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I parked the truck and climbed out, gathered the bags of apples and headed to the kitchen, laying them on the counter.
“Apron,” she said, grabbing them and handing me one. “I need you to start washing them and peeling a few while I prep some of the other ingredients.”
“Damn, no one ever said you were this bossy,” I muttered, making her laugh.
It was a sound I loved, just like everything else about her, and I wanted more of that too. I could imagine my house filled with that sound, and I felt an ache in my chest that had never been there.
This woman was my end goal, and I needed to lock her down, and soon.
I spun her around, my arms slipping around her waist, and hauled her close, kissing her, right as the front door opened and her brother walked in.
Chapter 7
Not Taking Sides
I finished washing the dishes while the guys dried. Though they made dinner, they didn’t need to clean. But they said I made dessert, so it was an even trade off.
“Those apple tarts smell amazing, sis,” Peyton said, putting the last of the dishes away. “I’ll get the coffee going and we go sit on the back deck. It’s a beautiful night.”
When Peyton walked in earlier, seeing the lip lock between his best friend and me, there was nothing he had to say. He just smiled, gave me a hug, and said we’ll discuss it later. Those words should have scared me but his look, it didn’t. Though I had no clue what to expect.
I loaded the drinks up on a tray, along with their fixings, and then set it outside, letting them make it while I plated up the tarts.
Quietly, we sat there, in a comfortable silence as we watched the stars come out. I tapped my nail gently on the cup, not realizing that I was curling more against Eddie until my brother looked over at me, a brow raised in question.
“I thought I could enjoy this peaceful view for a little longer before I had to get into this,” he said, sipping his coffee as he leaned back in his chair.
I glanced up at Eddie, who only shrugged and then wrapped his arm around my shoulders, bringing me in closer.
“We were kissing when he walked in, I don’t think he’s going to kill us now.”
“Yeah, we need to talk about you getting a camera or something. That’s the second time someone has walked in recently seeing something they didn’t need to see,” I muttered.
“You didn’t want to see me?” Eddie asked and I smacked his chest, making Peyton chuckle.
“For real, want to tell me what this is?” he asked.
“Two consenting adults getting to know each other better,” I said. My brother rolled his eyes at me. “It’s the start of something I don’t want to let go,” I honestly answered.
“I never said you had to, Justice. Look, you think I didn’t know you had a crush on him? Just like I didn’t know he had a crush on you? Trust me, I was well aware. I came to grips with you two dating ages ago. I’m just surprised it took you this long to catch up.”
I mean, it wasn’t news, exactly. I knew he’d be okay; I just didn’t think he’d put it like that. And wait, Eddie had a crush on me? Hell, I wasted how much time because I was worried he wouldn’t like me or that Peyton would stand in the way?
“Don’t go there, Peyton,” Eddie told him as he rubbed my shoulder. “Some things need to happen in their own time.”
“Yeah, but then she wouldn’t have met dickface, and everyone might be happier.”
“He wasn’t all horrible. Besides, it opened up my eyes to a lot of things. Mostly the type of man I didn’t want. And Eddie is the opposite of all of that.”
Peyton sat his mug down and looked at me.
“What’s your next move?”
“I don’t know yet.” I felt Eddie poke my side, but I couldn’t bring it up to my brother yet about possibly staying up here. He didn’t even live up here year-round and I’m sure he’d miss me back home. We didn’t leave all that far from each other and hung out regularly.
“Do you have enough savings to live on for a bit?”
“I do. I paid my rent up early, so I have three months there until it’s due, but then just another month before my contract is up. So, I have at least three months to decide if I want to find work there or do something else.”
