“Hey, Tate,” she said breathlessly as he turned to take her groceries to the island. “What are you doing? Other than eating my food?”
Tate smiled sheepishly as Lucas shrugged his shoulders. “Getting the closet done. We leave this weekend for a week-long trip, back for three days, then back out for another week, so I wanted to get it done today since I’m about to be really busy. Tate wasn’t doing anything so I made him help me.”
Audrey doubted Lucas had to make Tate do anything. He was still grinning at her, and she couldn’t help but smile back as she unloaded groceries.
“Well that blows. What will I do without my favorite brother-in-law, and my cupcake monster over there?” Audrey joked.
Tate laughed as Lucas bumped shoulders with her. “Help Fallon out with Aiden, please, and who’s a cupcake monster?”
Audrey nodded toward Tate. “Him.”
“Tate?” Lucas looked over at him, then back at Audrey. “He eats your cupcakes?”
Audrey laughed. “Yes, he does.”
Lucas eyed Tate for a moment before saying, “Okay.”
She could tell by the tone of his voice that nothing was okay, but she ignored it, continuing to put away groceries.
“Oh, Tate!” she gushed, turning from the refrigerator. “I thought of something that only a few people know.”
He smiled, leaning against the island. “What’s that?”
“I am an intense club dancer. I be breaking it down, son,” she said, before doing her rendition of the robot.
Tate laughed, shaking his head. “I don’t believe it.”
“Oh, I’ll show you. We’ll have to go dancing.”
Tate nodded, his eyes piercing hers. “I look forward to it.”
Audrey grinned widely at him before skipping to the sink to clean off her chicken. When she turned and saw Lucas staring at her, she said, “What?”
“Nothing, I didn’t know you guys were hanging out.”
Audrey nodded. “He’s my neighbor.”
“Well, yeah,” Lucas agreed, before looking over at Tate. “Is that all?”
Tate put his hands up and said, “We’re friends, apparently.”
“Apparently?” Lucas asked as Audrey shook her head.
“Yes, we are just friends, no worries, Lucas,” Audrey said, patting him on the back.
Tate knew he should have been worried about the way Lucas was eyeing him, but he was too busy taking in the beauty that was Audrey. Even wearing a dress that resembled a big brown bag, she looked gorgeous. When she came in singing—yeah, she sounded terrible—it was nice to see her so carefree and happy. He liked that little peek into her private life, and he wanted more than anything to be a part of it.
After finishing their lunch, he and Lucas went upstairs. It had been a long day after a sleepless night, but there was no way he could sleep last night when he still could feel Audrey’s lips on his. He’d spent most of the night playing his piano. When he had to wake up early for practice, he was hoping to take a nap. But Lucas needed his help, so here he was, banging a piece of wood with a hammer.
For a monstrosity of a closet.
“Does she really have this many shoes?” Tate asked, glancing over at his friend.
Lucas looked up and shrugged. “She’s your friend, apparently, shouldn’t you know that?”
Tate chuckled. “Let me have it, man, don’t hold back.”
Lucas shook his head. “I have nothing to say. Should I?”
Tate picked up another board. “What can I say, Luc? I’m attracted to her.”
“Of course you are; she’s gorgeous. But didn’t you think you should have told me?” Lucas asked, one hand on his chest. “I’m your best friend and that’s my sister we’re talking about—the sister I never had.”
“I’ve been planning to tell you. How did you even know?” They had hardly spoken for five minutes downstairs.
Lucas scoffed. “The sparks were flying, dude! She would smile and you would go all starry-eyed while she batted her eyes at you. Honestly, it was disgusting.”