“Because you always liked it when I made things hard,” I said truthfully.
She sucked in a breath and then started picking at her thumb. “Because everyone always did stuff for me, I liked the challenge…”
“Still do?”
She hesitated, then grabbed the box, “It says to vent two corners and put it on a cookie sheet.”
“Done.”
“Did you pre-heat the oven first?”
“I’m a pro.” I winked. “Hope you don’t mind all the carbs.” I remembered days where she ate nothing but water and protein shakes to stay thin.
With a shrug, she tossed the box in the trash and rounded the corner island. “Do I look like I care about carbs anymore?”
“No.” The word slipped past as I took in her curves. “And I mean that as a compliment.” I reached out to touch the rounded edge of her hip then thought better of it. “You look good. Healthy.”
“Healthy like a horse?” she baited, her eyebrows shooting up to her hairline.
“Yeah, but a really shiny one.” I said with amusement. “With pretty hair.”
“And teeth?”
“Of course,” I agreed then cleared my throat as an awkward silence descended between us. Somehow I was only a foot from her body. I could feel her heat, taste her in the air. “I’ll let you know when it’s done.” I knew I was dismissing her but there was only so much I could take without actually taking.
Her smile fell. She might as well have punched me in the gut. I didn’t realize how much I missed her smile until it was suddenly gone — until it was my fault it had left in the first place.
“Okay…” She tucked her hair behind her ear and left the kitchen.
I leaned against the bar and hung my head.
It was going to be fine. Now that I could breathe air without her in it, I could focus, focus on feeding us, and going to bed.
Separate beds.
The doorbell rang.
A door swung open.
Shouting voices were heard all throughout the beach house.
And then Zane Andrews in all his shirtless glory was standing in my kitchen with two bags of marshmallows and enough chips to feed a small country. “We decided to crash the party.”
“We?” I felt a headache coming on.
He grinned triumphantly. “All of us.” He tossed a bag at my head. “Because when friends are complete jackasses, it’s the other friends’ duty to help!”
“I didn’t ask for help,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Aw, friend…” He slugged me in the shoulder. “You didn’t need to. I heard you loud and clear the minute I heard about the kiss… Even saw your tongue, nothing I ever care to see again by the way. Hey, did you hear about Demetri’s pet bird?”
“I do not have a pet bird!” Demetri roared, stomping into the kitchen, “Stop spreading shit about me! I fed it once! And now it’s all over twitter!”
“The hash tag’s #Demetristweety,” Zane burst out laughing, “It’s trending.”
“How the hell did that even happen?” I reached for my phone in my back pocket then realized it was out in the living room. Where was his publicist, Niall? He was paid to keep shit from exploding like that.
Demetri pointed at Zane. “He made it happen. Have I mentioned how much I hate when this guy’s not touring? Too much damn free time.”
Zane flipped him off. “Don’t hate on the guy who sold out Madison Square Garden.”
“Because of us!” Demetri threw his hands in the air. “Wait.” He reached for Zane’s phone. “What are you doing?”
“Tweeting.” Zane took off running. Demetri followed.
“Children,” I muttered under my breath. “It’s like having children.”
Alec’s deep voice had me nearly stumbling into the sink. “Yeah well, I say actors are way harder to deal with than musicians.” He held out his hand. I shook it. “At least you don’t have to potty train them.”
“Hah, the stories I could tell.” I sighed. “Is everyone really here?”
“Oh, yeah.” Alec bobbed his dark head, “And tonight’s date night so… things might get a bit crazy, the grandparents are watching Ella.”
“Crazy as in?”
“Let’s just say… this might be the first party shut down in history — that has no alcohol.”
“Can’t wait.”
IT WAS ABSOLUTE mayhem.
Zane was running around shirtless while Demetri chased him through the house, Alec and Nat were making out on the balcony, where I’m assuming they thought they were hidden, clothes were coming off faster than I could blink.
My own brother was in the corner with Dani while Jay and Pris talked loudly about safe sex.
And I was in the middle of it all, grinning, trying to keep track of all of the different conversations, the yelling, the buzz of being around people — nice people.
I had never fit in.
Not with anyone.
And it’s not like I suddenly did.
But, for the first time, I wasn’t sticking out, I was just… part of the gang. And it actually felt really good.
Better than I could have ever imagined.
Even though I was tired.
And dreaming about my pillow.
“Question,” Lincoln pried himself away from Dani and pointed down the hall. “Why doesn’t this room have a door?”
I felt myself tense. “That’s a fantastic question, you should ask Will.”
Lincoln crossed his arms.
I didn’t feel an ounce of pity that my brother was about to lose his shit all over Will, until Lincoln started narrowing his eyes at the lack of a door, then at me, and then the empty space.
I’d forgotten that he always assumed the worst when it came to my behavior — because I’d never given him a reason to believe the best.
It stung.
I flinched when his entire face froze and an angry snarl replaced his smile, “It’s not what you think it is, Will’s just making sure I don’t make bad choices by way of drug addiction, pornography, or anything else illegal, I’m lucky to have my own bathroom.”
The muscles along Lincoln’s jaw ticked so violently I actually stepped away from him as he stomped across the room.
Will just rounded the corner in time for Lincoln to punch him in the face.
I covered my mouth with my hands. And a small part of me cheered, even though I felt bad for Will.
I mean I was the one without the door. I was the one who had to suffer knowing that he didn’t think I deserved any kind of privacy, like a prisoner in his home.
“What the f—”
Lincoln jerked him to his feet. “She has no door.”
Will rubbed his jaw. I’d never seen him fight a client; he was always controlled. The adult within a group of spoiled celebrities.
So I expected him to tell everyone to calm down and have a rational conversation.
Instead, he charged Lincoln, driving him directly into one of the nice fake plants on the wood coffee table.
It broke beneath them.
Jay yawned behind his hand and nodded at me. “So, what’s this about a door?”
“I don’t have one.” I pointed at the guys still struggling to throw punches. “Shouldn’t you do something?”
“My money’s on Will.” Zane handed Alec a bill.