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“Austin is really easy-going and understanding.”
My eyebrows shoot up before I can stop them.
She shakes her head, noticing. “Usually. It’s not my business to tell any of his personal stuff, so I won’t, but he’s a great guy. Patient. Tolerant. And so supportive. But he’s had a lot to deal with lately and … it sounds like you’ve seen him at his worst; just know that’s not him. Not really.”
“He’s been a thousand times calmer and nicer since you’ve been here, honestly. I think it did him a world of good having you visit. Not that I’m trying to talk bad about him, I appreciate him giving me a chance here despite his misgivings, though I’m thinking Carly pressured him into it and Aiden pulled rank about this being his apartment, so…”
Braeden’s eyes are on me, so I decide to halt that part of the discussion.
“Anyway, I’m appreciative to Aiden and Carly for letting me stay and to Austin for giving me a job.”
“Aiden and Carly speak highly of you. I told Auz that, too. He was just being stubborn.”
I shrug. “He has that right.”
“Hopefully things will be better going forward.”
“I’ve been kind of stubborn, too,” I admit.
“Yeah?” she prompts.
“I don’t usually stand up for myself. I’m super-quiet and reserved, introverted especially with guys who look like that.”
She smiles. “My brothers both do turn heads,” she says.
“Great genes in your family, for real,” I throw in. “But, uh-huh, I’m the most non-confrontational person you’ll ever meet, but he caught me at this moment where he was an absolute jerk to me, and I was so beyond frustrated and angry that I just let a temper I didn’t know I had fly.”
“Funny,” she muses. “Austin is the most non-confrontational person I’ve ever met.”
I look at her like I don’t believe her. Because he seems to be going out of his way to have arguments with me.
She lifts her hands up, pointing her palms at me defensively.
I shake my head and shrug. “And it’s kind of weird, because I keep letting it happen, maybe because he’s seen me at my worst and I got away with it, giving not two you-know-whats, because I was at the end of my rope with nothing to lose. And there’s a dynamic now where I can act like myself. I don’t feel shy around him to speak my mind. That’s new for me.”
“That’s good. Could be a good foundation,” she observes.
“Pardon?”
“Hm?” she asks.
“A good foundation for what?”
“What?” she asks fake-innocently.
I shake my head. “No. This isn’t going anywhere.”
“We’ll see,” she says smugly.
My face burns beet red. “He doesn’t even like me. He’s just watching for me to fall down on the job and mess up again so he can fire me.”
“Maybe he was, but I don’t think he is now. You see the way he looked at you when you were holding Lilly that first night?” She clicks her tongue.
I didn’t. I don’t get a chance to say that, though.
“My brother… you’re just his type. And you clearly like kids and he wants kids.”
“He wants lotsa kids,” Braeden adds, not looking up from his coloring book, showing he is, in fact listening.
Adele sips her coffee and announces, “Yep. My brother is gonna be that hands-on dad who coaches little league and braids his little girls’ hair, and reads bedtime stories to them. Builds them a tree house. He’s gonna be an amazing husband and father. Girl, get in there.”
I shake my head. “There’s nothing between him and I. No chemistry. Not even a little spark, Adele. I get that you want to see your brother happy, but trust me, he’s not interested in me. I’m also not remotely interested in him.”
“Okay,” she says and the word drips with disbelief.
I say nothing, because there’s nothing to say.
Her phone is ringing.
“Oh. That’s my hurry up n’ move alarm. Let’s go, Bray. Grab your toys and your tablet and get your booty in gear. Chop chop!” She claps her hands twice.
“Where’s my nap pack? Uh oh!”
“Right here, Braeden,” I say and pass him the blue knapsack that’s hanging from one of the kitchen cabinet knobs.
“Oh, thank you, Auntie Jada.”
“I’m not your auntie, sweetie,” I correct.
He waves his hand. “You will be.”
I laugh nervously.
Adele laughs. “See. He sees it too.”
“Sees what?” Braeden asks.
“Why do you think Jada will be your auntie?” Adele asks.
“Because you two are gonna be good friends, I can tell, and you always tell me to call your good friends auntie.”
“Ah,” I say, feeling a little better about that.
“Besides,” he adds, “Maybe you’ll marry Unco Ausben and then you’ll be my auntie like Carly’s my auntie.”
Adele laughs and ruffles his hair giving me a look that screams, “See?”
“Not likely, little man,” I say.
“Unco Ayben and Auntie Carly lived in the same apart-a-ment and said they weren’t gonna get married and look at them!”
