, this is my uncle who…” She stopped talking and looked at him. At first, I didn’t realize why she stopped, but then I remembered their pranking session and how it was top secret. He frowned at her, and she quickly added, “who’s the best at Wii bowling.”

“Are we going to play on the Wii?” Vanessa asked with a hand on her hip.

“Nah,” Avery said. “We came for cake and to give the birthday girl her present.”

Cheyenne’s eyes lit up as she turned to me. “Oh my God, can we open presents now?”

“After cake, Pea—”

“Birthday girl, come make a wish.” Brooke saved my slip up so I wouldn’t get the look of death for Cheyenne. Ialwayscalled her Peanut. It was my thing, but I promised her I wouldn’t during her party.

She skipped over to the breakfast bar, and everyone started to sing as eleven candles flickered in the cake. I walked over to Avery and Nicole and nodded, silently thanking them for saving me—kinda. Cheyenne blew out the candles, and the cake was served.

How many more hours?

We all ate cake as the girls continued to gossip. I thought the chicks at Halo were bad.Not a chance.Ten and eleven-year-old girls had more drama than those broads. After cake, Cheyenne opened her presents, and it got that much closer to all of them falling asleep.And me for that matter.

“Well, we have to go now,” Avery stated.

Nicole looked to Brooke. “We’re going to pick-up my ring before they close. It’s finally sized and ready.”

“Congrats,” Brooke said. “Call me tomorrow, we’ll do coffee or something.”

“C.C. come give your favorite uncle a hug,” Avery motioned.

“You don’t want to stay for roasting marshmallows?” she asked, not budging from her spot, surrounded by all her gifts.

“I would love to, but we have to get Nic’s ring. The store closes soon.”

She finally stood and walked to him. “Okay, but you’re going to miss out on ghost stories too.”