“There’s nothing wrong with his face!” I glare at him. “You’re lucky he isn’t here, or he’d claw you.”
“Pfft.” Calder plops down on the sofa before swinging his legs up to recline. He’s so tall that they drape over the other side “I’m not scared of a cat.”
“You should be.”
Warren still has scars from the time he snooped around my bedroom upon my father’s instructions. Served him right.
Hale peers to get a look. “Can I see?”
Cautiously, I turn the phone around, feeling like an overprotective mother showing off a picture of her baby.
“Aw, look at the little guy.” A huge smile breaks over Hale’s face. “I’d love to meet him sometime.”
I monitor his reaction, wondering whether he’s being serious until the twinkle in his eye tells me he is.
“Hale loves animals,” Riven adds for my benefit. “He was studying to be a vet until?—”
“Kady doesn’t want to hear about that,” Hale cuts him off, checking his watch. “I’m sure Ezra will be back soon. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable, Kady?”
I draw out a chair at the dining table then sit down, my knee jiggling under it. Their gazes scorch my skin as I avoid looking at them, taking particular interest in the books laid out in front of me. There’s a heap of puzzle books.
I pick one up, flipping through to find that most have been completed. “So I guess someone likes puzzles?”
“They help me unwind and switch off.” Riven sits down in the chair next to me. “Do you like them? Or games?”
“I like chess.”
Riven beams. “Hell, yeah!”
Calder groans while Hale shakes his head. “Don’t mention chess in front of Riven, he’s never lost a game.”
Riven smirks. “None of you are any good, that’s all.”
“It’s not exactly a fair game,” Hale counters. “Plus, Riven’s a mathematical genius.”
Riven shrugs, downplaying it. “Numbers just make sense to me.”
The door bursts open, and Ezra hurries in, swaying under the stack of pizza boxes in his arms. “I hope you’re all hungry.”
The guys spring into action. I offer to help, but Hale insists that I stay seated as they go about laying out plates and cutlery. Intrigued, I watch as Riven brings out bottle after bottle of sauce. They have an impressive collection of condiments, offering everything from cool ranch to spicy chili.
“I really shouldn’t stay.” I bite my lip, eyeing the bulging stuffed crust.
“You’re here now.” Hale pries open a box, unleashing the mouthwatering smell of melted cheese and spicy pepperoni into the air. “You may as well eat.”
My stomach growls as he pushes the box in my direction. What harm would eating one slice do? I’m only human.
Once we’ve all piled up our plates, I listen during the meal while Riven talks animatedly about the latest star constellation he’s researching, and the conversation turns to everyone’s days. I can’t believe how quickly and how much the guys eat.
“I was up at 5am for work.” As Hale runs his hand through his dark hair, I notice the slightly dark circles under his eyes. “It’s been a long day.”
“I remember you dropping off that hideous lion statue at the photoshoot.” I can’t stop my lips from kicking up on one side. “You make deliveries, right?”
“Something like that,” Hale replies, causing Calder to snicker.
This amount of food must’ve cost a fortune. Although Hale and Ezra work, I can’t imagine a professor and delivery boy get paid much. Riven told me he doesn’t have a job, and Calder’s busy with his editorship, although he gives me trust-fund vibes.
“I can give you money for the food?” I offer. My monthly allowance from my father is more than most people make in months. “It’s the least I can do to apologize.”
