Gem reached over the chair between them and pinched his arm. “Meanie.”
“Lay that guilt on someone else. I knocked on his door to invite him down, but he’s busy staring at his phone and ignoring the living. Probably looking at all those sexy pics I sent him last night.”
Gem snorted. “Of what? You making love to your MoonPies? They’re not a basic food group, you know.”
He stood up and reached for the bottle of wine. “Says you.”
“Have you put on weight?”
He glanced down at his belly and gave it a long look. Despite his nerdy inclinations, Wyatt kept himself fit. “Doesn’t matter anyhow. I had to send them all back.”
She gave him an impish grin. “So I won’t find a hidden stash if I dig in the back of your drawers?”
He winked and refilled his glass.
Claude swaggered into the room. Shirtless. “I would say that something smells good, but I don’t smell much of anything except onions.”
Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Man, put something on. This isn’t a casting call forGladiator. Your chesticles impress no one around here.”
Gem reached out, and Claude leaned down to give her a hug.
“How are the injuries healing up?” Blue asked.
He sat down at the other end of the table, across from Niko. “I should be snipping hair in no time.”
“I think someone is milking his vacation time,” Wyatt said to me. “Breakfast in bed, a sponge bath…”
I erupted with laughter. “Who gave him a sponge bath?”
He pointed both thumbs at himself. “Yours truly. Viktor’s orders. I just can’t figure out why it is I can’t offer my services to the opposite sex.”
I gave him a pointed look. “If you ever come into my bathroom with a loofah, I’ll lay you out.”
Everyone dug in, complimenting my food and conversing about the weather and other unimportant matters. Maybe I wasn’t such a bad cook after all, but I certainly didn’t want to make it a habit.
I glanced at Christian’s empty chair to my left but said nothing.
After Viktor finished his plate, he abruptly rose from his seat and tossed his napkin down. “Please excuse me.”
A few moments later, he returned from the kitchen with a round cake pan. A flame lit the top of a short candle, and my brows arched. Breed didn’t celebrate birthdays, so I looked around at everyone for a clue as to what was happening.
Viktor set the cake in front of me and took a seat.
“Uh, what’s this for?”
“I made this yesterday, special for you.”
“Day-old cake,” Wyatt said with an amused look on his face. “You’re special.”
“Let me finish.Spasibo.Raven, your week in the kitchen has taught me that this rotation is not going to work out between all of us. You have no concept of meals or planning ahead, Wyatt never reads directions, Christian boils potatoes with abandon, and Gem puts candy sprinkles on everything. Effective immediately, I will begin searching for a live-in servant. Someone who will cook our meals, do the laundry, and—”
“Keep our secrets?” Niko asked. “That’s a lot of trust to impart in someone.”
Wyatt pointed his fork at him. “Niko’s right. Maybe we should hire someone who’s deaf.”
Blue shook her head and laughed. “Deaf people aren’t blind.”
Viktor pinched the candle out and cut the cake as he would a pizza. “Would you all prefer to continue your life of servitude? I have a pile of underwear that could use a good ironing.”
