“Hey! I kill at that rendition!”
Laughter erupted again, and for once, Andrew’s cheeks burned from something less mortifying than flirting—because he did an amazing Axl Rose impression!
“I’m sure you can enjoy that without me,” Ford said.
“And me,” Steven agreed.
“Come on, Dad, you can come,” Dalton argued. “Or we could do thatStar Trekmarathon finally. Dad’s a huge Trekkie too,” he said to Andrew.
“I noticed,” Andrew said, remembering the boxsets in his living room. There was a curious warmth that filled his chest every time he got to know Ford better, especially when their eyesmet, and Ford’s expression no longer boiled with murderous intent.
“Why don’t we start clearing the table for dessert? Andrew?” Candace stood, passing him a look that said she wanted to talk. He was feeling so good about Steven not being, well,Steven, he figured she was ready to eat her words too.
“I cannot believe Steve is fooled by that act,” she said the second the kitchen door swung shut behind them.
“…act?”
“Ford.” She turned to face Andrew after setting her dishes by the sink. “He’s an opportunist, Andrew, and you aren't the best at spotting them.”
A wave of nausea struck him as he quickly set down what he’d been carrying too.
“That was awful.” Candace cringed in sympathy, reaching out to squeeze his arm. “I'm sorry. It's only because I'm mad at Olivia too. For everything. She was just so predictable writing the article like that. I know it isn’t an act with Dalton. He’s a good kid, but he doesn’t know Ford like we do. You need to look out foryouonce in a while. Okay?”
The door opened with the arrival of Steven carrying more dishes, and Candace gave another parting squeeze before heading out of the room.
Andrew waited for Steven to say something next, some snide comment to prove he hadn’t been convinced either, but when all Steven did was quietly set his dishes down, Andrew had to ask, “You don’t think Ford is acting, do you?”
“Do you?” he asked after a slow, calculating pause, turning to lean back against the counter.
“No.” Andrew didn’twantto.
“He doesn’t seem to be,” Steven said, surprising Andrew with the softness in his tone. “You knew Dalton before. You trust him, he trusts his dad… I don’t know. Maybe I was wrong about him.Still glad you never dated though.” He patted Andrew’s shoulder jovially. “You two together would have been a nightmare.”
Andrew’s stomach roiled as he watched his brother walk away.
Dalton came in next before Andrew could move from the sink, like the kitchen doorway was a clown car with an endless stream of people trying to trap him.
“Brownies?” he asked.
Oh, right. “Yes. Best idea I’ve heard all night.” Andrew turned around to find the pan.
“Better than karaoke?”
“Good luck convincing Steve or your dad to come.”
“I’m pretty good at wearing people down. Though, usually, if they really want something, they tend to wear themselves down.” Dalton set his dishes on the counter, obviously meaning that in more ways than one and drawing Andrew’s eyes up from the brownies. “It sucks what happened with Olivia. Originally between you two and with the paper.”
“Thanks.”
“Nice to know you’re open to finding love elsewhere though.” He nudged his shoulder.
“Dalton!” Andrew chuckled helplessly. “You are relentless, but… maybe I am.”
“Hey, Dad!” Dalton whipped Andrew’s attention back to the door, where Ford had managed to enter silently. “Why don’t you help Andrew serve the brownies? I wanted to talk to Kevin about something.”
That little…
“Something, is it?” Ford sensed Dalton’s scheming just as easily.
