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“Thank you.” I took the bowl and dug in while Aithan put the tray on my desk and Drew added the mug. “You both look like you feel much better,” I said around a bite of hash.
Drew sat on the loveseat. “Breakfast and brine worked miracles.”
“Glad I could help.” I swallowed. Goddamn, I was starving. “Thanks for taking care of me.”
“We owe you.” Aithan opened the curtains and stood looking out the slider at an iron-gray sky. Fat raindrops splattered the glass.
“You wouldn’t if I’d stepped in sooner to stop the shenanigans last night.”
He turned. “Zel, it’s not your job to be our mother.”
“Hell no,” Drew added. “We’re adults, even if we forget every so often and act like brats.”
“You mean like frats,” I muttered and took another bite of hash.
“Dunno, never went to college. Aith?”
He shrugged. “I never joined one.”
I swallowed. “Guess you don’t need an advanced degree to be an asshole.”
Drew snorted. “Definitely not.”
My brain zigged. “We should make a list of the furniture we have, figure out which rooms everything will go in, and decide what more we need.” My phone buzzed just as I took a bite of muffin — they really were freakin’ fantastic. It was Dad calling. I sent it to voicemail. I didn’t feel like discussing Greer and the holidays and my health. “January’s a good month for buying furniture, lots of post-holiday sales,” I continued. “Though, if we buy some big pieces now from a single store, we can finagle a good discount and free delivery. I’d like to keep my large pieces and that smaller third floor room is perfect for my office, if that’s okay with you guys. My booth, desk, and loveseat should fit in there easily. It’s larger than this room, I’m sure. Everyone needs beds for—”
“Brick.” Drew’s hand came down on my knee. “Relax. You’re going a million miles an hour.”
“I am?” Ha. He didn’t know I’d just snoozed away several hours of my day. “No, I’m being efficient. You guys are just slow.”
“That’s probably true,” Aithan said, “but it doesn’t mean you’re not a little amped up. What else is bothering you?”
“Is this an intervention?” I looked accusingly at them.
“Nope,” Drew said. “This is us taking care of you.”
Well, fuck, how could I argue with that? I shrugged and picked a chunk of apple from the muffin. “I guess I just feel like an idiot for not noticing shit that’s right under my nose.”
“You mean Greer and Tristan?” Aithan said, his voice gentle. “You’re not alone in feeling that way, you know.” He tapped his chest. “I missed it, too.”
“You had no reason to look for it,” I pointed out.
He grunted. “Still don’t see a reason for you to beat yourself up over it. You did nothing wrong.”
“Not entirely true. I shoved my head up my ass rather than look at the obvious signs of trouble. And I was so busy feeling sorry for myself that I missed your struggles.” I thumped a fist on the desk. “I should’ve been there to help you. I should’ve beenpresentinstead of pitiful.”
Aithan sighed and Drew said, “Zel? You said you won’t judge us by our past mistakes. Maybe extend that courtesy to yourself?”
I bit my lip. “You know I suck at that.”
“Yeah, babe, we do.”
“That’s why we’re saying it.” Aithan reached over and stroked my cheek. “Give yourself a break, beautiful.”
27
UNEXPECTED PROPOSALS
Drew lookedup from the living room couch as Aithan reached the second floor landing. It was Monday evening and he’d just gotten home from Blue Water. The dude had a calculated look in his eyes that made Drew nervous.
