“I’m not going to like it,” I say. We’ve been through this many times before. “I like my pepperoni.”
“I’ll do it if you do it,” Leia says.
I strip my gaze off Bennett over to her. “Really?”
Leia has always been a picky eater, so I’m shocked she’s willing to even try it.
“Okay,” I agree and take the pizza from Bennett, our fingers brushing in the exchange. I don’t pay attention to the electricity between us.
“On the count of three,” Wren says, holding up her hand.
Leia and I glance at one another, making sure the other person will actually take a bite.
Wren counts us down. “One… two… eat!”
We both close our eyes and bite into the pizza, then put the pieces down on the plates while we chew. Then we face one another again and shrug.
“Do you like it?” Wren asks us, up on her knees.
“It’s okay,” I say.
“Okay? It’s sooo good.” Wren shifts her attention to Leia.
“I like it, but I still like pepperoni better,” she says.
“I’m proud of you guys for trying something new. Next time, Wren will try cauliflower.” Bennett pokes her side, and she sticks her finger in her mouth as though she wants to throw up.
“No, I’m not. Just wait until you see some of the things my…” She pauses and looks at Bennett. “Our?”
Bennett’s eyes shift to mine for a moment before he says, “My cousin, who is your Uncle Jensen, is a chef. He’s always trying to get Wren to try vegetables. It’s a game they play.”
The reminder of what we’re all doing here together is like someone dropped a pig’s head on the table.
“It’s not fun. He tries to make it like a game.” Wren sits on her butt and eats her pizza.
I’m not sure how we would’ve gotten through this meal without Wren. She’s holding it together for all of us.
We eat quietly for the next few minutes, no conversation to be had.
“Done! Can we play now?” Wren wipes her mouth and drops the napkin on the plate.
Leia hesitates, her hands in her lap.
I turn to her. “Only if you want to, sweetie.”
She gives the smallest nod, putting her napkin on the plate just like Wren. “I want to.”
Bennett stands and offers money to both girls. Wren takes it instantly. Leia… waits. Looks at me to see if it’s all right.
I give her an encouraging smile. “It’s okay.”
They go to the machines where we can see them.
I go to slide out of the booth. “I should go over there.”
“You’ve barely eaten. They’re fine. We can see them.” Bennett looks to his left.
Wren is putting the money in the machine to get tokens to play the games.
