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“Seriously, Morgan, put the goods away.” Ella threw a bottle cap at his head, but he caught it, smirking at her. “Is there anything you can’t do?” she murmured.
“What can I say? I’m an overachiever, kitten.”
“You’re an asshole,” Austin muttered. “You sure you don’t want any pizza, Sis?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“Suit yourself. More for us.”
“Damn right.” Connor winked at me, snagging another slice and scarfing it down in three bites flat.
“So, Rory… Is it okay if I call you Rory?”
“Sure,” I said.
“What did you think of The Penalty Box?”
“It was okay.”
“Okay? I think you just broke the hearts of every Laker in a two-mile radius.” He clutched his chest dramatically. “TPB is like our nest, our domain, the heart of our team.”
“Except Darillo’s. I love that place,” Ella added.
“Darillo’s?”
“It’s a cute little Italian restaurant overlooking the lake. So dreamy and romantic, and they do the best fettuccine Alfredo. I get excited just thinking about it.”
“Babe”—Connor frowned—“we’ve talked about this. The only thing allowed to excite you is me.”
“And Chris Hemsworth, Snow White and the Huntsman era, not Thor.” Austin snorted, and Ella pinned him with a dark look. “Don’t diss the Chris.”
“I wouldn’t dare. Care to weigh in on this?” He glanced my way.
“He’s very easy on the eyes.”
“He’s a freaking god. Have you seen his—”
“Okay, you”—Connor manhandled her into his arms—“time to take you upstairs and remind you why I’m the only man you need to worship.”
“Connor, put me down,” Ella protested, banging on his chest like a drum.
“We’ll see you two in the morning. Rory, word of advice, you might want to wear earplugs. I intend on making my woman scream tonight.”
“Connor, I swear to God, put me—” Their voices became low rumbles as they disappeared out of the kitchen.
Austin’s exasperated laughter vibrated through me. It was such a familiar sound, one I’d grown up with. But it came laced with bitterness and regret now.
“They’re cute together,” I said, needing to break the tension crackling between us.
I was here.
I wanted to be here.
But I didn’t want to revisit old wounds, not yet.
“Yeah, they’re the real deal. Same with Aiden and Dayna. You know, I always thought you and Ben would go the distance.”
Surprise crashed over me, and I did my best to school my expression, the devastation I had no doubt was infiltrating every inch of my features.
