Our apartment didn’t have a dining room, so we normally went to the living room when it was time to eat. After grabbing my plate, I stepped into the hallway, not paying attention and bumping right into Blake.
“Whoops!” I laughed, doing a weird side-to-side shuffle like we were in a boxing ring. “I almost knocked you out there, didn’t I?”
Blake’s eyebrows rose, the twinkle in his eye brighter than it had been when he came out of his room earlier. The corner of his mouth tipped up, and he nodded at me. “You sure did, Addie. Put those guns away.”
“Don’t worry.” I winked at him. “I have a license to carry these bad boys.”
He huffed a laugh, rubbing the back of his head as he stepped around me to serve himself. I smiled happily as I went to the couch, pleased I’d been able to act normal around him.
If we called that normal.
While I’d decided it was time to stop pining over mysecret feelingsfor him, I’d been equally determined that things wouldn’t change between us.
If he’d noticed anything, he hadn’t mentioned it.
So, my boxing routine had obviously done the trick.
Adam took the big chair in the corner, leaving the couch open for me and Blake. He assessed me as I took my usual seat.
I ignored him, focusing on my plate until Blake sat down, but when he glanced between me and Adam, searching for what prompted my twin’s prolonged scrutiny, I returned my brother’s stare.
Adam tilted his head, his eyes narrowing on me so intensely that I finally shifted in my seat. “What’s up, Adam?”
“What’s with your outfit?”
I rolled my eyes at his usual lack of tact. “I’m not sure what you mean, brother. Is there a specific complaint you’d like to file against my clothes tonight?” Arching a brow, I kept my tone airy. “Have they offended you in some way?”
His forehead wrinkled as he frowned. “It’s Sunday night. You’re all dressed up.”
Pointing out the obvious was one of Adam’s strong suits, so I’d expected him to notice, but I’d been overly optimistic in my hope that he would avoid bringing it up.
Since he had, I answered honestly. “I have a date later.”
Blake’s head popped up, but I couldn’t focus on his reaction since Adam followed up with more prying into my personal life. “On a Sunday?”
“Yes.” I stabbed a piece of chicken with my fork, missing it entirely and hitting the plate. Trying again, I brought the bite to my mouth and smiled sweetly. “Is that a problem?”
Adam thought it over as I chewed my food, and I shifted my gaze to Blake, who wasn’t eating.
He stared at me, running his gaze over my outfit before inspecting the makeup on my face. Whatever he was thinking, it reeked of judgment.
“All this for sonnet guy?”
I bristled. “His name is Finn.”
Blake wrinkled his nose as Adam snorted, and I snapped at him. “What?”
Adam shrugged and sank lower in his seat, shoving a bite of food in his mouth.
I scoffed, annoyed by both of them having opinions on who I dated. Especially when neither of them had met Finn.
“You guys don’t even know him.”
They didn’t respond, so I scarfed down the last few bites of my chicken before rising from the couch. Since the boys cooked dinner together while I kept them company, I always did the dishes when we were done.
Blake normally helped, even though he didn’t have to, and tonight, I hoped he wouldn’t.
I set my plate in the sink with a bit more force than necessary. It clattered, and I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
