Just as I pull him in for a proper kiss, footsteps echo outside the doorway. He straightens, handing me my coffee just as River walks in, freshly showered, pausing to give us a questioning look. My mind races, and I fire off a quip before he can piece together why we’re pressed together.
“Next time you have a girl over, warn me so I can buy some earplugs.”
He ruffles the top of my hair, and I push him off. “You never warned me when you were fucking other guys, and I had to listen. Consider this payback, sis.”
Elijah stiffens, and I can help but bite my tongue. To be fair, my moans were all an act, unlike with him. Part of me wishes I could tell him, but not with my brother and his son in the room.
“Yeah, well, at least they didn't eat your favourite food,” I add, glancing toward the front room, “unlike your little lady friend in there.”
River looks between us, clearly confused. “What do you mean? She's still here?”
“What exactly did you tell her?” Elijah asks.
River begins to look uncomfortable, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh… I kind of just said thanks for a good time and that I’d see her around.”
Silence.
“And then?” Elijah presses.
“I went and got in the shower and left her in my bed.”
He exhales slowly through his nose and shakes his head. “Did you make it clear it was a one-time thing?”
River grimaces. “Not exactly.”
“Seriously, you're spending way too much time with Ez,” Elijah grumbles tiredly, snatching his cap off the side, and I don't miss the way he side-eyes me. “Well, you're old enough to bring random women into my home and fuck them, so I think you can make sure she leaves. And make sure she stops eating all of Willow's sweets.”
Ugh, he can be so sweet.
River groans, pouting. “Come on, Dad, please, can you tell her? You must have done the same thing at my age.”
I stiffen this time, not wanting to hear where this is going.
“Doesn't matter what I did or didn't do. Put on your big boy pants and get her out of here. I’ll see you both later.”
As he walks past, his fingers brush mine ever so slightly. Well, no goodbye kiss today.
When he leaves, I can't help but grin at River, who looks sheepish and defeated.
“Any chance you could tell her?”
I raise an unimpressed brow at him. “Seriously?”
“I… kind of don't know her name,” he confesses, and I can't resist smacking his shoulder.
“River! How could you not know her name, you idiot?” I hit him again, harder this time, and he yelped, " Ouch, " way too loud.
“I was drunk.”
“Yeah, a drunk idiot.”
That's when his lady friend appears in the doorway, grinning at him with my fucking sweet hanging from her mouth. My eye twitches.
Nope. Not today. I love my brother, but if he wants to get his dick wet, he can bloody well learn to clean up after himself. I force a tight, fake smile at her.
“Hope you choke on that.”
Her grin falters, twisting into a scowl, and I hear River laughing behind me. I don't look back as I stride out.
