The Sister Between Them

Chapter 36

The evening was cool and crisp, and the fire was blazing. The sun was just starting to go down. They sat around the fire drinking margaritas while roasting hotdogs and marshmallows and munching on the various snacks Lexi had bought.

They hadn't had much luck fishing earlier; it was too cold, which suited Rocco just fine. After all her bragging, Dani would have to show off her fishing skills another day. He didn't mind another chance to spend time with her, for whatever reason.

Dani crouched next to Gavin, showing him how to roast his marshmallow properly. He was concentrating as hard as she was on it.

"Perfect!" She said happily as they pulled the stick from the fire.

"That's not how you do it!" Dante scoffed.

He rolled his eyes and grabbed a marshmallow, using the tried but true "set it on fire" method.

"Wow!" Gavin's eyes were as wide as saucers as he watched Dante blow the fire off the marshmallow.

"I wanna do like Uncle Dante!" He ran away from Dani and towards his uncle. The perfectly golden marshmallow was forgotten.

"Rejected." Dani laughed and sat down next to Lexi, who patted her leg.

"Well, boys and fire, hard to compete with that," Lexi said.

"True." Dani agreed.

They all watched for a bit as Dante helped Gavin with his marshmallow. Gavin's little eyes twinkled in delight as he blew out the fire.

"I mean, that does look more fun." Lexi giggled as she nudged Dani.

"It is fun, Lexi!" Gavin told her.

His face was a mess of melty marshmallows and chocolate. Alyssa would be having a conniption fit, Rocco thought as he watched Gavin. He was having so much fun. These were the memories he wanted to build with his son. This was just the beginning; he was growing more and more excited about their new life.

"This is so much fun!" Lexi agreed happily. "You know, Bobby's family has a cabin on a big lake. We should all go sometime."

"And there it is," Dante said in a dry voice. "I think she almost made it an hour this time."

"What are you on about?" Lexi looked up sharply at him.

"How you can't go five minutes without mentioning Bobby." Dante wrinkled up his nose at the name.

"Excuse me?" Lexi shot back, "So I'm excited about a guy. Sue me."

"I would, but I don't have a proper cause," Dante remarked.

"Dante, I thought I told you. if it's not funny at the office, it won't be funny out of it." Rocco cringed, to which Dante just rolled his eyes.

"I thought you liked him?" Lexi stood up, and Rocco could see she was getting angry.

"He's a grown man that calls himself Bobby," Dante said as if that answered everything.

"So what?" Lexi threw her hands in the air. "You always do this, Dante! It's so unfair!"

"I didn't do anything." He huffed a hint of defense to his voice.

"Maybe we should go make some more margaritas," Dani suggested.

"That is exactly what I need right now." Lexi stood up and rushed into the cabin, with Dani quickly following her.

"Gavi helps!" Gavin started running to catch up. Dani stopped and smiled at him, she opened the door, and he slipped inside with the two girls.