Page 72 of Can't Always Get What You Want

I hesitate. Give my head a little shake.

No.

I crack the door and step out into the hallway, heart slamming against my ribs. Ba boom, ba boom, ba boom…

Force my legs to move toward the door, one foot in front of the other toward the kitchen as if I was on my way to my own execution.

My brother is already digging through the takeout bag at the counter, the smell of lo mein and bad decisions fills the air. He gives me a cursory glance.

“Took you long enough.” Looks me up and down. “What the hell were you doing? Getting laid?”

Gio laughs.

“Maybe I was napping,” I snap, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “What are you doing here?”

“I had a meeting and thought I’d swing by.” He begins digging through the contents of the paper bag he placed in the center of my island. “Brought you dinner—orange chicken and fried rice, just like old times. That’s true love, right?”

Right.

So much love I could scream.

I’m about to fake a smile when Gio frowns and begins sniffing the air.

“Wait. What is that smell?” More sniffing. “Is something cooking?” he asks, moving toward the oven. “Did you already make dinner?”

My brain short-circuits.

“Oh—uh…”

THE CHICKEN!

WE FORGOT ABOUT THE DAMN CHICKEN!

My brother pulls open the oven door with the flair of someone expecting surprise cookies. Instead, he’s greeted by a sizzling tray of lemon chicken that I had forgotten existed.

The smell wafts out, citrusy and damning and delicious.

Gio turns to me. “Since when do you cook?”

“Uh,” I say. “I mean, yeah—sort of. I threw something in earlier and forgot?”

Gio squints. “Forgot? Are you trying to burn this entire building down?”

“No! I just…drifted off.”

“Drifted off? Are you okay?” he asks, mild concern etched across his brows. “This looks like a full meal. Were you expecting someone?”

I laugh.

Bad move; it comes out high-pitched and panicked. “Pfft, no. Hilarious. I was meal prepping.”

He blinks. “You made lemon chicken for meal prep?”

“Yes,” I lie. “For the week.”

“Can we eat?” I grab the carton and a fork from the food he was gracious enough to bring over. “I’ll put the chicken in containers after you leave.”

Hint hint.

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