Mimi leaned in close and held a finger up to his face. ‘Never, ever use the word giant to describe me, ever again.’

He grabbed her finger and kissed it. ‘You know I only get away with it because you’re smoking hot, right?’

‘I think I’m going to be sick again.’

This time he guided her to the bathroom.

*

‘What’s on for today?’ Pete asked as he placed a bacon and egg roll from Pinky’s takeaway down in front of Mimi.

She was sitting at the kitchen table massaging her temples and thanking the gods that Pete had taken the twins for a walk in their stroller around the corner. Returning with the girls fast asleep and a bacon and egg roll were the cream and the cherry on top. She didn’t deserve the guy.

‘Oh damn,’ she said. ‘I was meant to line up at Aldi this morning for the bike accessories special for Tara. What time is it?’

‘Err, it’s midday.’

‘I’m a terrible mother,’ she said, picking up the roll and taking a huge bite.

‘No, you’re not. I could have gone and got it.’

‘Ha. We all know I’m the Christmas shopper in this house. Remember the iPhone 8 incident?’

‘Of course I do. Between you, Callie and Tara, I’ll never be allowed to forget it. So, you reckon all the bike gear will be sold out?’

‘It’s likely. But I should still go and check it out.’

‘Want me to?’

‘Honestly, my preference would be to go myself and leave you here with the twins, if you don’t mind?’

‘Nope. Why would I mind? I get to chill on the couch and play Xbox. When are we expecting Tara home?’

‘That’s a good question. I can’t remember what I organised with Leesa.’

On cue the doorbell rang.

‘Speak of the devil,’ said Pete, jumping up with far too much energy and enthusiasm. ‘I’ll get it.’

Mimi eased herself up from the table and followed Pete to the door, carrying the bacon and egg roll with her.

She was relieved to see Leesa looking just as dishevelled as she felt. She was wearing oversized dark sunglasses and when she spotted the bacon and egg roll in Mimi’s hand, she almost fell through the door, grabbing at it.

‘Give me that,’ she said. ‘I need a bite.’

Tara weaved through her parents. ‘Are the girls awake?’ she asked.

‘Yep, they’re lying on the blanket in the lounge room,’ said Pete.

‘You don’t expect me to give this back, do you?’ Leesa asked, taking a bite of the roll.

‘Yes, yes I do.’ Mimi tried to wrestle it back from her friend before Pete intervened.

‘Here, I’ll go and cut it in half for you two.’

They followed him into the kitchen and Callie appeared from the stairs. ‘Can I smell bacon?’ she asked.