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I take a look. “How about a little bit to the left and both up about half an inch.”
Leif gets my attention, as he tries to visualize his part in nailing them to the wall, with the motion of swinging a hammer to the spot. “Oh really, just half of an inch?”
“Hey, let me try nailing it to the wall.” I lift my arms, not breathing, as he turns to me, deliberating.
“No.”
“No? Do you want to elaborate on that no?”
“No, not really. You see, everyone tiptoes around you here. I won’t. Also, I don’t want to be beaten by my mean brothers, ok?” He gives me a quivering lip and googly eyes. “Besides, I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I am afraid that my walls will get a lobotomy instead,” I whisper, trying to think fast to save my kids’ room from needing a cosmetic makeover.
“Leif! Come and help me, these are heavy.”
I raise an eyebrow. Lucas is not the one to show his weaknesses.
“You are the Marine! You can handle a few photos, brother, get used to the labor. It’s a healthy way of life.”
Pissed off, Aisha comes closer to Lucas and takes charge of marking the wall for the holes. She grabs hold of one of the sizable wooden frames, setting it aside.
“How come you are so helpful to my brother, but not to me, Aisha?” Annoyed, Leif moves closer to her. Aisha turns and grabs the hammer and nail from him. Oh-ho.
“Here, let me show you how a true woman handles two men with their hands on their egos. You take a small nail and use gentle taps. Voilà! Done! Except, these frames are too heavy, so we use something sturdier.”
Both men stand there, impressed, and probably a little bit turned on by my sister’s knowledge. I need to stop this banter. It might be a little too much for my kids to witness.
“All right, let’s get the men do the heavy lifting as we do the nailing.”
Eventually, we manage to hang them all on the wall with no incidents. I sense rightness fill my insides. The dark feeling’s still churning in my guts, but I’m hopeful too.
Later, we go to make something to eat, and I hear the music as Aisha starts singing. Leif picks up a pan, pretending to play guitar. The rest of us stand there, wondering who is the crazier of them, but then Raine joins in. I give up.
“I’ll start on the chicken, you make the quinoa.” Logan shakes his head.
The show can put rock stars to shame. “You make that cheesecake, Lucas can handle chicken. I’ll do quinoa.” Aisha starts to scream as Leif drops to his knees, playing the last notes on the frying pan.
We cover our ears as our twins start to laugh. “At least someone is amused by this performance.”
Logan comes closer to me, as if he wants to talk. “You look calmer, and there’s a sparkle in your eyes.”
I nod because there is nothing else to say. Shortly after, as I melt some chocolate with heavy cream, I speak, out loud, but more to myself. “I’ll be all right, Logan. I will find a way to pull through. I promise.”
Feeling his gaze, I turn to find green eyes watching me. Cheekily, he dips his finger into the bowl for a taste. “Ouch! Shit! It burns!”
Logan howls in pain. Lucas and I high five each other as Logan stands by the sink with his burned finger dipped in cold water.
“Careful, brother, the kitchen deity is not in the best moods to share,” Lucas warns his brother, a tad too late.
Logan wraps his arms around me from behind. We stand like this until I finish mixing the ingredients. I turn around, noticing how much Logan's hair has grown. The stubble tickles my palm as I touch his face, and a tremor races through his frame as I come closer. I lift my head towards his lips and he cages me in. I love when Logan crowds me. It makes me feel safe, desired.
Logan lifts me up and places me on the island, and I spread my legs for him. Mmmm. He gently kisses my neck as I find his flesh underneath his t-shirt. As soon as our lips meet, I melt into him. We both moan and groan with the need to get closer. The entire outside world disappears, including his brother, as we’re consumed by each other. My senses zoom in on Logan’s taste, scent, and feel. His touch becomes more persistent, lips commanding.
Curving my back, I try to fuse with him. At once, he lifts me up, and we move. Logan doesn’t stop, overwhelmed by fervent desire. His heart’s hammering in his chest, in tune with mine and his eyes are clouded, pupils dilated. His gaze drops to my lips with the drive to possess them. Yes!
I don’t know how we got to my room, but I feel cold sheets underneath me. His
weight settles between my legs, pinning me down, and he unleashes his desire on me.
