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Josh holds up his hands. “Hey, I’m happy for you! I’ve waited a long time for this moment. I’m a proud mama bear here.”
“Waited for what moment?” I ask, diverting my attention into the kitchen.
He makes a sweeping gesture to Rex and me. “You two to bang.”
Rex shoves his shoulder when he passes him. “We didn’t bang.”
Josh scoffs. “All right. I’ve waited a long time for you tohook up.”
“Who says we hooked up?” Rex fires back.
“Your guilty-ass faces when I busted you in the living room.” Josh raises his brows.
“We were playing video games,” I explain, looking as guilty as he said we did last night.
What I’m wearing doesn’t help our argument—Rex’s tee, a pair of his sweats—and my hair resembles a rat’s nest.
Josh opens his mouth to reply, but everyone’s attention shoots to the tall blonde strolling into the kitchen, wearing a shirt that hits her knees.
She stands on her tiptoes and snags a mug from the cabinet before glancing at me, wearing an amused smile on her face. “You must be Carolina.”
“Yes?” I answer in confusion.
She points at Rex. “He’s in love with you.”
“Told you!” Josh shouts.
“Every convo we’ve had, he’s mentioned you.” She tips her mug my way. “We order pizza; he tells us your favorite is chicken and pepperoni. We watch a show; he informs us how many episodes he’s seenwith you. Girl, I know enough about you that we could be best friends.” Her smile grows. “I’m Angelica.”
I offer a friendly wave. “I’m Carolina … although it seems you already know that.”
The fridge shuts, and Josh holds up a carton of eggs.
“Is the happy couple hungry this morning?” he says. “I’m making French toast!”
“I’ll never turn down French toast,” I reply.
Josh starts pulling out ingredients while Angelica grabs a pan. Rex squeezes between them in the narrow space, snatches two mugs, and makes our coffee—adding the perfect amount of sugar and almond milk.
“I’m waiting for Rex to tell me that French toast is your favorite,” Angelica jokes.
“Pancakes are her favorite,” Rex inputs. “Extra syrup. Add bananas if possible.”
He sets down a mug in front of me and winks, and my heart melts.
* * *
“I have an excellent idea,”Rex says when we finish unloading groceries in my sister’s kitchen. “You bake. I taste-test.” He tips his head toward Tricia’s kitchen table with a boyish smile beaming on his full lips. “I’ll sit here, watch the master do her work, and then make sure they’re scrumptious when finished.”
I deposit the bags into the recycling bin. “Nice try, but no. You’re the assistant baker today.” I tug two aprons from the drawer and toss him a pink one printed with yellow rubber duckies.
“Can’t blame a man for trying.” He ties the apron around him with amusement. “I like this look.”
After devouring Josh’s French toast and evading questions from him and Angelica, we cleaned up and went to the grocery store for the cookie ingredients. Rex offered his kitchen, but room is limited there. Tricia’s has more counter space and top-of-the-line appliances. We’ll also be left alone since she and the family went away for the weekend.
It’s been a while since I’ve baked this large of a batch. I’m a bit rusty and grateful Rex is helping.
“I will let you lick the bowl in reward for your help,” I offer, strolling around the kitchen while gathering all the needed supplies.
