I shrug, lifting my cup to my mouth, taking a sip. "It's not that hard," I tell them. "You're pretty different."
Pain flashes in Maverick’s eyes before he turns away. I wonder what I said wrong.
Mason gives me an apologetic look, sadness filling his features. He shuffles over to his brother, putting his hand on Maverick’s shoulder. Mason murmurs something to him and Maverick nods, not looking happy about whatever Mase says.
Shit. No nicknames. Leaving. Cannot get attached.
Luc strides into the room in a similar fashion to Dominic, heading straight for the coffee machine. Although, something tells me Alec's not about to make Luc's coffee like he did Dominic's.
Mason tells us breakfast is ready and we all gather around the table.
Dominic tugs me towards him, silently telling me to sit with him. There's one chair left by the time we all sit down and I try to imagine what this 'J' is going to be like. I wonder what he thinks about some random girl whom he has no knowledge of, staying with him and his friends.
Maverick breaks me out of my thoughts when he hands me the bacon. I take a few pieces before passing it down to Alec who's on my left. We do this several times with eggs, toast and a few fried vegetables like broccoli and mushroom.
It's rather silent as we eat, focusing mainly on the feast in front of us.
"You guys cook like gods," I tell the twins who grin. Well, Mase grins. The corner of Maverick’s month curls up which might be his equivalent of a smile.
"Don't tell them that," Luc grumbles.
"It'll go straight to their heads," Dominic chimes in.
The twins object and tell Alec to intervene. Alec finishes his mouthful of food before saying, "Sorry, guys."
They cry out in mock outrage causing me to laugh. Everyone's suddenly quiet. Smiles fill the table.
"What?" I ask, confused.
"Nothing, Rory." Mason shakes his head with a gentle smile.
I pester Dominic on my right but he merely gives me a mysterious smirk.
As we're clearing the table, Alec hands me two painkillers.
"Thanks," I murmur. He turns around and grabs a plain black bag off the bench, holding it out.
"It's got your lunch in it," Alec tells me with a sad smile when I look at him confused.
He made me lunch?
I take it from his outreached hand and before I think about it, I wrap my arms around him. He freezes momentarily before embracing me.
"Thank you, Alec," I whisper and he hugs me tightly. When I let him go, I realise everyone else had disappeared.
He grabs the two blue lunchboxes of the bench. I go to pick up my bag from beside the table but Alec beats me to it. He puts my lunchbox in there before putting it over one shoulder, his bag on his other shoulder. He heads towards the garagebefore he stops and fills up a water bottle, putting it in my bag too.
He blushes slightly when he sees that I noticed. He grabs my hand and tugs me towards the garage.
“Come on,” he encourages me and I follow him to where a black Dodge RAM is sitting idle.
There’s a toolbox in the tray where Alec puts our bags. He gets in the passenger side seat and throws the two blue lunch boxes into the backseat.
“Missing anything, guys?” He says dryly.
“Oops,” The twins respond in unison. Given the way Alec simply rolls his eyes, I’d say this happens often.
I notice Luc standing beside the back door in long flannel pyjama bottoms. He comes over and opens the car door for me.
