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CHAPTER TWENTY
I almost expected Ezra to be waiting on me in my office when I arrived on Wednesday morning; I was that sure he’d choose us together than us apart. But I wasn’t disappointed—at least not too disappointed—when he was nowhere to be seen when I walked in. I still had faith he’d come through.
Humming to myself, I booted up my computer, started the coffee, and then checked emails. I glanced over the portfolio we’d been working on yesterday, and scribbled down a few notes and ideas for revision before a yawning, grumbling Brick stumbled into the room.
“Coffee,” he croaked.
I hurried a mug to him, then stepped back so I could shake my head and whistle. “Wow, you look hungover.”
“Not hungover,” he mumbled before sipping. After that first swallow, he sighed and closed his eyes as if relieved. “At least not hungover from alcohol.”
“What else is there to be hungover from?” I asked, squinting, and suddenly feeling too naïve for my own good. Then my eyes widened, hoping he wasn’t going to say drugs or—
“Sex,” he said.
Eww. I cringed, promptly sorry I had asked.
He took another drink, looking worn to the bone. Suddenly, I noticed a hickey hiding just under the collar of his shirt. Nooooo. My eyes. My poor innocent eyes needed to be bleached now.
“I hate to say this,” he rasped before yawning again, “but I think I found someone who's way too young for me.”
My eyes widened, really not wanting to hear this, and yet immediately concerned for my stepbrother. “Oh, God. Please tell me she’s at least eighteen.”
“What!” He lowered the mug he’d been bringing to his mouth to gape stupidly before growling, “Of course, she’s over eighteen. Jesus. What kind of person do you think I am? I bet she’s even older than you. I just haven’t pulled an all-nighter like that since college.” He frowned like a petulant child, and grumbled, “It made me feel old.”
He seriously looked like someone had just taken his favorite toy… Er, at least his ability to play with his favorite toy with as much enthusiasm and stamina as he used to have. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing outright. But I couldn’t stop myself from saying, “You know, now that you mention the age thing, I have seen a few gray hairs on you lately.”
He gasped—like for real gasped—and immediately went about patting down his head as if he could brush any unwanted hairs away with the proper grooming. “Not funny.”
This time, I really did laugh. I held myself and chuckled, making his scowl grow deeper.
“Fine. Laugh it up,” he growled. “It’s okay. Big brother Brick’s in agony over here, but hey, as long as it amuses Kaitlynn…” He plopped heavily into his chair and kept frowning my way as he started his computer.
Having sympathy on his self-imposed plight, I cooed, “Oh, you poor thing. You know I didn’t mean anything by it.” I went to him so I could pat his hair, or rather rake it into place with my fingers because I wasn’t all that sure he’d combed it this morning. “I’m sorry for getting a kick out of your distress. I’m sure you were still a perfectly fine lover, no matter how much energy it took out of you.”
“Fuck yes
, I was,” he muttered, still frowning, even though I saw the hint of placation enter his eyes. “She said I was the best she’d ever had. She screamed it actually, but who’s splitting hairs?”
“Of course she did.” I nodded, laying it on thicker than ever because it amused me. “I should’ve known that. So, how can I make it up to you?” I asked. “Want me to run to that coffee shop on the corner and get you one of those glazed donuts you love so much?”
He glanced away, his jaw hardening as if he wanted to deny me because he knew I wasn’t being completely genuine. But then he said, “With the sprinkles on top?”
I grinned. “Heck yeah.”
Huffing out a breath as if it were a trial to give in, he finally related with a moody, “Fine,” and lifted his hip to pull a wallet from his back pocket.
Glancing away because I was positive I’d burst out laughing some more if I kept looking at him this way, I nodded and said, “Okay. Be right back.”
I grabbed the cash he extended my way, then my coat and purse, and started for the door, only for Brick to say, “Kaitlynn.”
When I glanced at him, I kind of expected a thank you or something to such extent for pulling him out of his mood, but all he said was, “Two donuts.”
“You got it, boss.” Chuckling, I started from the room.
The hall was busier than I’d seen it all week. Everyone was scrambling and preparing to finish their departmental portfolios that each head had to present to the two CEOs on Friday. I glanced around discreetly for any sign of Ezra, but he was nowhere to be seen.
I wondered if a good night’s sleep had helped him decide about us. Something in me felt that the odds he’d fold and stop trying to push me away were good, but there was still that chance he’d hold firm and say it was safer if we kept our distance.
