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chase filthy-minded boys away from Katie and feed this battalion of humans you created.”
    Evan made a frustrated sound, his hands balled into fists. Matt punctuated his next words with the long fork, feeling ballsy as all get-out. “And you know? I get that that freaks you out, that I'm doing what Sherri did.” Saying her name aloud felt bold. “But hey, here's an idea—appreciate it, get over it or change some shit if you don't like it. But give me some credit, okay? This isn't all about you.”
    He got the platter and his beer and very purposefully walked into the kitchen.
    Goddamn, that went well. Okay, maybe Evan was thinking about punching him or changing the locks. But for Matt, the screaming avoider, that was epic. He almost wanted to call his friend Liz the headshrinker and point out how awesomely mature that just went.
    “Hey, dinner's ready,” he called, waiting for the stampede of feet. Ellie was setting the table with Elizabeth's help.
    “Where's Daddy?”
    “Shutting off the grill. He'll be right in,” Matt said smoothly, throwing his empty into the recycling and grabbing another. “Ellie, you want something more grown-up than lemonade or Diet Coke?”
    “Can you open the bottle of wine I brought?” she called.
    “Ohhh, classy. What, did you think we only had beer or something?”
    “Do you only have beer?”
    “Yes.”
    Matt opened the cabinet door.
    “Uhh…”
    “A juice glass is fine. At least tell me there's a corkscrew,” Ellie said.
    “Yeah, it came with the bottle opener.”
    * * *
    Dinner was nice. Evan joined them, quiet at first, then warming up. The kids were jazzed for a trip with Ellie and Walt, who had no children and a lot of spare income, and that meant lots of treats. They discussed the supplies needed for a three-hour drive, staying in a cabin for three days, and the ride back; apparently this involved a lot of chips, canned pasta, and bottles of soda.
    Matt glared at Elizabeth who dissolved into snickers as Ellie promised as much canned pasta as they wanted.
    “Just 'cause it's a vacation,” Matt said, mock stern as he gestured toward the little girl with his fork.
    “They'll eat healthy, I promise,” Ellie backtracked, but from her expression, Matt knew she'd cave. Probably before they left the city limits. These kids were that good, with the big eyes and sweet smiles and conning ways. Adults were putty in their hands.
    The conversation went on, louder and louder until Matt found himself watching Katie, Danny, and Elizabeth compete for their Aunt Ellie's attention. He forgot sometimes their lack of a female figure; teachers were one thing, but these kids had been raised almost entirely by Sherri as Evan worked those crazy detective hours. To go from that to testosterone heaven couldn't have been easy.
    He found himself glancing over at Evan, sitting at his side but off in his own world.
    “Hey, we should do something for the long weekend,” he murmured. “Go away, just the two of us.”
    “I probably…”
    Matt smelled “have to work” as clear as the lingering charcoal from outside. He just nodded and looked back toward the kids.
    “I probably have to talk to Vic, find out the schedule. Maybe not the whole three days but at least two,” Evan's voice found Matt, low and tense and tinged with something desperate.
    Now Matt felt guilty for playing the Sherri card outside.
    “Listen…”
    “I'll take care of all of it, okay? Just leave it to me.”
    Matt wanted to apologize but didn't. Something told him it would just make things worse for Evan.
    Chapter Four
    Evan waved at the kids from the front door as Walt pulled the Expedition he'd rented out of the driveway. They were overpacked and stocked with enough food for the apocalypse, all smiles and blown kisses as they disappeared from sight.
    He didn't let it bother him that they'd be so far away. That he'd failed to think of something fun for their last long weekend of summer—his and Matt's spat on the deck