Page 97 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

He didn’t say a word for at least a minute while he tried to process the bombshell I’d just dropped on him. Then, after he asked me five times if I was fucking with him, he did the last thing I expected and gave me a hug.

On purpose.

I didn’t even have to bribe him into it.

The last time the kid hugged me was at our dad’s funeral. Needless to say, I was shocked. And a little teary-eyed.

Although, the affectionate part of him didn’t stick around for long because as soon as he pulled away, he was asking about breakfast.

TJ got it in his head to make chocolate chip pancakes as a result. Of course, Oli couldn’t be bothered to help and disappeared into his bedroom the next second, and we’ve been grinding away ever since—oh, and the kitchen now resembles a war zone.

“What’s next?” I wipe the flour on the back of my hand on my apron, watching as TJ whisks the ingredients together.

He’s wearing nothing but a pair of my dad’s old sweatpants. That and remnants of the flour fight we had earlier.

“Greasing the pan,” he says, and I zero in on the muscles in his forearms flexing as he whisks faster.

Boy, I’m pathetic. It’s gotten to the point where everything he does has me feeling some type of way.

To be fair, he’s shirtless in my kitchen, his gorgeous face still bruised from getting into a fight for me and my sister, and he’s cooking for my family. I’d have to be made of ice not to find him ridiculously sexy right now.

“Lace?” he calls, interrupting my drooling over him.

I snap out of it. “Sorry, what?”

A smile grazes his lips. “Could you take over for me for a bit?”

I clear my throat. “Sure, no problem.”

I fill in for him, mixing away as he heats and greases the pan. I’m so focused on the task at hand I don’t notice him closing in on me from behind.

His mouth finds my ear at the same time his hands lock around my waist. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I can’t stop thinking about bending you over that counter and having you for breakfast.”

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, butI just threw up in my mouth.”

I jump out of my skin at my sister’s voice, whipping my head to the doorway and seeing Sierra and Kelsea watching us.

How long have they been standing there?

I try to step away from TJ’s arms, but he doesn’t budge, his hands tightening around my hip bones.

My cheeks burn with embarrassment. “Oh, it’s not… This isn’t…”

Both Sierra and Kelsea cock an eyebrow, a knowing smile on their faces, and I get the sense that there isn’t a single excuse I could drum up right now that wouldn’t make this look damning. They’re teenagers. Not stupid.

Cat’s out of the bag. Might as well own it.

“Let’s start over, shall we? Good morning, girls. We’re making chocolate chip pancakes. Oh, and TJ and I are seeing each other. Any questions?”

The girls crack a laugh at my I-Don’t-Even-Care attitude.

Kelsea takes it upon herself to start. “Seeing each other how? Like seriously?”

TJ opens his mouth to answer, but I beat him to the punch. “No. Not seriously. We’re just… having fun.”

Sierra snorts. “So, you’re fucking?”

“Not really. We haven’t…” I shut my mouth before I say too much. “That’s none of your business.”

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