That last part.
After everything that happened at JC Fig and then in my burger bus last night, that last part is the biggest problem. Even bigger than the things I’m not saying—he doesn’t like me, I hurt him, he doesn’t want to see me again, and I feel bad about it.
And I think everyone in this kitchen knows it.
The part where I’m lying that I’m not interested in falling for him.
I’m still working through how I feel about him not liking me. I’m not ready to share the part where I actuallydolike him out loud yet.
Hudson heaves the most massive sigh that he’s capable of heaving. “Fiiiinnne. We can get your stupid tea and scones for breakfast, and then I’ll help you at work today.”
Margot rubs his hair. “You’re such a good little brother. I wish I had a younger sibling as awesome as you.”
Daphne throws a slice of pizza crust at her.
Margot shrieks and ducks it, then dives into the booth to tickle Daphne like we’re all seven instead of nineteen to thirty.
Hudson stares at them, not blinking, not entirely horrified, but close. “That would be a lot hotter if you all weren’t my sisters.”
“Quit being such a hornball.” I rescue my tea as it sloshes over the sides with the ruckus happening on the other side of the table, then scoot out of the bench and set my computer aside. “I’m going to shower. And I’ll take you to the diner instead of making you have tea and scones. Just because I love you.”
He makes eye contact with me, half grinning like he knew I was going to take him to the diner all along, and for a split second, I see my dad in him.
The way his lips quirk. The light in his eyes. Definitely his nose.
I’m seeing Dad in him more and more these days.
And I’m not at all sad about that.
I like knowing our parents are living on in us.
“Do you love me enough to let me shower before you take all of the hot water?” he says.
Margot and Daphne are still giggling at the table, but they both look at me, then at each other, and then they simultaneously roll their eyes.
Hudson glances at them. “Don’t start, water hogs. Bea, give me five minutes. I need a shower.”
“Who’s a hot water hog?” Daphne says. “You better be fast. Margot’s taking me cheese shopping, and I don’t want to smell like I’m the cheese when we walk in the building.”
“I said I’ll be five minutes,” Hudson says.
“And we all know that means forty, because you’re going to the diner, and we all know who works at the diner on Sunday mornings.”
He flips her off and saunters back out of the kitchen.
She grins at me. “Your turn, Bea. What’s it gonna take for you to flip me off too? My day isn’t complete until I’ve annoyedeveryonearound me. And don’t smile while you do it. I need to know Iseriouslyannoyed you.”
“How do you tolerate her every single day?” Margot asks me, also smiling.
“She’s like the fourth brother I never had.”
Margot laughs.
Daphne does too.
“Oh, hey, you know what we should all do after cheese and the carnival?” Daphne says.
“Eat and watch television and pretend I don’t have to go back to the city for work?” Margot says.
