I hear him let out a sigh before turning to me. I start to eat the food as Gears talks.
“I want you to eat a good breakfast, so you are fueled throughout the day. I don’t care if you are late. You are a hard worker and get your work done. I am worried that you aren’t eating enough and will pass out. From now on, I am going to ask what you had for breakfast and check the cameras or have someone watch you,” Gears says.
I glare at him. I don’t need someone to watch me eat breakfast. I am an adult and can make my own decisions.
“I can make you breakfast in the morning, so you don’t have to think about making it,” Butch says.
I shrug. I wouldn’t mind him making breakfast for me, but I don’t want to take up his time.
I hold my hand out for Gears’s phone, and he places it in my hand.
I don’t want to make you do it. You already cook me lunch. I can cook myself breakfast.
“It’s no problem at all. I eat breakfast around the same time and can just make extra for you. It won’t take up any time at all. And then a random stranger doesn’t have to watch you eat breakfast,” he replies.
I would rather have Butch watch, instead of a random person. I know I won’t get out of this agreement and decide to go with it.
I nod and give him a smile. I might need to start working out if he is making me breakfast and lunch.
“All right, it’s settled. Now I don’t have to worry, and definitely don’t have to tell Bear about you not eating breakfast,” Gears says.
Bear doesn’t need another thing to worry about me. It is sweet that he worries, but sometimes too much can be bad.
I get up from my seat and grab my now-empty plate. My stomach is so full, and I feel satisfied.
“Don’t you dare do that. I got it. I saw Bear sit at the bar a couple of minutes ago. You haven’t seen him since this morning, so go say hi,” Gears says.
I turn and look at him, about to argue with him.
“I don’t want to hear it. You have the rest of the day off to relax.” He gets up and gently pushes me toward the kitchen door.
I stumble but catch myself before I fall. Butch and Gears laugh quietly. I turn around and stick my tongue out at them before making my way to the bar.
“Brooke, come sit,” Bear yells when I walk in, patting the spot right next to him.
The five other people who were in the room look at me as I make my way toward Bear. I slide into the chair next to him, and he puts his arms around me.
“I didn’t see you this morning. I tried to call you, but you left your phone in our room. Why?” he asks, passing me his phone.
I was running late to work and wanted to be there on time. My phone didn’t even cross my mind as something to grab.
“Oh okay. Was Gears mad about you almost being late?”
I shake my head. He didn’t even notice that I was late this morning.
“Come here,” Bear says.
He scoots his chair back, and I crawl into his lap, my chest to his chest. I lay my head on his shoulder as he runs his hands up and down my back. I let out a sigh and snuggle into his chest.
“Was work all right?” he asks.
I lean back and look him in the eyes. I smile and give him a thumbs-up. It was actually a pretty good day.
“I’m glad you had a good day,” he says.
I bet he could make it better. I give him a sweet smile and place my hands on his chest. He raises an eyebrow and looks at my hands as they slowly travel down his body, slipping under his shirt, and pressing against his bare skin.
Bear holds onto my wrists. “You don’t want to start this.”
