Elio had never been to a rowing club or a boathouse before and was immediately aware of all the exposed, muscular thighs and broad, sculpted shoulders. Including the women. He was the last to notice a person’s physique but there were so manyshortshorts and tight tank tops, despite the breezy, autumn morning.
He spotted Riley on the bank, thanks to his brightly colored striped scarf and mittens but he was alone. “Where’s Luna?” Elio asked as they got out and went to join him.
“We’ll catch up with her at brunch. She spent the night at the Mosbys’ with her cousin, Cadence. Luna’s not much of a morning person and doesn’t have the patience for this when it’s cold out,” Claire explained and Elio nodded.
“Mornings are overrated, especially Sunday mornings.”
“We’ll see!” Claire said, then opened her arms when Riley greeted her with a hug. “These are for you, my love,” she told him as she handed him the pastries and his cocoa.
“You are the best,” he said and offered Elio a cheerful wave. “Morning! Are you coming to brunch with us too?”
“Probably no?—”
“Of course, he is!” Claire said, cutting Elio off with a wide grin. “How did our boys do?” she asked as she shielded her eyes and searched the water.
“Great! They’re already done!” Riley said and pointed at the boathouse.
Elio turned and it was odd, the way time slowed and everyone but Milo and Giles disappeared. He really hadn’t been paying attention to how handsome they were before or noticed that Giles had pressed the copy and paste buttons when he made Milo. They were truly clones, but Giles had agedwelland was the kind of handsome that was hard to look at. Like staring directly at the sun. They laughed as they teased each other and Giles ruffled Milo’s hair before throwing an arm around his neck. Both were dressed in tight t-shirts and sleek shorts, but Elio was suddenly warm as he noticed howniceMilo’s thighs were and the way his shirt clung to his chest and abs.
“Biology!” Claire whispered in Elio’s ear. “I don’tloveGiles like that and I’m not attracted to him anymore, but I still like to look because my best friend is ridiculously hot and fit,” she said and Riley sighed dreamily.
“It isn’t fair, is it? I’m so lucky!” He was beaming as he took a bite out of a Danish.
“Look who I ran into when I was getting our cocoa!” Claire said and gave Elio a nudge to wake him up.
“It’s good to see you again,” Giles said as he offered Elio his hand.
“Good to see you too,” he said as he shook it then nodded at Milo. “Good morning. I trust you had a good…row,” Elio said with a wince. He didn’t know a thing about the sport. Or most sports for that matter.
“It was great!” Milo said, his eyes bright, his cheeks pink, and his hair wind-blown. “But I’m starving. Can we get going? I already know Riley won’t share.”
Riley shook his head as he held out Milo’s hoodie and track pants. “I love you very much but I need all of them. It’s a long ride to Briarwood Terrace.”
“No it’s not,” Milo, Claire, and Giles said in unison.
“Hurry and put on your clothes before you catch a cold,” Riley told Milo, changing the subject.
Elio was able to think clearer and time behaved as it was supposed to once Milo put the rest of his clothes on. They all piled into the Range Rover for the short drive to Briarwood Terrace and it was as crowded as Elio had expected. Both of Max’s daughters were there, along with Sophia’s husband and their twins. Morris’s parents were also there and Luna and Cadence were in the living room, working on a craft at the coffee table with Dash.
“When was the last time you had a decent meal, young man?” Reid asked accusatively.
“I had a salad on the train last night,” Elio replied but that resulted in a stern look.
“We can do better than that. Come over whenever you need a meal. There’s plenty of food and we always have room for one more,” he said, then handed Elio a loaded plate. “Sit wherever you can.” Reid waved absently and headed for his seat at the overcrowded table.
Elio could see why so many of their new friends and family gravitated towards Briarwood Terrace and it was mentioned so frequently. The atmosphere was warm and inviting and everyone was treated like family. But the mood was particularly boisterous as mimosas were topped off with fresh champagne and the French press was passed around.
It was a bit too much for Elio so he took his plate outside onto the back terrace. Milo was sitting on the bench at the end of the narrow, paved yard, where Elio had spotted him with June a few days earlier.
“Mind if I join you? It’s a full house in there,” Elio said with a snort. “I haven’t met a more pleasant collection of humans, but they’re a lot all at once.”
“Must be your first brunch at Briarwood Terrace.” Milo scooted over and gave the spot next to him a pat.
Elio nodded as he sat with his plate. “Thanks,” he said and Milo canted toward him.
“I don’t always feel up to it so I’ll skip brunch and go home with a pizza and eat it in peace. But it was a good week.” He smiled and his satisfied sigh made something in Elio’s chest and his lips tickle.
“I had a good week too.”
