“Tell me about it. Right there with you, brother,” I mutter, walking across the foyer toward the staircase.
The burst of dopamine from messaging her is flooding my system still, and I feel on top of the damn world.
“Dean, Asher,” a woman’s voice calls out, one I recognize instantly, wishing I didn’t. Adrianna. “I was wondering when you’d be home.”
“Hi,” I greet her with civil kindness as she rounds the corner from the kitchen. “How’s your day going?”
Ash stops in his tracks beside me. His voice is unwavering but emotionless. “Hi, Adrianna.”
“My boys.” She smiles, clasping her hands as my stomach drops. “I was hoping to run into you.”
Herboys?
No, I don’t fucking think so.
Asher’s hand twitches at my side, voluntary or not. I know her words are getting to him just as much as they are to me, if not more.
“How can we help you?” I ask, trying to control the situation.
“I was thinking of getting your father a gift just to say how proud I am of him. He works so hard and puts everyone in his life ahead of himself. He deserves a little treat. Do you have any ideas?” she asks, leaning against the railing.
The media training I’ve had since we were three years old comes out to play. “No, but I’m sure anything you get him will be perfect.”
Asher was less receptive to the training. “You could help him pull the stick from his ass. That would be great.”
I jab my elbow into his side as Adrianna smiles, her expression almost uncanny.
She sighs, like our lack of ideas is truly draining her. “Okay. I shall keep looking. And please let me know if you think of anything.”
“Will do,” I agree, feeling my phone vibrate in my hand. “We’ve got to go study. Have a good afternoon.”
“You guys too.” She hums before spinning on her heel and disappearing down a hallway.
The interaction leaves a weird taste in my mouth, but I dismiss it almost instantly because we’ve got another message from our princess.
Stretching above my head, I yawn, my body feeling sore as fuck from these last few days … or week of practice, weights, and everything combined.
But I can’t mope around in bed and my room much longer because Elias and Finny are going to be here soon.
They’re coming over to hang out. We might hit the pool for a bit, let our muscles relax in the water; it always helps.
Dean is stuck with our father this afternoon in meetings and company shit. I still can’t believe he has enough restraint to work at his side and not sock him in the face for acting like such a bitch lately.
He’s a better man than me.
My phone chimes—my favorite sound over the last couple of days we’ve been texting with our girl. She’s been a much-needed ray of sunshine in my and Dean’s life.
We’ve been talking almost constantly about anything, everything. Since Dean’s in meetings right now, I text her privately so as to not bother him.
Good morning, Princess.
Princess: What’re you up to today?
Wishing you were here or coming over soon. I think I’m going to get in the pool.
Princess: But my mask would wash away.
Then you’d just have to take it off.
