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“Then you haven’t lived,” I retort, rolling my eyes. I refuse to admit Eli may have a point as I glance at the mess of duvets and pillows piled onto the floor in the lounge.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a sleepover like this, but I remember when Bailey and I used to in college. We’d always make the living room into one large bed, watch films all night long, eat chocolate and sweets until we felt sick, and then pass out in the early hours. Granted, we were sixteen at the time, but the point still stands.
“I want Gracey to have the best sleepover she’s ever had,” I tell him.
He laughs, hops over the piles of bedding, and throws his arm over my shoulder. “She’s four, Ry. Stick on Moana, give her a bag of popcorn, and let her fall asleep in your lap.”
“I refuse. We’re doing this properly.”
“Why is this so important to you?”
“It’s Christmas.” I shrug. “I missed so much last year because I stayed at home. I don’t want to miss anything this year.”
“Are you ready to talk about it?” he asks, a soft smile on his face.
“Talk about what?”
“Why you didn’t come last year? Bailey said you were busy with work and didn’t want to be far from the office, but I don’t think that’s true.”
“You’re too wise for your own good.” I snort and give him a squeeze before pulling away. “But for this conversation, there would need to be wine, chocolate, and probably a bunch of tissues.”
“Well, I’d offer to sneak away to the pub with you, but I’m pretty sure I’m not the Brooks’ sibling you fancy sneaking around with.” My eyes widen at the insinuation, and I snap my gaze to his face. There’s a smirk sitting on his lips and a too-knowing glint in his eyes. “Your secret is safe with me, Ry. But if you want it tostaya secret,maybe consider buying some earplugs for the rest of us.”
I choke, trying to swallow the growing lump in my throat as my face heats. My mouth opens, but I have no words. This is mortifying.Let the ground open and swallow me upmortifying.
“I … uh—”
“Hey, what’s going on in here?” Bailey asks, rounding the open doorway and popping her head into the lounge.
“Nothing,” Eli says brightly, his voice laced with humour as he stares at me with a smug smile. “Grace asked for a sleepover tonight, so we’re trying to get everything set up. I suggested we just pull out the sofa beds—”
Bailey snorts. “You can’t do that.”
“Exactly what I said,” I croak, forcing a smile onto my face as I stare at my best friend. “We’ve got the duvets out, but Eli is bloody useless.”
“That’s because Eli is basically a grandad these days.”
“Eli is standing right here, you know?” he interjects, but we both ignore him.
“Facts. He got married, had a kid, and forgot what fun is.”
Bailey shudders. “Do you think that’ll be us in five years’ time?”
“God, I hope not,” I tease, grateful the heat is off me. I wink at Eli, who pouts. “We’re too cool to ever become boring.”
“I don’t know, Ry. I don’t think anyone under the age of forty uses the word ‘cool’ anymore,” Eli says, smirking again.
“Okay, that’s enough from you.” Bailey steps into the room, crowding her brother and nudging him out. “Off you go. Chase and Kai are in the yard doing bro things or some shit like that, so go man out with them and leave this to Ry and me.”
“I can see where I’m not wanted,” he says, dropping a kiss on Bailey’s forehead before moving to me. “We’re going to finish that conversation later.” He meets my gaze pointedly, and I sigh but lean up to press a kiss to his cheek.
“I can’t wait,” I deadpan.
“What conversation?” Bailey asks as her brother leaves the room.
I drop to my haunches, grabbing a handful of the bedding before passing some over to Bailey. “We were just talking about work,” I tell her, not really lying because we definitely did talk about my work at some point in that conversation.
“Anything exciting?”
