Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 264

CHAPTER 152-T

By Saturday evening, the clubhouse looked nothing like it did on an ordinary night, because strings of lights had been hung between the trees, folding tables covered the back patio, and a huge pile of wood waited in the clearing behind the building.

Someone had dragged out a portable speaker, someone else had brought enough food to feed twice as many people as we had invited, and the children had already claimed the area around the fire as their personal territory.

I stood near the picnic tables with Emma while she arranged a tray of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers.

“Do you think they’ll actually leave enough for the adults?” I asked and Emma looked toward the children.

“No.” She said.

“That was quick.” I said.

“I’ve watched them for ten minutes.” She said.

I laughed as Sophia ran past us carrying a bag of marshmallows.

“Those are for everyone!” Sophia yelled.

“We know!” The kid yelled.

Her answer came from halfway across the yard, and Emma shook her head.

“They are definitely yours.” Emma said.

“I bought three bags.” Sophia said.

“You bought four.” Emma said and I looked at her.

“You’re keeping count?” I asked.

“Someone has to.” She said.

Music drifted across the yard as the first flames began to catch, and the clubhouse slowly filled with the sound of conversation and laughter. Members arrived with their families, carrying chairs, coolers, blankets, and enough snacks to make the entire evening feel more like a festival than a simple club gathering.

Jace appeared beside me wearing jeans and a dark shirt, and he slipped one arm around my waist.

“You look happy.” He said.

“I am.” I said as he glanced toward the fire.

“You’re also holding three marshmallows.” He said.

“I’ve learned from the children.” I said.

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“Should be concerned?” He asked.

“Only if you try to steal one.” I said and he leaned closer.

“I wouldn’t dare.” He said.

Claim

I smiled and rested my head briefly against his shoulder before Mason called everyone toward the fire.

The children immediately gathered in a circle, while the adults settled into chairs behind them and Mason stood with his hands on his hips.

“Who wants to tell the first ghost story?” Mason asked and every child raised a hand so he looked at them and laughed.

“That was a mistake.” He said as Sophia jumped to her feet.

“I have one.” Sophia said.

“Of course you do.” He said.

She began telling a dramatic story about a ghost who lived inside an abandoned motorcycle shop, and the children listened with wide eyes while the adults tried not to laugh.

According to Sophia, the ghost had glowing red eyes, walked without making a sound, and appeared every time someone forgot to turn off a garage light and Ben leaned toward me.

“That story is going to give me nightmares at work.” Ben said.

“You’re the one who leaves the lights on.” I said.

“I do not.” He said and Mia looked over.

“You absolutely do.” Mia said as Ben sighed.

“I feel attacked.” Ben said.

The children laughed, and Sophia continued her story with even more enthusiasm.

By the time she finished, three younger children were sitting closer to their parents, while the older ones were already arguing about whether ghosts could actually exist.

Another story followed, and then another, until even the adults started contributing and Jace whispered beside me.

“I think Derek is enjoying this too much.” Jace said as I looked across the fire.

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