Chapter 149

“Alexander, help me with these drinks, please,” she called, but I heard the amusement in her voice. Dad just shook his head at me and went back to flipping the steaks with precision that could have been used in some kind of combat training. I swear, watching him cook was like watching someone handle live ammunition.

Lila appeared beside me, hoodie half-on, hair messy like she had no concept of neatness, but that’s Lila. She grabbed a cooler from the corner, muttering something about ice packs and strategically placing them. She shot me a grin; that smirk she knew I couldn’t resist. “C’mon, Alexander. We’ve got the drinks. Don’t make me do all the work.”

I snorted. “You’re doing all the work anyway; I just carry it around.”

She rolled her eyes, shoving me playfully. “Rude and wrong. Mostly wrong.”

We carried the cooler over, weaving between everyone. Family were scattered around; Aunt Angie was chatting with Mom while tossing a bag of salad onto the table, Uncle Lucas was fiddling with the grill’s side burner, Aunt Lyra was hovering nearby, Grandma Serena and Uncle Julian were cracking jokes about Dad’s methodical meat flipping, and Grandpa Arthur was leaning back in a chair with a drink in hand, occasionally raising an eyebrow at Dad’s obsessive seasoning technique. Grandma Isabella, my step-grandmother, sat across from great-grandmother Evelyn, who seemed to be judging everyone silently while secretly enjoying herself, typical of a great-grandmother.

Lila and I exchanged a glance, grinning like we’d been let loose in a candy store. Family gatherings like this were our favorite. Everyone else might circulate politely, but Lila and I? We were like two magnets drawn to every corner, every conversation, and every possible opportunity for a little chaos.

I set the cooler down and popped the top, grabbing a couple of sodas. Lila snatched one and popped hers open, shaking it just enough to make it fizz over the rim, smirking at me. “Guess who?” she whispered.

I groaned. “I swear, you’re going to get me in trouble one day.”

“Trouble? Us?” she whispered back, grinning like she’d just invented a new planet. “Never.”

We moved toward the main seating area, where a long table was lined with plates and utensils. Everyone was already scattered around, claiming spots strategically, half for shade, half for the sun.

I leaned back against the railing for a moment, taking it all in. The laughter, the teasing, the smell of grilled meat mixed with summer heat. Everything felt… grounded. Calm. Safe. And it wasn’t often I got to just be part of a family scene like this, without school drama, internships, or some elaborate mission threatening to explode at any second.

Mom called out, “Alexander, stop leaning and help Lila with the lemonade!”

I trudged over, dramatically, and pretended to groan while grabbing the pitcher. Lila rolled her eyes, laughing. “You’re useless. But cute, I guess.”

“Cute is my middle name,” I said, pouring the drinks with exaggerated care. “Don’t forget it.”

She snorted. “We’ll see about that.”

The conversation around the table was loud and overlapping. Aunt Angie had cornered Dad about some ridiculous home improvement idea. Uncle Lucas was rolling his eyes while holding a spatula like it was a weapon. Aunt Lyra was giving a dramatic retelling of some incident from work, and I had no clue half of what she was talking about, but her hand gestures alone were entertaining. Grandma Serena and Grandpa Julian were trying to orchestrate a prank on Dad’s perfectly aligned condiments, whispering back and forth, laughing every time he glanced in their direction.

I caught Lila’s eye across the table and raised mine in silent acknowledgment. The moment Dad’s back was turned, we both swooped in and accidentally swapped the ketchup and mustard bottles. Perfectly executed chaos, classic us.

I laughed quietly as Dad turned around, eyebrows raised, inspecting the switch like he had just discovered a minor earthquake had occurred. Mom covered her smile with her hand, shaking her head. “Alexander, Lila,” she said mildly, “you two are going to be the death of me.”

“Worth it,” I whispered under my breath, elbowing Lila. She snorted quietly.

Later, we all moved toward the backyard. The sun was warm, the breeze light, and the small pool glinted like a promise. Lila and I made a beeline for the water, laughing as we splashed each other, water dripping everywhere. Some of the adults were lounging nearby, drinks in hand, exchanging small talk and casual banter. It was peaceful. Ordinary. And yet, somehow, exciting, because ordinary family gatherings weren’t really ordinary with us around.

Grandpa Julian decided to jump in after a dare from Grandma Serena. Dad just shook his head, muttering something about reckless, while Grandpa Arthur chuckled like it was the best comedy show in town. Lila and I teamed up to ambush them both with a sneaky splash, laughing until our sides hurt.

“You two are hopeless,” Dad said finally, arms crossed, trying to look stern but clearly enjoying himself.

“Totally,” I said, grinning. “And proud of it.”

Lila snorted. “Hopelessly awesome, maybe.”

Dinner came together in a chaotic fashion: grilled steaks, corn on the cob, salads, and a mountain of desserts that I wasn’t brave enough to even start counting. Everyone claimed their territory at the table, some talking, some teasing, and some exchanging the latest family gossip.

I ended up sitting between Lila and Uncle Lucas, laughing at some story Aunt Angie was telling about Mom’s questionable past fashion choices. Lila was smirking like she had insider knowledge of some embarrassing moment. I leaned in and whispered, “Tell me later. I’m ready for it.”

She smiled and nodded, taking a bite of her burger. “Later,” she said. “But brace yourself.”

The sun began to dip lower, casting golden light over the terrace. Drinks were refilled, laughter continued, and the kids were running around with sticky hands, half-grilled marshmallows, and pure energy. I caught a glimpse of Evelyn shaking her head at some minor mischief but clearly enjoying the chaos silently. Isabella sipped her tea nearby, smirking at how Dad meticulously grilled each steak, muttering instructions like a drill sergeant.

I looked at Mom and Dad, standing together near the grill, and for a moment, everything felt… perfect. Not in a life is perfect way, but in a “we’re here, together, and that’s enough” way. Lila nudged me, probably noticing the same thing.

“Hey,” she said quietly, “we should probably stop plotting the next chaos move for a second and just enjoy this.”

I nodded, resting my arm casually on the back of her chair. “Agreed. Though it’s hard not to, you know?”

She laughed, nudging me again. “Yeah, it is.”

As the evening settled in, we moved inside. Some of the adults played card games; others were deep in conversation about vacations and finances and who-knows-what. Lila and I found a quiet corner of the house we could claim as ours, grabbed some leftover snacks, and pretended like we were undercover agents on a mission.

“You think they notice we’re always together?” I asked.

Lila shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. But honestly, I don’t care. I like it.”