“Hey!” I laugh.
We break into a fit of laughter, each of us mentally erasing a different part of that statement. It’s Mallory that brings us back to topic.
“So,” she says, “this non-info thing. It’s not fair. It’s not like Graham is going to marry me or something.”
She rolls her eyes and tries to make it seem offhanded, but it’s not. There’s a pain on her face that Sienna and I both pick up on.
“What’s going on with G?” Sienna asks.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” Mallory frowns. “I’ve left every possible hint that something needs to happen. There’s a bridal magazine on the coffee table. I’ve been talking about flowers and good months for weddings. And . . . nothing.” She worries her lip between her two bottom teeth. “Look, I know in the grand scheme of things we haven’t dated that long. I get it. But, hell, I live with the man. I can’t as much as look at another guy without him taking me home and . . .”
“Yeah, just trail off right there,” I wince.
“No. Don’t. I’ll take details,” Joy jokes as Sienna elbows her.
“We’re together. I can’t imagine not being with him, and I don’t think he has plans to not be with me,” Mallory laments.
“He definitely doesn’t,” Sienna agrees. “It’s Graham, Mal. Everything has to go on his time. At his pace.”
“On his schedule,” I add. “Maybe he’s scared. He’s never really done the serious girlfriend thing before.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want that with me,” she says. “I see everyone in your family getting married, having babies, and I just want to be a part of that. I watch Dani with Ryan and I get . . .”
“Baby fever?” Joy offers.
“Yeah. That.”
“I think the Landry boys do that to everyone. Sorry. Again, no offense,” Joy adds.
“None taken,” Mallory sighs. “I know he loves me. He bought this place for me. We’re married in every way that counts . . .”
“Except for the one that does,” I finish. “I’m sorry, Mal. Want me to talk to him?”
“No,” she says, getting up. “I don’t. I just need to stop feeling sorry for myself and enjoy what I have.” She flashes us a smile that’s only mildly happier than her frown. “I have another class to teach. Talk to you guys later.”
“I have to go too,” Joy says. “I need a shower after all that visualizing.”
“You’re so gross,” I say as she and Sienna trade goodbyes. Once she’s gone, my twin looks at me.
“What are you doing today?” she asks.
Pulling my legs together like a butterfly, I shrug. “I don’t know. I need to go by Dom’s in a little bit and grab my laptop. I left it over there and I need it to send a few emails about the charity thing coming up.”
“How’d it go yesterday? You didn’t call so I was afraid to ask.”
“The actual meal didn’t go too bad . . .”
“What’s wrong, Swink?”
“I don’t know. I just . . . Dom said some things that bothered me.”
“What about?”
I look at my sister. Her eyes reflect my concern. “A lot of things. Me. Him. Us.”
“You didn’t break up because you’re not in bed crying.”
“No,” I chuckle. “We didn’t. I don’t think. I mean, we didn’t talk much when he did call because he had Ryder and was distracted. But he seemed fairly normal and insinuated he’d see me today.”
We exchange a look.
“Let me give you a ride over there,” she offers. “That way if things aren’t all abs and awesome, I can take you home. And if they are, I can leave you and you can figure out how to get home on your own.”
Standing up, I laugh. “Abs and awesome?”
She stands too and tosses an arm over my shoulder. “Are there two better words to describe Dominic?”
As we head into the sunshine and towards her SUV, I concede. “No, I guess not.”
My knock is light, not sure if Ryder is awake or asleep, and also because I’m a little less enthusiastic about being here than I was. Dom’s car isn’t outside. That was a little deflating. I shot him a text that I would be here, but didn’t hear back.
As I’m ready to tell Sienna we should just go, the door flies open. Nate is on the other side, his face breaking into a smile as he sees us. “It’s not every day you open the door and see not one but two beautiful women on your doorstep.”
“How are you?” I grin.
“Good. You?”
“Decent. I left my laptop in Dom’s room. Can I grab it?”
“Sure. Come on in.” He pulls open the door and lets me and Sienna inside. “Dominic’s at the gym. He’s been there for a few hours, so he should be back if you want to wait.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Should I?”
“What she means,” Sienna says, “is give us the dirt, Nate. What’s he saying that she isn’t supposed to know?”
Nate belly laughs and I see Sienna’s gaze go to the sliver of abs that’s visible as his shirt slides up. “Just get to the point, Sienna.”
“It’s how I roll,” she shrugs. “So spill.
“He’s not saying much.”
“And you lie.”
“He’s my brother,” he emphasizes. “If Priss told you shit, would you tell me?”
“No.”
“And you expect me to tell you stuff?”
“Yes,” she sighs dramatically. “The bro code isn’t the same as the sister code. You still have to tell us stuff.”
Nate looks at me, shaking his head. “How do you deal with this?”
Laughing, I plop down on the sofa. The cushions squeak as they sink into the old springs beneath them.
“Oh!” Nate says, “Check this out.”
He grabs a set of papers from the kitchen and spreads them on the coffee table in front of me. Sienna sits beside me and we take in a bunch of paint samples, light fixture images, and flooring options.
“Nate, if you didn’t know, I love design,” Sienna squeals, sorting through the items like a kid in a candy store.
“That’s what I heard,” he says. “I like this one for the floor. It’s durable and—”
“And keeping it looking nice will be a disaster,” Sienna says, tossing it to the side. “Now this one is durable and would be easy to keep clean.”
“But how are you ever going to match what’s already there with that feel?” I ask. “Unless you’re changing the trim and bar and all that, it’ll look crappy. Even with paint, the styles don’t match.”
My sister’s gaze flies to mine, her eyes shining. “You are good at this.”
“She’s good at a lot of things.”
Our heads twist to the side to see Dominic standing in the doorway. Dressed in red mesh shorts and a sweaty white t-shirt, the sight of him alone makes my entire body clench.
His hair is a mess, his cheeks still red from the workout. Not to mention he’s wearing yesterday’s stubble like it’s a high-fashion accessory.
“We didn’t hear you come in,” Nate says. “I was showing the girls the stuff for the bar.”
Dom’s Adam’s apple bobs. “Cam, why don’t you come here for a minute?” He shoves off the doorway and heads down the hall.