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“Oh.” I don’t miss the disappointed edge of Nikki’s tone. “So, no one else caught your eye? I could’ve sworn when I spoke to you these last few weeks you sounded, I don’t know, happier. Or maybe brighter is a better word?” Nikki shakes her head, then turns back to the pan on the stove and adds some seasoning. “I even told your father I’d bet money on the fact that you met someone.”
“Nope.” Brynn shakes her head and slathers her roll in honey butter and crams a bite in her mouth. “No one.”
I roll my lips in an effort to hide my smile.
Across from us, Teagan crosses his arms over his chest and leans back against the refrigerator. “Nah. Brynn would’ve told me if she was seeing someone, right?” he asks, though his tone tells me he’s not so sure.
Brynn swallows. “Totally.”
Her eyes flicker to mine, and I clear my throat. “I’m pretty sure she’s telling the truth,” I say, hoping to sell the lie without sounding like I’m pushing. “I mean, she spent a lot of time at the apartment these last few weeks. I don’t see how she could’ve been dating someone.”
“How much time?” Teagan’s woolly gaze shifts to mine.
Shit.
“Uh . . .” How much time is normal, and how much is too much? My brain fires on all pistons, but it’s as though all my common sense has grinded to a halt.
“May I remind you, it’s you who suggested I move into the apartment. Why wouldn’t I spend lots of time there?” Brynn chimes in.
Teagan shrugs, his expression sheepish. “You’re right.” He scratches his head, and I try to ignore the stab of guilt that follows.
“Hey, she did go on a blind triple date with her friends a few weeks back,” I say, throwing it out there in both a brilliant stroke of genius to get him of our trail and to mollify my guilt.
Both the truth and a diversion.You’re welcome.
“Oh, how did that go?” Nikki asks, heading to the cupboard for plates.
“Well, I hate to kiss and tell, but . . .” she says and my gaze darts to hers. I frown. “I might have received the hottest kiss of my life that night.”
Teagan grimaces. “TMI.”
Nikki’s eyes sparkle. “Well, that sounds promising.”
Brynn clasps her hands together and gives a coy little shrug. “Yeah, you never know. Might be something.” She glances up at me from underneath thick lashes, and my body lights up like a fucking Christmas tree.
Luckily for us, Nikki pulls the attention away from us before Teagan catches the brief, heated exchange. “What about you, Jace? Any special ladies?”
When did Nikki become so nosy? I never noticed before.
“Oh, I don’t know . . .” I hedge at the same time Teagan comes up beside me and claps me on the shoulder with a scoff.
“He’s trying to be polite, Mom. Jace doesn’t do relationships, so if there was a special girl it would be fleeting.”
My gaze drills holes in the side of his smug face as he brushes past and heads toward his mother to grab the stack of plates from her hands.
“Thanks, dear,” she says as she moves to the fridge. “I swear I had another bottle of dressing in here. Brynn, sweetie, can you grab one from the pantry?”
“Sure thing.” Brynn shoots me a meaningful look as she backs away and turns.
I risk a glance at Teagan who sets the last plate down before he heads to the utensil drawer to grab the silverware, while I try to come up with a reason to join Brynn in the pantry.
My gaze scans the table, the island, and shifts to the kitchen counter where I zero in on the empty wire napkin holder. “Oh, hey, You’re out of napkins.” I cross the room to the empty wire basket and lift it up, waving it around like,See, evidence!“I’ll go grab some.”
Without waiting to see if anyone even acknowledges my exit, I turn and make a beeline for the walk-in pantry. It’s just around the corner, behind the kitchen, and adjoins the mudroom. The second I step inside, Brynn wastes no time and throws her arms around my neck, drawing me in for a kiss.
“We probably have one minute before Teagan’s done setting the table and our absence draws attention,” I say against her lips.
Behind me, she quietly shuts the pantry door and the automatic light sensor clicks off.
