“And blocked by the buzzer,” Thayne good naturedly laughs prior to kicking his chin at the device. “You should probably check that, aye?” Denial can be seen clearly in my expression. “Could be a work emergency.”
“This early?” I grumble at the same time I reach over to grab it. “Unlikely.” Casually swiping the answer button without bothering to look precedes me stating, “This is Gillian.”
“And this is her brother,” M lightly laughs from the end, “wondering why I’m talking to her ear.”
Snapping my attention over to see my brother’s sweaty face in the camera instantly fills me with panic.
“And why you’re still in bed.”
Horror has me aggressively pushing my goliath off me and flailing my hand towards my ensuite bathroom. “Uh…”
“You sick?” He wipes the sweat off his brow while I tug the blanket upward to cover my tits. “You’re usually in the office by now.”
“By now?” fumbles out in a confused whisper prompting me to check the time once my back’s resting against my padded, white headboard. “Holy shit it’s already nine?! When did that happen?!”
“After eight.” Additional chuckles shake his frame. “That’s how time works.”
His snarky nature is immediately met by a sharp glare. “Why are you like this?”
“Because that’s howbig brotherswork.”
Irritation and amusement fight for reign of my expression. “And why is mine up at four a.m. on his so-called vacation instead of balls deep in his wife?”
“Gotta stay in shape for the boys,” he smoothly informs. “Lead by example.”
The very mention of his team instills guilt.
Large.
Mountain sized.
Guilt.
He’s over there sweating for all of them while I’m over here coming foroneof them.
Pretty sure this is not the team player mentality he wants to hear about.
“And I’ll have you know,” cockiness clearly cuts into his tone, “I was balls deep in my wife last night, thank you very much.”
“Dry spellski over,” I warmly chortle. “Congrats.”
His dramatic hand wave and bow gets us both laughing.
Most people can’t talk to their siblings like this.
Especially not their brother.
But we’ve never been most people.
And I wouldn’t want us to be.
“Puck’s passed back to you, Gilly,” M announces, sounds of the ocean waves crashing in the background behind him. “What gives? Why are you still in bed? Sick?”
Choosing my words wisely occurs on a small wince. “Late start.”
“Because of a late night?”
Hesitation to answer remains prevalent. “You could say that.”
