Brightside

19 | casual

"How was New Orleans?" Rush had barely finished his question when he started shovelling noodles into his mouth. He pushed the bite to the side of his mouth. "Did you go to Florida?"

"Good ol' Pensacola," Indy said.

"I actually didn't," Eddie said.

Rush looked at her. Scratch that. Everyone at the table looked at her. August, Lockwood, Indy, Kai, Rush. God, even Laki. How did he know that? They stared at her like a gang of curious birds, heads cocked with intrigue.

"What did you do if you didn't go to the beach?" August asked.

"Hung out," Eddie said, shrugging. "Made friends."

"Oh, fancy."

"You've never made a friend in your life," Indy said.

Eddie pointed at Rush and shoved too much food in her mouth to keep from talking. The group booed her. Eddie looked at every single one of them and glared as she chewed.

Rush let out a loud laugh. "Now I know you're covering something up."

"Am not."

"Auntie Eds—" Laki stared at her like he was a man far beyond his years and had put up with eternal decades of her bullshit. "—Come on now."

August snorted into her drink. "Get her, you little shit."

"August," Rush said. "Language."

"Sorry."

"Gotta get used to that," Rush said. "Pregnant."

Lockwood choked on his bite of dinner. August stared at the table like it was showing her a powerful vision of her strangling Rush.

"Who snitched?" August glared at the twins.

Lockwood raised his eyebrows. "Someone admit it before she beats up both of you."

"That's two against one," Indy said.

"Illegal," Eddie said.

"Maybe I'll beat both of you at the same time."

"That would be fairer," Indy said.

"More fair?" Eddie tried.

"Neither sounds right," Indy said.

"I hate English," Eddie said.

"Why isn't she in the running?" Indy pointed to Kai with her fork.

"Hey." Kai tossed a piece of corn at her girlfriend.

"Because you two are you two and, fuck—"

"August—"

"I spent my day shaving Maverick's hairy ass leg to tattoo him, I get one fuck."

Rush picked up his drink and mumbled into his sip, "Technically, that was two."

"And I think Stevie would've done that for you for free," Eddie said. "So, waste of your precious time. The swearing around impressionable children and the shaving."

"My kids will never have to worry about swear words," August said, waving her hand. Lockwood gave her a humble nod. Same page even when they were being interrogated. "Banning them gives them power."