Page 13 of Daring the Defender

“We’ve got an away game tomorrow night,” Axel turns to me, “and we won’t be home ‘til late. Will you be okay here by yourself?”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I tell him. “I’ll be fine.”

“If not, I’m sure Twyler and Nadia would be happy for you to sleep on their couch.”

“Or they could come over here?” Reese offers. “Girls like sleepovers, right?”

“Children like sleepovers.” Reid points out, then leans toward me and adds, “Reese has no siblings so he’s clueless sometimes.”

“Just because you have four sisters, doesn’t mean you know everything.”

“It means I know a lot,” Reid shoots back, digging his fork in the pile of rice. “More than you.”

I turn to my brother. “As hard as it is for you to accept it, I’m an adult. I can stay by myself for one night.”

He grunts and goes back to his food, just as Jefferson rises, pushing his chair back. With a casual rake of his fingers through his hair, he says, “Nice to meet you, Shelby, and thanks for the awesome dinner.” He picks up his plate and carries it to the sink. “I’ve got a study date over at the Kappa house.”

Reese rolls his eyes and says, “You know one day you’re going to show up over there and they’re going to have changed the locks.”

He shrugs. “Then I’ll just go in through a window.”

“The dishes in the washer are clean,” I call out. “Just leave your plate and I’ll–”

“You’ll do nothing,” Axel says. “Leave your plate and we’ll take care of it.” He looks at Reese and Reid. “That goes for you too.”

“I’m on it,” Reese agrees, but adds, “when I get back. I’m heading over to Twy’s, remember?”

“Right,” Ax says.

“You still coming?”

“Yeah, for a little bit.” The way he says it, gives me the impression he’d normally stay longer. When he stands he says, “Don’t even think about washing these dishes. We’ll get them later, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Thanks for dinner,” he says, dropping his hand on top of my head and ruffling my hair. I jerk away and notice that Jefferson has grabbed his backpack and is already out the door. Axel and Reese head out right after, shrugging on coats and slipping away. Suddenly it’s just me and Reid.

“I’m surprised he left me alone with you,” I admit.

“I would be too, except he’s got something on his mind.”

“What?”

“Se–” he swallows. “Nadia. He’s in it deep with her.”

I nod. “I noticed.”

I have noticed and it surprises me. Axel never got close to any girls back home. He had a bit of a reputation, but nothing that would make my parents mad. He was quiet about his relationships, but nothing about how he feels about Nadia seems quiet, which may be why he chose her over my father.

Reid finishes off his meal and stands, taking not only his plate but mine too. “Oh, I can get that.”

He isn’t swayed, and carries both plates over to the sink. He opens the dishwasher and steam rushes out. Pulling out the top rack, he starts to unload.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I don’t mind.” He dips his fingers in two different glasses, pulling out both in one hand. “When I was growing up, everyone chipped in with clean up.”

I move over to help unload, although I’m not sure where everything goes.

---