Page 56 of Anti Player

Ellie introduces me to Connor and Brett fist bumps him. We walk deeper into their apartment.

“I hope you guys are hungry,” Ellie says.

Her dining table is covered in all kinds of food, ranging from pizza, salads, sushi, chicken parmesan, garlic knots, pasta, and my cake.

“Wow, this is quite the spread,” I gasp.

“Thanks, we wanted to make sure there was something for everyone and Connor invited Kaleb too,” Ellie explains. “He could always use a good meal. That man doesn’t cook very well, and he never has enough food in his house.”

That sounds about right from what I’ve seen so far. The thought of Kaleb joining us on this family night makes my skin buzz, which is a problem because I need to keep my cool around Brett.

“Gotcha,” I say.

Brett and Connor break into conversation, I think I hear Florida mentioned. Ellie tells me all about the city and fun places to take kids.

When there’s a knock on the door, Connor says he’ll get it, so I stay talking with Ellie.

Asher and Syd are playing a video game together. It’s adorable to see my son happy and interacting with a kid around his age, since Syd is slightly older. Nathan didn’t like us having too many playdates back in Jersey. They weren’t his thing.

When Kaleb enters the main room looking freshly showered, shaven, and wearing a white polo and beige shorts my heart ricochets in my chest. Why does he have to be so good-looking? And that white shirt against his tanned skin just makes him look so. . . I have to take a breath.

Ellie watches me curiously and I redirect my attention.

“Kaleb is a good guy,” she says.

“Oh, I know, we grew up living next to each other,” I say with nonchalance.

“Right, I forgot Brett and Kaleb know each other from childhood,” Ellie replies.

“Yeah, Kaleb is best friends with my middle brother, Henry,” I explain. “Henry’s the smart one in our family. He’s at Yale.”

“Nice,” Ellie says. “You think the kids are ready for dinner? I don’t want the food getting too cold.”

“I’m sure Asher is ready. Brett took him to the zoo today. He’s had a long day. I’m surprised he isn’t yawning.”

“Brett took him?” she asks surprised.

“I know my brother doesn’t seem like he’d be good with kids, but he’s great with Asher,” I explain.

“Interesting,” she says oddly.

I must give her a questioning look.

“Brett was interested in one of my friends, her name is Willow. Nothing came of it though. You know how he is with relationships.”

“If anyone knows it’s me. I’m hoping he’ll settle down eventually. He has too much time on his hands, so he worries about me too much.”

“I heard that,” Brett hollers from across the room.

We break out laughing.

Ellie calls everyone to come and eat. We all enjoy the meal filled with conversation and laughter. Even Asher is enjoying himself with Syd.

After dinner, we all take a seat on their sectional, and we watchEncanto. Ellie explains that Syd’s best friend, Crew, loves this movie and got her addicted.

Somehow, I end up seated between my brother and Kaleb, which is an awful situation because having Kaleb’s leg pressed to mine makes my body heat. It’s like my body knows his and all the deliciously orgasmic things it can do to me.

When Kaleb’s hand rests on his own knee and his pinky begins caressing the skin on my thigh, I want to jump out of my skin, or maybe I want to jump him if we didn’t have all this company.

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