The Alpha’s Surgeon

31

Finally, the girls collapsed onto the kitchen floor, still giggling but catching their breath. Rae plopped the ice cream container onto her lap, Del beside her with a spoon in hand, chocolate smeared across both of their fingers and cheeks.

“Okay… truce,” Rae declared, finally sitting upright. “We can… share… for like… five minutes.”

Del nodded, spoon poised. “Fine. But only because I’m still a little mad about that first bite.”

Remi rolled her eyes, leaning against the counter and laughing softly. “You two are ridiculous. But hey, this is exactly why I love visiting.”

The boys leaned against the doorway, watching with amused expressions. Will shook his head, smiling. “Every time I think the chaos is done…”

Trey chuckled, “Yeah, I was going to say, this is their calm.”

Elijah smirked, reaching for his own ice cream cone. “Speak for yourself,” he said, taking a single, careful bite.

Aspen, who had been sitting obediently at Rae’s feet while keeping an eye on the girls, suddenly perked up. His ears twitched. Then, faster than anyone could react, he darted forward, snatched Elijah’s cone right after that first bite, and trotted triumphantly back to his spot on the floor.

“Aspen!” Elijah exclaimed, laughing and groaning simultaneously. “That was mine!”

Rae nearly choked on her ice cream laughing. “I think he’s officially team chaos too!”

Del snorted, pointing at Aspen. “Look at him. He’s proud of himself!”

Will shook his head, amused. “This dog is going to be the death of us all.”

Trey leaned over to scratch Aspen behind the ears. “Nah, he’s the hero of the ice cream wars.”

Remi just laughed, watching Rae and Del finally start to dig into their spoils, while Aspen happily licked the stolen cone, tail wagging like he’d just won the grand prize.

The group shuffled into the living room, the warm light from the cabin lamps reflecting off the wooden walls. Pillows and blankets were strewn across the floor, and Aspen immediately claimed the biggest cushion like it was his throne.

“Movie time,” Del announced, plopping onto the couch with a dramatic sigh of relief. Rae flopped down beside her, still sticky with chocolate and ice cream, nudging Aspen out of her lap.

Remi settled in a chair, smirking as she said, “Remember last year’s chair race? You two were relentless.”

Rae groaned, throwing her head back. “I ended up in the river! Somehow Del won. How does she always win these ridiculous things?”

Del grinned innocently, ice cream smear still on her cheek. “Skill, my dear Rae. Pure skill. You can’t blame the river.”

Will, Trey, and Elijah exchanged amused glances from the other side of the room, watching the girls’ playful banter unfold. “She’s competitive,” Trey said softly, nodding toward Del.

“She’s terrifying,” Rae muttered, pouting but still smiling, nudging Aspen as he curled around her feet.

Remi chuckled. “Maybe this year you should strategize before letting Del get a head start.”

“I strategize, I lose,” Rae said, rolling her eyes. “It’s a curse.”

Elijah laughed quietly, shaking his head. “At least it’s entertaining for the rest of us.”

As the group settled, blankets pulled over laps and ice cream forgotten for a moment, the cabin filled with a comfortable warmth—the kind that comes from shared chaos, laughter, and the easy companionship of family and friends.

The movie flickered to life on the cabin’s old TV, the soft glow reflecting off the girls’ and boys’ faces. Rae immediately grabbed a handful of popcorn from the big bowl Remi had set between them, popping a piece in her mouth with a dramatic flourish.

Del rolled her eyes, snatching another handful and flicking a kernel at Rae. “Hey! That’s mine!”

Rae narrowed her eyes, laughing. “Mine now!” She launched a popcorn assault, tossing kernels like tiny missiles across the couch.

Will ducked just in time to avoid a particularly fast one, grumbling, “Seriously? Popcorn warfare? At least warn me!”

Trey leaned back, laughing, holding his hands up in surrender as a kernel bounced off his shoulder. “This is officially chaos.”

Elijah, ever the strategist, quietly retaliated, flicking a few kernels back at Del, who squealed in mock outrage. Remi tried to mediate, but a rogue popcorn piece hit her on the nose, making her sneeze.

Aspen, not one to be left out, leapt onto the couch, snatching a stray kernel and giving everyone a triumphant bark, as if announcing his victory in the skirmish. Rae laughed so hard she nearly fell onto Del, who immediately retaliated with a popcorn salvo of her own.

Between laughter, shrieks, and popcorn flying, the movie barely registered for a few minutes. The boys and girls exchanged playful glares, teasing remarks, and laughter that echoed throughout the cabin.

Finally, after a particularly aggressive popcorn barrage that left crumbs scattered everywhere, the group collapsed into the couch and floor in a heap of laughter. Rae wiped her chocolate-streaked hands across her shorts, still giggling. “Okay… okay… truce. For now.”

Del nodded, breathless from laughter. “Fine… but you started it.”

Will shook his head, grinning. “I don’t know if I’ll ever recover from this.”

Trey smirked, nudging Elijah. “It’s a good thing they’re on our side… mostly.”

Elijah chuckled, glancing at Aspen curled up victoriously beside Rae. “Yeah… we’re definitely outnumbered.”

The cabin quieted just a little, the movie finally drawing their attention, but the playful energy lingered, wrapping them in the kind of warmth that only came from chaos, laughter, and family.