Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

106

     Link and Lily joined everyone at the table, Link's stomach growling. He didn't realize how ravenously hungry he was until he realized it had been forever since he'd had something decent to eat. He sat himself between Christy and Lily, Rhett taking the head of the table.

     He briefly glanced at Link and Link glanced at him, before the two of them quickly looked away from each other. Jessie and Christy caught the exchange and they raised a subtle brow at each other. It was obvious that they hadn't spoken to each other all day, and they were wondering what it was going to take to break the ice between the two. Everyone began helping themselves to chili and hot dogs, that twinkle ever so prevalent in Rhett's eyes whenever beans were involved.

     Lily had a point that he needed to talk with Rhett and resolve the conflict sooner rather than later, but he didn't think the dinner table was the best spot for that. That was something he was going to do in private, and he tucked into his food silently while listening to everybody talk.

     "When do you think we'll be going back home?" Lincoln asked, Locke giving him an offended glare. Lincoln shrugged his shoulders. "It's not like I don't like staying here, because I do. I just miss my own bed man."

     Rhett started chuckling, the fact that he and Link had such an impact on their kids that they've began picking up their mannerisms. Locke dragged his fork through his chili, remembering how chilled the place looked, and not in a cold way. It seemed like something sinister had happened in that place, and Lily was right to be apprehensive about it.

     "I'm not sure, honey. That's not something I can give you a definite answer to. We still need to have our windows replaced, otherwise the place will be cold every night and you guys will get sick," Christy said.

Lily looked up from her plate. "Technically, the cold weather itself doesn't make you sick mom. It's the germs that we come in contact with, like the rhinovirus that causes the colds."

     Locke just slowly turned his head to look at Lily with his mouth hanging open, and she stuck her nose up in the air.

     Rhett looked very impressed, and he swallowed his food before speaking. "Where'd you learn that from?"

     Lily grinned. "A documentary," both she and Lincoln said at the same time. Lincoln spoke in a mocking tone of voice though, and she swiveled her head to see that he was sneering and Locke still had his mouth open.

      "First of all, you should probably close your mouth before you swallow bugs," Lily said, and Locke clamped his mouth shut. "Second of all, you'd be just as smart as me if you actually sat down to watch the documentaries with me and dad."

     Lincoln flinched back, and Christy raised her eyebrows. Jessie was smirking, and Link lowered his head to hide the small smile that was pressing his lips. Lincoln busied himself with eating his dinner so he wouldn't make himself look even more like a fool. Lily had a look of satisfaction on her face, and Locke was mirroring her grin. Despite the stupidity of their decision to sneak out in the middle of the night, they knew they were in for a whole world of fun.

     After everyone was finished with supper, they helped to clean up. Link and Rhett were moving to help carry plates out to the kitchen when they collided into one another.

     "Sorry," Link said in a murmur.

     Rhett stopped, his eyes widening. "No, I'm sorry man."

     Link raised his head to look up at Rhett, and he smiled. He moved past Rhett to set the plates in the sink and Christy and Jessie joined them in the kitchen.