Fucking hell.
I lean my elbows over the kitchen island and take out my phone to open the app for the local pizza place, and just as I select Maddox’s order, a text comes through.
The boys’ planes are delayed, Tina, my step-mother, says.Looks like your father and I will be waiting a few more hours. Don’t order dinner for us. We’ll just take the boys to the waffle place when we get them.
I switch over to our text thread and type back.Okay. Sounds good.
Did Reed get home?she asks.
He and Maddox got here about a half hour ago, I reply.
Oh, I wasn’t sure if Maddox was staying. I made up the office for him in case.
He’s staying in the pool house.
Where is Reed sleeping?
I believe he’s chucking everything out of the spare room now, I reply, knowing Tina had been using that room for storage.
Of course, he is, Tina says.Okay. I’ll clean it up for him tomorrow.
Be safe tonight. We’re ordering pizza now.
Okay. I’ll let you know when the boys land.
I send her a thumbs-up emoji and click back to the pizza app.
The entire time I’m selecting our dinner, I feel eyes on me.
I refuse to look up.
He is your brother’s friend, I remind myself.
Also, a work client as of this moment.
Off-limits.
Shit, why did that make him that much more attractive?
I suddenly wish I had brought more than just one toy to play with.
“Hey—”
I jump at the sound of Reed’s voice and whip off the counter to face him as if he’s just caught me doing something I shouldn’t be. Reed’s wide eyes narrow on me, face scrunching up in that comical, confused way that he has.
“The fuck is wrong with you?”
I shove him. “You sneaking up on people is what,” I say.
His frown turns into that sideways grin of his that I know he uses to his advantage every chance he gets. “You’re still jumpy?”
“Yes,” I answer, and he laughs. He doesn’t press the topic anymore as he opens up the fridge.
“Tina stocked the pool house fridge for you,” I say when he grabs a hard cider. “Why didn’t you tell her Maddox was coming?—Oh, grab me one.”
After popping the top with his teeth, Reed hands me a drink, then settles on the barstool across from me with a sigh. I pick up the cap, staring at the teeth marks on the aluminum.
“You’re going to break your teeth,” I say.
