Breaker:Now there’s a good aunt.
Lia:For the record, Birdy is a blonde, and blondes aren’t your favorite. So curb your displeasure.
Breaker:A blonde? Huh, maybe this one I’ll like.
Lia:Only time will tell. Seriously, though, you’re good with this? I can cancel with Brian.
Breaker:No, it’s good. Seriously. Might be nice. I haven’t been out on a date in . . . well, a long time.
Lia:I’ve never seen you out on a date. This is sort of exciting. I get to see how Breaker puts on the moves.
Breaker:Please don’t stare at me the entire time, watching my every move and smirking behind your napkin.
Lia:The urge to do just that is sitting very heavily on my chest because the joy I would reap from that is so overwhelming that my cup would be full for weeks. But I understand such behavior will cause you to sweat, and no one likes a sweaty pickle.
Breaker:Your concern for me feels so genuine. Thank you.
Lia:Anytime. So do you know what you’re going to wear?
Breaker:Can we not do this, please?
Lia:Umm, great suggestion, but no. Brian setting you up with Birdy is probably one of the best things to ever happen to me.
Breaker:More than your engagement?
Lia:Don’t tell Brian . . . but maybe.
Breaker:I always knew you were a different breed, but this really proves it. I’m going to bed.
Lia:But I’m not done teasing you and testing your patience.
Breaker:At least you’re honest about it. Good night.
I raise my hand to the wall and knock four times.
She knocks three, and for the second night in a row . . . I don’t get much sleep at all.
ChapterFour
LIA
“Today is the day!” I singsong as I make my way through Breaker’s apartment to his bedroom, where the curtains are drawn and he’s still in bed. Just a lump of a human sprawled across his mattress. “Good morning!”
“Grrrrrrr,” he growls into his pillow.
“Time to rise and shine,” I say while I fling open his curtains, flooding his room with the brilliantly bright California sun. “It’s date day.”
“Which is not until tonight, so why are you bothering me now?” he groans while placing his pillow over his head.
I turn to face him and spot part of his ass cheek hanging out for the world to see. “My God!” I say, covering my eyes. “Your butt is showing.”
“That’s what you get for walking in on me. You know I sleep naked.” He adjusts his blankets.
“How would I know that?”
“You’re my best friend. You should know everything about me.” His voice is muffled by the pillow, but I can still understand him. “Like I know that if I were to remove this pillow, I would find you in a pair of bike shorts, some random Zelda shirt, and your hair clipped up because you can’t have it touching your neck so early in the morning.” He moves the pillow to the side to get a look at me, and when he knows he’s right, he smirks and puts the pillow back.
“That was a lucky guess.”
