“Ori, it’s fine. You love them, they love you. That’s always been the case. Our being together isn’t what this is really about. They’re reminding you how much they love you. This would’ve happened whether we got together or not. This was just a convenient excuse to do it now.”
Mom and Dad looked at each other and Dad held up his hands. “He gets that from you.”
Thankfully, the doorbell rang. The only people who weren’t here were the only ones without a key. “Brenda, would you come with me to let them in? I’ve never met Nick.”
Normally, I’d have gotten an earful about needing a chaperone, but she was the reason they were crashing the party I didn’t want to have. Wisely, she chose not to heckle me. I clicked the intercom and said I’d be right there.
“Remember, you don’t know Grant. Nick is my coworker.”
Brenda was rarely this nervous. Either she wasn’t telling me something or she saw this as a big opportunity. “Are they a couple?”
“No. Best friends. Kinda like Orion is with Jax.”
I never saw Ori and my brother interact until recently, but I understood what she meant.
Trevor Grant stood on the front stoop, dressed casually in a polo shirt and khaki shorts. He was tall and athletic with a thousand-watt smile. His light-brown hair was perfectly styled. He was hot and had the swagger of someone who knew it but didn’t take himself too seriously.
Nick was tall and lean, a classic runner’s build. He was cute in a moppy-haired kid kind of way. Which was good since he had moppy brown hair. Less sure of himself, he clearly leaned on Trevor emotionally.
“Hi.” I held out my hand to Trevor, hoping it would be easier for Nick to engage if he went second. “Zeke Masterson. Welcome.”
“Trevor Grant. Thanks for letting us crash your party. I hear congrats are in order.”
I smiled at how he addressed the awkward upfront so I could squash it. “Thanks, and you’re not crashing. This is very low key.”
Turning to Nick, he offered his hand before I could speak. “Nick Fenton. Congratulations. This house is amazing. Mid-eighteen hundreds?”
I raised an eyebrow and looked at Brenda. “You didn’t tell me you had any cultured friends.” Before she could answer, Iushered Nick inside. “Pre-Civil War. The original part was built in 1853. If you’d like a tour, I’m happy to show off my dream house.”
“Here we go.” Brenda rolled her eyes dramatically. “Ever since he bought the place, he tells anyone who’ll listen.”
“It’s cool,” Nick said. “I’d love a tour if it’s . . .” He looked at Trevor, who smiled.
“Nick’s worried it’s bad manners to accept.” He put his arm around Nick. “He’s the politest person I know.”
“Manners?” Orion said, coming out of the kitchen. “Those are in short supply in the Masterson family.”
Ori shook hands with Nick and Trevor.
“Come inside and get a drink before Zeke whisks you off on the grand tour,” Ori said. “But in fairness, it’s a cool house and Zeke did a great job restoring it.”
I let Orion lead them off and fixed Brenda a pointed look. “That’s no ordinary angel.”
“Very good,” she said. “I’m impressed. I don’t see it, but Michael said he’s the fourth heir.”
Nick’s potential was vast, but the fourth heir? “How?”
“No one knows. Well, maybe Uriel does, but he isn’t talking to anyone, it seems.”
This was a crazy mystery. “No way.”
“Don’t look at me.” She held up her hands. “Thank your best bud Michael.”
I didn’t know who I wanted to throttle more, her for being jealous Michael let us stay with him or Michael for tricking me with the offer. I was going to do it, whatever it was Michael wanted me to do. “Did he tell you what he wants?”
“Not from you, but he will.” She kissed my cheek and returned to the kitchen.
Her show of affection told me I probably wasn’t going to like whatever was coming.
