living covenant 03 - eternal covenant by Amanda M. Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

roles.”
    “I’m not getting worked up.”
    “That’s not how it sounds to me,” Aric said. “Zoe can eat what she wants. I guarantee she’ll still be able to sample the food at the tasting. I, however, will probably come down with a zombie apocalypse or something to get out of the tasting. Those are the breaks, though.”
    “Yeah, I’m going to get a zombie apocalypse, too,” I said.
    “We already figured you two would devise some way to escape your duties, so we rescheduled the tasting for noon and it’s being held here,” Helen said.
    “Ugh.” I glared at my mother. “This was your idea, wasn’t it?”
    “I’m sure I have no idea what you mean,” Mom said, her tone breezy as she crossed one leg over the other and flipped through a magazine. She was a master at that. It drove me crazy.
    “Kelsey and Paris are arriving today,” I reminded Helen. “I can’t do a tasting because I have to … do something wedding-y with them. Wedding-y. That’s a word, right?”
    “It sounds like a word,” Aric said. “When are they getting here?”
    The unmistakable sound of a car horn honking assailed my ears and I pasted a bright smile on my face. “Now!”
    “I’ll add more food to the breakfast menu,” Aric said, not missing a beat. “Gather your buds and try to keep the screeching to a minimum.”
    “Sir, yes, sir!” I kicked my heels together as I mock saluted.
    “That is very cute,” Aric said, dropping a quick kiss on my forehead as I moved to pass. “We’ll have breakfast on the deck, so do all your gossiping out back. I’ll take care of the angry mothers in here.”
    “I resent that,” Helen said. “I am not angry.”
    “Just give it time,” I called over my shoulder. “I can make anyone angry in ten minutes flat if I put some effort into it.”
    “Don’t sell yourself short, baby,” Aric said. “You don’t even need to put effort into it sometimes.”
    “You two will be the death of me,” Helen intoned.
    “Something tells me you’ll survive,” Aric replied dryly. “Now hand me the eggs.”
    “SO, HOW are things going during this happy, happy time?” Paris asked, throwing a bright smile in every direction as everyone settled around the deck table a half hour later.
    “They’re great,” I said, tipping my eggs on top of my hash browns so I could mash everything together. “Can’t you tell? We’re one big happy family.”
    Kelsey snorted. “I think the mothers in this scenario are about to mutiny.”
    “Eat your breakfast, Kelsey,” Mom ordered, her arms crossed over her chest as she tapped on her elbows. “Did Zoe tell you she kicked us out of her house today?”
    “You were in the house when we got here,” Kelsey pointed out.
    “We didn’t kick them out of the house,” I argued. “We kicked them out of the bedroom. They walked in without knocking – and it was before dawn.”
    “It was eight,” Helen snapped. “Dawn was three hours earlier.”
    “I think you’re mistaken,” I said, scooping some of my egg and potato concoction on my toast. “It was definitely before dawn.”
    Helen was flustered. “You are just … .”
    “Ignore her,” Mom said, waving her hand. “She does it on purpose. She thinks if she pushes people far enough they’ll give up and let her get away with murder.”
    “That is the way I live my life,” I agreed. “That’s how I snagged Aric.”
    “You didn’t snag me,” Aric countered, grinning. “I surrendered. I’m happy with my POW status, though.”
    “You two are still sick,” Paris said, although she seemed to be in a good mood. “What are we doing today?”
    “Unfortunately, Mom and Helen hired a wedding coordinator because they hated all of my plans,” I explained. “We have to sit through a food tasting.”
    “Then why are we having breakfast?” Kelsey asked. “Shouldn’t we be hungry when we taste food?”
    “That’s what I said,” Mom supplied, grinning. “She wouldn’t listen to me. Maybe