Page 46 of Father of the Bride
Mark’s jaw clenched so tight, it ached.
He pulled his phone from his pocket, mentally preparing his message, smiling when he saw that she’d texted him a few minutes ago.
Tonight?
She was definitely bolder this time around, and Mark was feeling it.
Of course. Casita?
Okay. Midnight
Yes ma’am. If I can wait that long.
Satisfied, Mark returned his phone to his pocket, raising his hand to signal for another beer. Mishon elbowed him, inclining her head in the direction of the boys.
Mark shook his head as he watched Drew stagger his way.
“That’s your nephew,” he remarked to his sister. “Couldn’t hold his liquor if it had a handle on it.”
She laughed. “Daddy’s side of the family are annoying drunks.”
“And Mama’s side are quiet drunks. Much better.”
“Less fun, though.”
He shrugged.
“You know what we should do?” Drew said, much too loudly for the occasion.
“What, Drew? “Brooklyn looked to her father for assistance, but he just smiled.
“Sit around the campfire and tell ghost stories!” he announced, followed by a goofy giggle.
“First of all, “Mark said, “this ain’t a campfire. And second, sitcho drunk ass down somewhere before you embarrass yourself.”
Being laughed at by everyone around him wasn’t enough to deter him, though. He kept on talking. Brooklyn shook her head in disgust, prompting Davion to put a protective arm around her. But truth be told, he was enjoying the slight dysfunction. It was nice not to be the only family on some bullshit today.
“That was the funnest part of camp,” Drew was saying. “Telling stories. Why doesn’t anybody wanna tell a ghost story with me?”
“Boy, sit down,” Mishon said.
“Iamsitting,” Drew yelled as he stood near the fire, earning more laughs.
“With your knees bent,” Mark said, glancing over at Sunny. She was tickled, he could tell.
“Fine.” Drew gestured toward Mark with his bottle, splashing beer onto the sand.
But in his drunken state, he miscalculated the distance between his standing position and the log. Somehow, he overshot his landing and fell forward, rolling right into the fire.
“Oh my God!” Brooklyn and Mishon yelled at the same time.
“Somebody grab him!” Sunny cried out.
Mark and Vince dove forward at the same time. Mark grabbed him, yanking him out of the fire by his arms as Drew flailed and screamed, “Halp! My ass is burning!”
It wasn’t.
But the seat of his linen pants was singed, leaving a large, dark patch and small holes with glowing embers around their edges.
