"Hey." I raise my voice so it's over the kettle boiling. "I'm taking orders. What can I get you?" I flourish my hands to show him all the cups lining the bench.
Alec chuckles, his eyes lightening like I hoped they would.
"Do you know how to use the coffee machine?" Alec lowers his mouth til it's near my ear so he doesn't have to yell.
I shake my head. "Luci was helping me but he got distracted. The guy's are setting up a video game on the TV. I figured it couldn't possibly be that complicated to figure out…but it is."
Alec laughs softly, his melodic voice making my stomach flip flop all over the place.
The kettle finally quiets now. Alec reaches into the cupboard and pulls out another cup.
"How about you do our teas and I'll make the guys coffees?" Alec offers with a warm smile. With not much distance between us, I can clearly see the splatter of freckles on his nose, less visible when he's wearing his black glasses.
"Sounds good!"
I use the time to distract myself from the feelings settling under my skin like they belong there. Alec feelswaytoo familiar to the others but I'm not sure he feels the same. Other than ourtoo-close-a-momentthe other day when he told me about his mum, he hasn't really indicated anything like the guys have.
But maybe that's a good thing. That's one less piece of my heart I'm going to have to give up when this blows up in my face.
Mav told me Alec was on the phone when I questioned where he was. He looks tired.
"Do you think I could steal you away later?" Alec breaks me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah." I drop a tea bag into my cup and his. "What's up?"
He doesn't turn away from the coffee machine when he replies. "I'm starting a new series. I was wondering if you wanted to read it together."
His shoulders are a little tense as he speaks but his voice is casual.
"Yeah, that would be great," I tell him. I shift so that he can't see my smile when he turns around.
I feel him step up behind me. His hand rests on my centre of my back, keeping me still as he reaches around me to get the milk. I suck in a breath when Alec lingers in my space for a moment before stepping back.
He gives me a brilliantly bright smile that I return, feeling almost giddy at the thought of spending some time together. Fuck, I’m in too deep.
It's when he goes to pour the milk into the guys coffees, his attention off me that I can finally breathe again. I realise that when he got the milk, he also put the lavender and honey in front of me. His way of silently telling me to use his mum's recipe.
My heart warms.
When we're done, we each grab a handful of cups and he follows me into the living room.
"You guys suck at being gentlemanly," Alec announces, passing around the guy's drinks.
They're sprawled around the room in different positions, the twins laying on the floor, seeming to be trying to hook something up to…something? Eh, as long as they know what they're doing.
Mason looks up from what he's doing with a frown. "Luc was supposed to do that."
"Lucgot told to get his ass in here and unplug shit so you didn't fry it," Luci retorts from where he's squatting behind the TV.
He rises and steps over some cords to take his coffee from me. "Sorry, Butterfly. I was coming back but I got distracted." He kisses my cheek in apology.
"It's okay, Alec helped me." I smile up at Alec who's cheeks go a little pink.
Luc laughs quietly at Alec’s reaction, just loud enough for me to hear.
I hand Alec his tea who thanks me before taking a seat on the couch.
Jace looks up and crooks his finger, silently telling me to come to him.
