Page 20 of Wild Fires

“Um, hi. What are you doing here?”

He held up a bag. “I was finishing up dinner since Kim’s working tonight. So she and Gia asked me to play delivery boy for you.”

He shoved the bag into my chest as I muttered a quick thanks.

Before I could close the door, he pushed his way inside.

“I knew something was going on with you.”

“Why? Because I didn't want to cook?”

“You never play the delivery card like that.”

“Look, Eli, it's been a long day. I just want to eat and go to bed.”

“What's going on with you and Gracie Montgomery?”

My jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”

“You and Gracie. Kind of an odd match, but I guess I can see it. Is she your true mate?”

I sputtered. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Kim overheard Novaleigh telling Felicity that she saw you get into Gracie's Jeep and drive off from the diner.”

I stared at him for a second and then burst out laughing. “You're a goddamn gossip. Is this really what your life has become, big brother?”

“Shut the hell up. I am not.”

“But she said that she said that she said . . . makes you a gossip.”

“What were you doing with Gracie then?”

“Well, I'd tell you, but you'd probably just run back to The Diner to share all the town's secrets.”

He scowled. “I'm not a gossip.”

I gave him a knowing look that I thought for sure would piss him off enough to stomp out of my apartment and retreat to his.

“Did Kim and Gia put you up to this then? Because you sound like a gossip.”

“What were you doing with Gracie Montgomery, Ryan?”

I hated how my body continued to react to the mention of her name each time he said it.

“It's not your business.”

“So you admit it?”

“I admit nothing.”

I sat down at the table and opened the bag, letting the aroma of freshly baked lasagna hit me. It made my stomach rumble. I didn't even bother getting up to get a plate and fork. I just opened the container and used the plastic set I knew my sister would have thrown in. I never used it, but she always sent it just in case. Tonight was that just in case.

Elias’s jaw dropped. “No china and silver tonight? You heathen! What have you done with my brother, Ryan?”

“You're an ass.”

“And you're acting weirder than usual. What's going on?”

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