Laverne sat at the head of the table and patted his hand. “Lila, dear.”
“Crandall?” Ian’s eyebrows snapped down. “Oh, they don’t like me. Why would you call them?”
Laverne patted his hand. “Don’t say that, dear. Besides, harvest is generally a family affair. Lila and her family can’t always make it, but since Oblivion’s not touring I thought maybe we could get them to come.”
“I don’t know, Aunt Laverne. She’s really busy. Besides, she’s your daughter. Don’t you think you should call?”
“Yes, of course. But you two need to make up.” She stood. “So, you’ll call her.” As if it was already decided, she bustled back into the kitchen. “Now one sandwich or two?”
“Two for me, please.”
I elbowed Ian.
He frowned at me. “What? You weren’t serious about me being fat.” He lifted his shirt and rubbed his six-pack. “These are coming along quite nicely, I thought.”
I pulled his shirt down. “Oh, for God’s sake.” I’d been intimately acquainted with those abs and I could attest there wasn’t an extra spare ounce on him.
He gave me a cheeky grin and stole a pepper from my plate. “Do you think it would be too much to ask for three?”
“Yes.”
“You’re probably right. Maybe she’ll have some crisps over there.”
I rolled my eyes. He was a human garbage disposal.
I pulled my phone out and went into the other room as they laughed and joked through the process of making toasted cheese. Mostly because Ian was looking to learn how and my aunt was all too happy to have another student in her kitchen.
My thumb hovered over Lila’s contact number.
I just needed to get it over with. I hadn’t been mad at my cousin this long since…ever. Lila may have been high-handed with how she treated me in regards to Ian and working with Ripper, but I knew it came from a good place. And she was protective of all her people, but with her family, she was a lioness.
I hit call and lifted the phone to my ear.
She picked up immediately. “Is everyone all right?”
“Everyone’s fine, LeeLee.”
“Oh.” She blew out a shaky breath. “I wasn’t expecting your call.”
“I know it. I should have called sooner.”
“It’s all right, I knew you needed time.” She paused. “We both did.”
“I’m sorry—”
“I’m sorry—”
We both laughed.
“I don’t like fighting with you.” I slumped into one of the oversized chairs in the main living space.
“I don’t either. I just didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“No one knew it was going to go that way.” I sighed. “All right, so maybe your instincts were on point for one thing—but the rest? No. Ian didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
“I’d say extortion counts as hurting someone.” Her voice turned clipped.
“Yes, but he couldn’t go through with it. He did everything he could to never go through with it. Even starving himself and sending all of his own money to Jerry.”