Ford had told me not to worry about opening the diner this morning—that he’d talk to Addison and Aiden and get it taken care of. And with the way Addison’s gaze was pinging around the space, it was clear she knew Everly had stayed with me last night and was trying to figure out what was going on between us.
So this was going to be fucking fantastic.
I narrowed my eyes at her, then back to my door that had most definitely been locked. “How’d you get in here?”
She lifted her hand and waved, a key ring with a single key hanging from her middle finger. “Magic.”
“I took all your extra keys.” After I’d had a close call when she’d nearly walked in on me jacking off—to thoughts of Everly, no doubt—a few months back, I’d ransacked her room at the inn and taken every spare key of mine she’d had—all four of them.
Addison rolled her eyes. “Obviously not.”
Before I could respond, Everly strolled out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel, and even though it was long on her, it still left little to the imagination. And now, after seeing every inch of her, I’d be able to imagine her in great, Technicolor detail.
I closed my eyes and scrubbed a hand through my hair, preparing myself for Addison’s reaction. I had no idea what was going on with Everly and me—if anything would happen beyond what already had—but having my sister walk in on us before we’d managed to discuss any of it between ourselves was about as bad as it could get.
Addison’s gaze bounced between Everly and me, her eyes gleaming and looking downright devilish. “Well…” she said, dragging out the word.
I stabbed a finger in her direction. “Not one fucking word.”
Either my sister was suddenly taking my threats seriously or she was in an exceptionally good mood this morning, because instead of taunting me like I expected, she mimed zipping her lips and tossing away the key.
“Kinda cranky this morning,” Everly said. “I figured you’d be in a better mood after…you know.”
I snapped my head in her direction, narrowing my eyes, which only pulled a laugh from her.
“Well, I didn’t need to hearthat.” Addison shuddered, then looked at Everly, her eyes heavy with concern. “But apparently my brother is good for something, because you’re in better spirits than I thought you’d be.”
The smile melted from Everly’s face, and she sank into one of the leather chairs, tucking her wet hair behind her ear. “I don’t think it’s really set in yet, honestly.”
“You got out. You got Chuckanut out,” Addison said. “That’s all that matters.”
“Yeah.” Everly nodded. “You’re right. It could’ve been worse.”
“So muchworse. Everything else is replaceable.”
If my gaze hadn’t been glued to Everly, I might have missed the brief flicker of despair that flashed across her face at Addison’s words. True, she’d gotten herself and Chuck out, but that home and everything in it were the last things she had of her aunt. The only things that had brought her to Starlight Cove in the first place.
“Yeah,” Everly said, her voice scratchy and raw. Her throat was probably still killing her, thanks to the smoke inhalation. Not to mention her reactions in the shower. At least I hadn’t shoved my cock down her throat like I’d wanted to. I had something going in my favor.
I gripped my towel—God knew I didn’t need a wardrobe malfunction with my sister in the room—as I grabbed Everly another water before thrusting the bottle at her. “Drink.”
She glanced up at me, the corner of her mouth tipping up. “Back to single syllables, I see.”
Her eyes held a sadness I’d never seen from her before—she could find the silver lining in a hurricane—but even that didn’t diminish how gorgeous she was. I scanned her face, cataloguing every inch of her. Drops of water dotted her shoulders, drawing my gaze to the expanse of skin on display, and my cock twitched beneath my towel.
Great. Not only was I getting hard with my sister in the room, but I was doing so as my best friend was reeling from the fire that’d cost her everything. Apparently I’d turned into a fifteen-year-old boy who only cared about his needs and who popped boners thanks to a gust of wind.
Suddenly very aware of the fact that I was standing three feet away from my sister with only a thin piece of terry cloth covering my junk, I twisted back to glare at her. “Why are you still here?”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s rude.”
“Oh good, then itiscoming across.”
Everly laughed and slapped my leg with the back of her hand. “Don’t be mean to your sister.”
Addison waved off her concern. “After growing up with these assholes, I learned not to take shit personally.”
“Can you take your shit elsewhere, then?”
