I press a beer bottle into his wiggling fingers, staring down at the sea of nuts, screws and bolts littering the floor. “Quits? How hard can building a TV unit be?”
Grey tips the neck of his bottle at me while Hudson sniggers in the background. “You do it, then.”
“Why did I even ask you two dummies for help?” I ask, picking up the box Hudson dumped and placing it in mybedroom. I probably won’t get to unpacking it for another couple of days, but at least it’s where it belongs.
“You didn’t,” Hudson replies, head lolling against the back of my sofa. “You simply dragged us along for the ride.”
“Yeah, well.” I wipe my hands on my tracksuit bottoms, grabbing a third bottle for myself and swallowing back half of it in one gulp, hoping it’ll take the edge off after today’s stressful moving day. “Now I wish I hadn’t.”
My tone lacks any real bite. As does Hudson playful roll of his eyes and Grey’s mumbled “Fuck off”.
For a moment, my brothers and I drink in companiable silence, the only noise a beeping car horn which drifts in through the cracked open window.
The floorboards creak a little as Grey spins slowly in a circle. “This place is really nice.”
I grin. “Thanks, mate.”
No matter how annoying my younger brothers are, it’s moments like this that I wouldn’t change for the world.
“Yeah,” Hudson agrees, thumping me on the back when I sink into the cushions beside him. “Good picking, bro. Although, I’m guessing it wasn’t the amazing view that sold the place, but the fact that your estate agent let you fuck her on those kitchen countertops back there.”
I turn to glare at Grey who stands sheepishly staring into his beer bottle.
“You are the worst secret keeper in the world.”
“I’m sorry!” He shrugs, gesturing to Hudson. “He weaselled it out of me.”
I bring my hand to my brow, rubbing at the third-day stubble coating my jawline. “Who else knows?”
“I only told Noah.” Grey ticks off the name of our eldest brother who lives back up in the Cotswolds with his wifeFaith and their almost three-year-old daughter, Mollie. “And Delilah…”
“Gee knows too.”
“Oh, for fucks sake! So, everybody knows?”
Hudson nods, taking another swig. “Pretty much. While we’re getting things off our chest, I know I wasn’t supposed to, but I told Gee about the whole stupid fake pact Becker and you made.”
My heart skips a beat at the mention of Calla’s and I’s agreement. “It’s not stupid—”
“Delilah knows as well.”
“I know what?” chimes a familiar voice, causing all three of us men to look towards the door.
Delilah and Giselle stand in the doorway, a bottle of what I think is wine, clutched in hand.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Grey crosses the small space to scoop his soon-to-be-wife into a large hug, pressing his lips to hers.
I watch, heart clenching, as Giselle does the same, tucking herself under Hudson’s arm, lashes fluttering when he presses a light kiss to the top of her head.
“Aw, did we miss helping bring in the boxes?”
“Yeah, babe. We finished about ten minutes ago.”
Giselle tuts, but her smirk gives her away. “Damn. Dels and I really wanted to help, didn’t we?”
Delilah hums along, pulling a laugh from my chest. “You can finish the TV unit Grey’s given up on, if you really want.”
Giselle tips her head back, staring at Grey upside down. “Instructions get the better of ya?”
