“What’s for breakfast?” Ryder asks, coming into the kitchen. He squeezes my shoulder on the way by, jerking the refrigerator door open.
Leo and I exchange a glance. “I guess we order something,” Leo answers.
Ryder turns around with his nose wrinkled. “Again?”
I laugh. “None of us can cook, Ryder.”
“Where’s Micah?” Ryder asks hopefully, making me laugh harder.
“Not here. Said he had something to take care of,” I tell him.
“Fuck,” Ryder grouches, slamming the fridge door. “I want real food.”
“I can cook.”
All of us turn as one to that voice. Zane is standing just inside the kitchen doorway, looking like he wants to be anywhere but here.
“Nah, man,” Leo answers with a smile. “We can fend for ourselves.”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind,” Zane says, walking further into the kitchen. Ryder backtracks toward Leo and me on the other side of the island.
They haven’t been in the same room together except for dinner last night, and even I have to admit, it was awkward as fuck.
By the time Zane is at the fridge pulling out ingredients, Ryder has made it beside me. I look up into his face, and he’s glaring at the back of Zane’s head, that muscle ticking in his jaw. I grab his hand silently, tugging for him to sit down. He squeezes once before letting go and leaving the room.
Leo and I share another glance; Leo shakes his head. We can’t ask for much, but Ryder will eventually have to get over this thing with Zane, just like he did with Leo. I hope it doesn’t take something like what happened to Les and Gage for that to happen.
Zane goes about cooking, and either doesn’t know Ryder left or doesn’t care. Zane seems to be trying when it comes to all of us.
“Does anyone know where Alessa is?” Leo asks, breaking the silence in the room.
Zane chuckles, dumping ingredients into a bowl. “She seems to be a little busy with Dex.”
“Oh,” I say lamely. I don’t know what else to say. He seems to be okay with all of this, but is he? Zane is coming into an already established relationship with not one but five other guys. That can’t be easy, especially since the girl involved is a girl you love.
“What does that mean?” Leo asks.
“I went to work out. I could hear Les screaming from the shower,” Zane answers, stirring. “And not the I’m fucking scared screams.”
“The I’m getting my brains fucked out screams?” Leo asks, trying his hardest not to laugh. We’re used to those, Zane, not so much.
Zane looks over his shoulder. “Exactly like that.”
Leo loses his battle; he starts laughing, “Get used to that.”
Zane grunts in answer before pouring whatever he’s making into a skillet.
“Ohhhh,” Gage says, striding into the kitchen beside Zane, looking over his arm to see what he’s doing. “Whatcha making?”
Zane pushes him back with his arm. “Pancakes. Now back the fuck up.”
“Can you make mine look like Mickey Mouse?” Gage asks with a pout.
That sets Leo and me off laughing again. “If you don’t get out of my face, I’m not making you shit. Sit down,” Zane answers, not affected by Gage.
“Come on, Zaney,” Gage pleads. “I had a rough childhood. Take pity on me.”
Zane stops pouring, turning slowly to Gage. “Sit. Down.” he grits out.
