I turned the music down a little as I opened the dishwasher to begin unloading it. “How did you discover emo music? Or is this screamo? Sorry,” I laughed to myself, “this is totally out of my wheelhouse.”
She shrugged in my peripheral. “It was mostly my friends, I guess. I liked the sound and the lyrics of this one band Cole was playing, and it kinda just opened the door to music for me. I hadn’t really had an interest in music since…you. It was too much of a reminder of us.”
I nodded with a hum of understanding. “Well, it’s different than what I usually listen to, but I like it. I mean, I like getting to know these little details about you.”
I tried to get into it, broke out some dance moves which had her laughing. I even convinced her to dance with me around the kitchen. Admittedly, we weren’t getting much cleaning done, but it was much more rewarding getting to see her smile and laugh. Watching her light up like she didn’t carry the weight of the world on her shoulders.
When we finally finished cleaning up, I turned the music off and carried her to the couch. She gave me the stink eye for not letting her walk the few feet, so I pinched her butt, making her screech and slap my chest.
I dropped her onto the couch cushions, her body bouncing, and tried not to laugh at her glare.
“Shitbird,” she said, eyes narrowed like she was scheming revenge.
She suddenly hopped up, spinning around to my back, and slapped my ass. Hard.
I winced at the sting, but laughed, my head swiveling to track her as she ran to the opposite side of the room. Her eyes were alight with mischief as she bounced on her feet. She bit down on her lower lip as she tracked my movements. I smirked, stalking forward and watching her face as she realized that she had cornered herself in front of the fireplace.
“No, no, wait,” she pleaded through laughter. “Truce. Truce.”
“Nuh-uh.”
I pounced, wrapping my arms around her waist as she shrieked and swung her up over my shoulder. I chuckled as she swatted repeatedly at my ass. With one hand locked behind her knees, I used my other to slap her ass back.
“Dammit! This isn’t fair! You just wait ‘til I carry you around like a ragdoll.”
“I’d like to see you try,” I chuckled.
“Put me down, you shitbird!”
I spun around on my heel, heading for the couch and nearly tripped when I noticed a figure walking up the stairs.
“What the hell is going on up here?” Jae asked, his eyes bouncing between the two of us with amusement. Shiloh stopped hitting my ass and curled her head around to see Jae.
“Jae! Tell him to put me down,” she commanded.
Jae held up his hands. “Sorry, your glare doesn’t really work on me anymore. I know how much you like to cuddle to ever take your menacing look seriously.”
“You fucktrumpet, you should sleep with one eye open tonight,” she hissed.
We both laughed as he passed us on his way to the kitchen.
“You shouldn’t tell people when you’re going attack them,” Jae mocked, reached out to pinch her cheeks.
Shiloh swatted his hand away from her face and he snickered, backing away from her.
“If this is like foreplay or something I can just leave.”
I laughed at Shiloh’s exaggerated groan.
“Yes, please leave.”
“Shut up, Enoch! Put me down. You’re gonna make me pass out.”
I rolled my eyes, but relented, gently tipping her body forward, until her feet landed back on the floor.
She huffed, straightening her clothes. I guessed she had tucked her shirt into her sweatpants while she was hanging upside down.
“Shitbird,” she whispered harshly, but I could see the smile fighting to break free. I pushed her hair out of her red face, and she flipped me off.
