I look over at Spence just in time to watch him shift awkwardly on the barstool, clearly unsure what to do with this level of Buterbaugh chaos.
“Umm—”
“Get to the important questions, Cricket,” Harper interrupts. “Are you single? We're both single. But I'll do things Cricket won't.”
Spence's eyes widen. I nearly choke.
“No. Nope. Veto. We are not talking about my sisters and the things they'll—”
Both of them dissolve into giggles. Spence just sits there looking completely shell-shocked.
“Sorry, Spence,” Cricket says. “You'll get used to us. We're harmless.”
Spence finally lets out a small laugh. “If you're anything like your brother,” he says dryly, “I highly doubt that.”
Harper snickers. “Ooh, he's salty. I like it.”
I watch Spence roll his eyes, but there's the tiniest upward twitch at the corner of his mouth.
“It's nice to meet you both,” he says politely.
“Oh, the pleasure is all ours,” Harper replies in the most shamelessly seductive voice imaginable.
I quickly spin the tablet back around. “Okay, that's enough of that. You're barking up the wrong tree anyway.”
My neck heats and possessiveness crawls up throat. Which is ridiculous. These are my sisters. They are literally thousands of miles away. And yet the jealousy monster inside me still wakesup snarling because apparently my stupid heart has decided Spencer Stark belongs to me.
I point toward the tablet while cracking another egg into the batter. “Spence prefers man muscles and a fat jock ass.”
I glance up just in time to catch the exact reaction I wanted—a stern look sharpened with heat.
Harper sighs dramatically. “Of course he does. Shoulda known. He's too perfect.”
Perfect. A direct hit to my heart.
I look up at Spence softly. “Yeah,” I say quietly. “He is.”
A tiny gasp sounds through the speakers. Oh. Right.
I slowly turn toward the tablet. Cricket has her hand slapped firmly over Harper's mouth. Cricket gives me the gentlest look.
“Ryan,” she says carefully, “I think Harper and I are going to come visit. Would that be okay?”
She lowers her hand.
“We are?” Harper asks.
Cricket elbows her.
“Oh. Yeah,” Harper corrects with zero shame. “We totally are.”
I laugh softly, warmth spreading through my chest so fast it almost hurts. “Yeah. I'd—um, I'd like that.” I smile at them. “Let's tag up later and plan it.”
Cricket nods. “Sounds good. We'll talk soon. Love you, Ry.”
Harper sings, “Love you, Ry-Ry.”
I laugh again. “Love you guys too.”
