Page 284 of Boys Who Hunt
“Jesus Christ, how much longer is the food going to take?” Silas interjects from a few seats down, breaking the icy mood. “I’m fucking famished.”
Aspen is sitting beside him, and she shoves her elbow into his side.
“Silas!” Penelope warns him.
“Yeah, Silas. Chill,” Mavis says from across the table. “Eat the fucking table if you’re so damn hungry.”
“I’ll chomp off your fingers first,” Silas retorts. “Tasty snack.”
Melody, Silas’s younger sister, giggles like it’s funny even though it’s not. “Silas, can you come and pose for me sometime? I really want to paint you when you’re angry.”
Silas sighs. “If I get the painting, sure, I don’t see why the hell not.”
“So, is that girl the little thief you were talking about, Silas?” Mavis glares at Ivy. “Do I still need to cast some spells?”
Silas makes a fist. “Don’t you fucking dare hex her.”
“Do those two even like each other?” Ivy asks.
I snort. “She’s his sister. Of course he loves her.”
“No, I saidlike.”
“No one ever said you needed tolikeyour siblings,” Heath says.
“I don’t, that’s for sure,” Atlas growls, sipping his drink.
“Thanks, bro,” Apollo says as he pats Atlas’s shoulder. “Remind me to kick your ass when we get home.”
“See? He likes me,” Atlas jokes.
“Guys, guys, where is the love?” Orion Navarro approaches with a glass of wine in his hand. He looks wasted already. “There’s a new girl in our family and you guys can’t even stop one day and just … smell the roses.” He sucks in a breath through his nostrils. “C’mon, do it with me. Breathe in, and out.”
Sunny just glares at him. “Shut the fuck up.”
Orion stares at her, his eyes widening, then relaxing, before his entire body shivers.
“Orion, can you please stop drinking wine?” Crystal rubs her forehead. “You aren’t even old enough yet, and you look drunk.”
“Mom, please, not tonight,” Orion says, making a face. “Can’t you see this family is driving me to the edge?” He’s so dramatic when he talks.
“Orion, I thought you cared about your skin?” his father, Blaine, asks as he takes a sip of his water. “Drinking will age it even quicker.”
Orion’s eyes widen, and he immediately puts the wine down.
“You have … an interesting family,” Ivy tells Heath, smiling.
“You think?” Heath replies, snorting.
She sniggers behind her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I feel the same way. But they’re my family, and I love them,” Heath says.
“Aw …” Orion hugs Heath from behind. “Thank you, big bro.”
Heath’s mom, Crystal, claps her hands. “Everybody, find your seats!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Levi Torres says, eyeing the seats left. He sits down at the far end of the table next to Mavis.