“You’re adorable. Come sit down.” He tugged at my shirt, and we sat, knees knocking under the table, arms so close I felt his warmth through his shirtsleeve.
“What’s on your schedule for today, boys?” Marjorie looked across the table at us. It was a perfectly innocent question, but my mind went straight to sex and more sex. I wanted to drag Hunter back upstairs to bed. Stay there all day, making him come, listening to his laugh, his soft murmurs.
“I’m going to show Regge the fine borough of Brooklyn. We’ll hit the high points—Brooklyn Bridge, Prospect Park. Oh, and we’ve got to get lunch at Schreiber’s Deli.”
“Too bad the Mets aren’t playing,” Marjorie mused into her cup. She rose and opened the fridge. “I’ve got some bacon. Regge. Do you eat bacon?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do. But you do not need to cook for me.”
“Oh, I’m not. I’ve got my volunteer day at the center today. But Bruce will. I taught him to be handy in the kitchen.”
“He is a pretty good cook.” I leaned into Hunter’s shoulder.
“Regge is too, actually. He even cooks over campfires.”
“Really? You guys went camping? Never thought I’d see that. Bruce was always more of a board game kid. We tried tennis lessons once.” She smiled at her son. “Remember that? Oh my, that was a debacle.”
“Ma.”
“I don’t think anyone has ever smashed a ball into the line umpire three times in one game.”
“Ma!”
I laughed. Hunter blushed into his coffee mug.
Marjorie’s eyes brightened. “Honest to Pete, It was like he was aiming for the poor man.”
Hunter looked up at his mum. “Don’t you have to get going? You don’t want to be late.”
Turning from the fridge, she gave me a conspiratorial wink. “I think they pulled everyone from the sidelines for fear he’d take an eye out.”
“Ma.” Hunter sighed. “I’ll cook the bacon. Enough tales of my athletic prowess, okay?”
I smirked. “Is that what you call it? Athletic prowess? This sport is the same as Royal Tennis? Like the queen played? Maybe you should teach me.”
“I’ll teach you some games.” Hunter’s tone rumbled in the lower register of his voice.
Marjorie cleared her throat. “I’m going. Boys, you behave yourselves.” She sailed out of the kitchen, her travel mug of coffee in hand. “And turn off the coffeepot.” The front door closed behind her.
Minutes later, the smell of bacon filled the kitchen as Hunter slid two perfect over-medium eggs onto a plate.
I beamed at him. “I will become accustomed to this.”
“My cooking?”
I crumbled a slice of bacon over my eggs. “Yes.” I took a bite, savoring the flavor. I liked the view of Hunter sitting across from me. “’Tis the whole reason I am here. Just your cooking skills.”
“Asshole.”
I gripped the front of Hunter’s faded T-shirt and pulled him closer. “Okay, and your video gaming skills.” I kissed him. “And possibly your driving. Since I don’t have my license, that’s useful.”
“Oh. Glad I’m useful then.”
“And me? What could you get used to about me?”
“You? You are a total ego boost. I mean, look at you.” He sat back and grinned at me. “No one would guess someone like you could besobad at Fortnite. Or Halo.”
I pretended to pout. “So glad I’m not the only asshole. Because that would be lonely.”
