I slope into the kitchen without replying and fling open the cupboards, sorting through the food we bought this afternoon, grabbing what I need. I pluck up a knife on my way out and head straight back into the bedroom, climbing onto the mattress and propping myself against the headboard.
“Please tell me you don’t plan on eating that in my bed.” He stares at the brownie I’m prizing out of the packet.
“You eat onmybed literally every day!” I snap back, waving the knife at him. “As do your friends. So, yeah—I plan on eating this right here, right now.”
“What happened to all those good intentions?”
“What happened to you answering my questions?” I fire back.
He sighs, grabbing a box of tissues from his desk and tossing two my way as he shuffles over to join me on the bed.
“Eww! Get your jerk-off Kleenex away from me!”
“Excuse me?”
“My brothers have scarred me for life,” I explain.
“Anyone ever tell you you’re weird?”
“Shhh… Let me savor the moment.”
I inhale the sweet scent of mass-produced chocolate, and I’m salivating so hard I have to swallow. Then the long-awaited taste hits my tongue and explodes across my taste buds—and I can’t help the moan that escapes me. It’s the moan of a girl who’s just remembered what happiness tastes like.
“Holy hell,” I murmur with my eyes closed. “This is the best day of my life.”
When I open my eyes again, Lane is staring right at me.
“What?” I ask, mouth full.
“Nothing.”
“I cut you a piece, okay? Don’t try to act like I was planning to eat the whole tray by myself!” I shove a slice into his hand and grab a fresh slab, raising it up to him in a toast.
I nod at the pages littered across his desk. “How’s your script coming along?”
My changing subject throws him off. I can tell he’s surprised I’m not beating the point to death. What he doesn’t know is that my plan is actually to take the scenic route, and slowly but surely coax him into opening up some more.
“It’s not,” he replies. “I’ve been lacking inspiration lately, but Carter’s ruthless—he knows how to make sure I pull my weight.”
“You guys been friends since you were kids?”
I remember how Becca once told me he and Lane had known each other for ages, but I want him to talk to me about it. Or just talkto me about himself, period. He takes a deep breath in and shoots me a sideways glance. I can’t stop looking at his lips.
“Yeah.”
What a storyteller.I get the sense he wants to tell me more, but he’s shut down again, and though I’m a little disappointed, I don’t let it show. If there’s one thing living with him has taught me, it’s that you have to tread carefully with Lane.
“Want help?” I place the brownies on his bedside table.
“You’re offering to help me work on a porn movie?” He cocks an eyebrow.
“Stop looking at me like I’m an old prude! Like I said, I have some pretty horny brothers. Let’s just say I know more than I’d like.”
“Sounds like there’s some kind of ulterior motive here.” He grins and shakes his head as he walks over to his desk. “If it were anyone else, Lois, I’d say you were coming on to me.”
“Yeah, well, it’s just little old me!” I singsong, settling deeper into my seat. “Your phone is buzzing, by the way,” I add as it lights up by my knee. “A certain April?”
I swipe up to check the photo on the screen. “Wait, I know her!” I say, outraged. “She’s the girl you brought home last month! Give me a heads-up if she’s coming over, I’ll sleep in your car.”
