“No, it won’t.” While you’re doing that, I’m going to get you to trust me. Then the real work will begin. “Will you work with me?”
“Yeah.”
Wrapping my mind around the fact that I have a brother is going to be weird. “Good.” I thump him on the back, unsure if he can handle a hug. Then tug a small clump of hair out while ruffling his hair.
“Hey. That hurt.”
“At least I didn’t break your leg.”
Everett’s eyes go wide.
“Kidding. Though I will say Reck broke Ruin’s leg. We’re pretty sure it was an accident.” You can never be positive with those kids.
“Reck and Ruin?”
“They’re your cousins. And a menace to the world. You’ll love them.”
Fake Boyfriend
Fiona
Curiosity is killing me. What did Everett and Max talk about? Why did the air around them feel electric, like they were enemies squaring off, but that’s impossible. Everett is just a kid.
A weird kid, but still a kid.
Maybe I should ask Everett and not Max.
The thing is, Max is currently sitting in my bakery.
This is a bad idea. A very bad idea.
But that doesn’t stop me from grabbing a caramel almond cookie and a black coffee to bring to his table.
Should I sit down? Max had no problem joining me earlier.
Friends don’t worry about stuff like that. I set the cookie and drink down and slide in across from him.
Ever so slowly, he raises his head. A few locks of curls stay in front of his eye.
Are they soft?
What is wrong with you? Friends. You’re just friends.
Possibly not even that after this conversation. “Hey. How did things go with Everett?”
A smile spreads across Max’s face. “Fine.”
Is ‘fine’ code for terrible in man-speak like it is for women?
“Where is Dash?”
“Being cuddled by your daughter. Hope really seems to love babies.”
“She always has. I think it’s from having such a large family. There are always babies around.”
Wait. “Isn’t she an only child?”
“Yeah, but I have more cousins than you can count. They all decided it was their job to repopulate the world.”
