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Fast, but careful, she raised up and pulled me free. “That’s my phone. Actually, that’s Killian’s ring tone.”

“You could call him back.”

She moved to the edge of the hot tub. “You’re right, but he’s just getting back to normal after his ordeal.”

I stretched and grabbed one of the towels on the ledge. “Here, babe. You don’t need to take a header because you’re dripping.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, wrapping the towel around her body.

“It’s fine, Mick. Make sure everything’s cool.”

Chapter 11

Who Is He?

Mickayla

I called Killian back because there was no chance he’d leave me a voicemail.

“What’s up?” I said when he answered.

“I’m at your place.”

“I’m not home,” I stated the obvious.

“I can see that, and since I just came from On a Lark, I know you’re not there either.”

I debated how to handle this. “What do you need?”

“It’s New Year’s day. You harp on me about eating my black-eyed peas for good luck…I thought—”

“You thought you’d mooch some off of me?”

“I sound like a bad brother when you put it that way. It is a holiday.”

I pulled the towel tighter to me, settled my tush on the side of the bed, and chuckled. “It is a holiday, so Happy New Year, but you’re gonna have to learn how to warm up your own black-eyed peas. It isn’t difficult. If you’re lucky a grocery store is still open and you can warm them up at the clubhouse.”

“Mickey-mick, get it straight. If I were going to spend the night at the clubhouse, I’d already be at the clubhouse and a club bunny probably left some on the stove that she made - from scratch.”

I rolled my eyes. “There is no ‘from scratch’ with black-eyed peas, Kill. Anyway, you’re on your own. I’ll see you…the day after tomorrow if you’re working.”

“Shit. I forgot you have an extra day off. Who are you with? London? I’ve had her cooking before, I can swing by—”

This was one of the few downsides to being such close triplets. I couldn’t get anything by him or Ryan. And I agreed with Tundra - before anyone else intruded or knew about us - we needed a clear shot at figuring out if we had ‘staying power.’

“London went to Orlando. Sorry, but you should have told me you wanted to have dinner tonight.”

“Who is he?”

I bit my lip. “It isn’t your business if I’m with someone or not. And when it is, you’ll know because I’ll tell you instead of answering twenty questions. Love you bunches…bye.”

Killian gave a dissatisfied groan. “I love you, too, sis. Bye.”

“Couldn’t help but hear part of that. It sounds like one of your brothers is bustin’ your chops,” Tundra said.

I glanced his way. He stood inside the double doorway with a towel draped around his neck. It almost felt odd seeing him in swim trunks because I was so accustomed to him being in jeans, tees, and his cut.

“More like Killian giving me crap for not being at home to feed him New Year’s dinner - not that we had that agreement beforehand - so don’t let his guilt trip carry over here.”