“What? There’s no fancy pants coffee in Nashville or LA?”
“None that I can drink black like this.”
Lukas leaned forward in his chair, glancing between Duke and me. “Wait… You’re drinking itblack?” We looked at one another and nodded. “What kind of monsters are you? You can’t drink it like that. What about the milk? The cream? Half-and-half? Sugar, at the very least?”
Duke got closer and loudly whispered, “There’s that high-maintenance thing we were talking about.”
“Total diva,” I agreed. “I’m not sure how he survives out here in the wilderness.”
“If you don’t quit your shit, I’m going to wake the girls so they can eat all the donuts I just brought before you can even apologize.”
Narrowing my gaze, I asked, “What kind of donuts?”
Lukas reached forward and opened the lid, showing a variety of two dozen donuts. “Yes, dear sister. I got those horrible cake ones you love so much. Don’t worry.”
Before he could snap the lid closed, I reached forward and snagged the glazed blueberry and took a large bite. “You’re still high-maintenance.”
“Honestly, I get no respect.”
“Not with as much fru-fru shit as you put in your coffee,” Duke said, following my lead and grabbing a chocolate with sprinkles.
My brother threw up his hands in surrender. “I don’t have to take this abuse. My nieces would praise me as the hero I am.”
The fact that he referred to CharlieandHarper as his nieces warmed my heart. Duke belonged here with or without me. Blood didn’t define family. It was the ones who showed up when you needed them that did.
While that should have comforted me, it didn’t. Knowing that I was going to walk away from everyone here while their lives went on without me was depressing. What if Duke met someone? Dated? Got married? I’d have to watch as he moved on with someone new, knowing all I would’ve had to do was stay.
If I stayed, he could be mine. Harper, too.
Oh my god. What was I thinking? It wasn’t like Duke and I were athing. We flirted. Occasionally. Sometimes he held metightly to his chest while I cried, sometimes he carried me when my legs gave out from grief, sometimes he listened to my deepest secrets, but that was it. Totally normal.Totally. Except for the kiss—and the accidental voyeurism—things were totally innocent between the two of us.
Could things be innocent if you saw someone naked? I wasn’t an expert on these things.
“So, what are y’all up to today?” Lukas asked, glancing between the two of us. “Any big plans?”
“I’ve got nothing on the books,” I said, taking a sip. “I might curl up and read a book or something. Just hang out here at the house.”
“Sawyer and Ryan are covering the bar today, so I’m free. Is there a reason you’re asking?”
Lukas shrugged. “I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t really want to sit in a house all by my lonesome, and I don’t want to busy myself with work.” He sighed dramatically. “What’s a man to do?”
I rolled my eyes. “And people say I’m the dramatic sibling.”
“You are,” my brother and Duke said at the same time.
“My point, dear sister, is that it’s a beautiful day outside. What if we opened the doors, pulled out some board games, and just chilled together? Later, Duke and I can fire up the grill or something.”
I glanced over my shoulder to where the girls were still passed out on the couch, sleeping soundly. Lukas had a point. It’d be nice to spend the day surrounded by the people we loved the most.
Even if I was going to ignore why I was putting Duke in that category.
“Fuck it. I’m in,” Duke said, slapping his thighs.
Lukas turned to me. “What about you, sis? Up for some friendly competition?”
“It’s never friendly with you because you’re a sore loser, but sure. Why not? It’ll be fun to kick your ass.”
“One,” Lukas said, holding up his pointer finger. “I’m so glad you said yes. Two,” this time he flipped me off, “You’re not going to kick my ass.”