“And she would have if there wasn’t dinner before us.”
Her smile grows. “I don’t know what it means to have a brother, either.”
“My brothers can—”be yours?I bite my tongue. Where did that thought come from? “—can be buttheads. You’re not missing out.”
“Especially Baxter, right?”
I recognize the teasing twinkle in her eyes. But I hate that she finds anything to do with Baxter funny at all.
“He’s a punk.”
She throws her head back with a laugh. “You’re very big brother-ish.”
“And how’s that?” I raise an eyebrow.
“You boss them around a lot, don’t you?”
“I don’t.”
“Oh, yeah, you do.” She leans in, her smile conspiratorial. “You can tell me, I won’t judge.”
My lip twitches. “I’m not like that. We’re all grownups, we mind our business.”
“Except Baxter?”
I frown. “Why are you bringing him up?”
“Because you take on this look anytime I do.” She pinches her forehead together and presses her lips into a thin line.
I turn away so she doesn’t see my smile. “I’ve never done that.”
“I can start a video and when I say Baxter— Wait, look, you just did it!” She laughs.
I shake my head and drain my glass. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You did. Look, I’ll show you.” She starts to take out her phone but the waiter shows up just then, bringing our lunches. “Saved by the meal.”
“You had nothing.”
“Oh?” Her brow goes up, her eyes challenging. “You know what? I’m going to do it when you least expect it.”
“Surprise me.”
She has a game face on. “I will.”
The waiter leaves and she grins at the wide plate before her.
“Smells delicious.”
“It does.” I pick up my fork. “Dig in?”
She already forks her meal into her mouth. Her eyes are wide at me. “I didn’t know I had to wait.”
I chuckle. “You don’t have to. Go on.”
With a happy groan, she continues eating.
I usually don’t have lunch, preferring to close myself in my office and do more work. So it’s awkward pretending I want to eat. The food is delicious, but I don’t have much of an appetite for it.
