Seb nods with a smug grin on his face. “It really is. Next thing you know, you’ll be telling me she was more emotionally available too.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, she absolutely was.” I stand and walk around the couch. “Now, I’m going to go take a really long bath, and I’m borrowing one of those razors.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
SEBASTIAN
Istand on the deck overlooking the creek, my thoughts chaotic after that little interlude. The winter breeze blows through the dense pines, dusting snow from the tree tops. In the distance, I can see heavy gunmetal-gray clouds that signal more snow.
I bring the olive-green ceramic cup to my lips and sip my tea, which burns extra hot because I added bourbon with my honey.
I’m just about to head inside when my phone buzzes. I check my messages, seeing one from Charlie asking about Fiona. Fi won’t answer her phone for anyone but Detective Lin, citing various movies as evidence that someone can trace her calls and read her texts. I teased her about the idea, but sometimes I wonder if there’s a grain of truth there.
I’ve been intentionally vague about our whereabouts, just to be safe. The last thing I want to do is alert my stepsister and her overprotective boyfriends to our situation. I suspect that little secret is going to bite me in the ass.
And now, I’ve definitely crossed a line with my sister’s bestfriend, which makes it even more awkward, assuming this goes anywhere.
Why wouldn’t it?
I shake my head and take another long pull of my drink. Despite the rush of fear and uncertainty I get with every sexual experience, I can’t deny that we have chemistry.
We.The three of us.
My phone buzzes again, but this time, it’s a FaceTime from Marcus. Guilt prickles my stomach. We have so much on our plates with the Seattle pub location, and while I’ve been trying to keep up with some administrative tasks alongside my menu research, my cell signal is super spotty out here, so I’ve had to ask Gabriella and Marcus to shoulder a few extra responsibilities.
I swipe my phone and hold it up. “Hey.” I run a hand through my hair, hoping I don’t look too frazzled. While I know I should be anxious about all this throuple stuff, I can’t deny that I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time. My nightmares have quieted, and being mostly cut off from the real world seems surprisingly good for my mental health. I always thought I was a city boy. I’m accustomed to Vancouver’s cacophony and days and nights spent in a chaotic kitchen, but the quiet moments the three of us have spent cooking, reading, and just talking have left me at ease.
“Hey.” Marcus gives me a wry smile. “What’s good?” He looks so much like our dad with his dark brown eyes and meticulously styled dark hair.
“Oh, you know how it is—just hanging out in a secluded cabin with a washed-up, smart-mouthed hockey player and our sister’s hot best friend. What could happen?”
He snorts a laugh but then gives me a hard stare, probably looking for the truth in my words. “You growing a beard?” he asks cautiously.
My hand runs along my jawline, the stubble scratchy against my fingertips. “Not on purpose. I just forgot to shave, I guess.”
Which isn’t a lie, despite the razors I bought.
Fiona seems to like the stubble though—she touches my cheeks a lot—so maybe it’s more intentional than I think.
“Well, I’m just checking in.” His eyes dart to the side and a strange look crosses his face, but when he glances at me again, he’s all business. “I was going to go back to Vancouver this week, but Gabriella took to your admin tasks pretty quickly. You should leave more often.”
“Thanks,” I say dryly. I know his words were meant as a joke, but I kind of agree. Not about leaving more often but about getting back into the kitchen, doing what I love. I’m a chef; I wasn’t built for a desk job.
He shrugs. “Do you know when you’re coming home?”
“That, I don’t know yet, but soon I think.” I take another sip of my tea. “Fiona has to sort out this stuff with her stepdad and the VPD before we can come back.” I pause and look away, hoping that he doesn’t see the worry in my eyes.
“Is he dangerous?”
“Who? Dennis?”
Is he?
Of course he is. He threatened Fi and Charlie. He cornered Fi in an alley. I feel like Fi’s hiding something serious about him, but we haven’t had that conversation yet. “I think he’s dangerous to Fi if she’s alone,” I clarify. “Which is why we’re still here with her.”
Marcus’s lips thin, but he nods. “Just be careful. I know you can handle yourself, but after what happened with Charlie…”
“I know.”
