Page 16 of Kissing Chaos
“I know telling you not to worry about it is pointless, because you’ll just worry more, but I mean it. It’s no big deal. There’s just a lot going on for both of us right now, emotions were high, and seeing you with Noah Slater threw me.”
“He hinted that you aren’t his biggest fan.” My eyebrows raise, curiosity getting the best of me as I fix my own mug. Mostly creamer and sugar.
Reese cuts his eyes at me over the rim of his mug. “I know it’s pointless to tell you what to do—I learned that lesson years ago—but stay away from Noah. Those elevator guys are all assholes.”
I choke on a laugh, thankful I haven’t taken a sip of the coffee in my hands yet. “I’m sorry, what?”
His lip twitches. “It’s true.”
“How would you even know that? How many elevator guys do you actually know?”
He shakes his head, fighting silent laughter. “Okay, I only know Noah and one other.”
It’s my turn to shake my head as he continues.
“But I’ve heard enough to know they are a different breed.”
“Are you sure you aren’t just saying that because Dad used to always say it about every trade other than electrical?”
At that, a real laugh finally rolls through my brother. Our dad was an electrician for nearly thirty years before retiring early. We heard the beef between union trades the entirety of our childhood.
“Okay, maybe his words contributed to my opinion. Slightly.”
“I still don’t understand your warning, though. Noah is just the guy that saved me from the stuck elevator. We just happened to run into each other. It’s not like—”
“Hold up, what?”
“What, what?” I snap, irritated by the interruption.
“Noah was the mechanic?”
I cock a brow at him, waiting on him to catch up with my thoughts.
“I’ll never understand how your brain works.”
“Join the club. I’ve lived twenty-seven years with it and still haven’t figured out how it works. Anyway, I already told him I wasn’t interested or worth his time, so no need for brother bear to come out and eat anyone. But McKenna is meeting me for lunch at Riley’s, and you should join us.”
Reece’s eyes harden. “I think I’ll pass.”
“I’ve had one of the worst months of my life and want my brother and my best friend to eat lunch with me. Can you guys pretend to get along for an hour or two to make that happen?” I pout. For a second, I think my brother will give an honest answer for once, but then a sarcastic grin lights his face.
“Because she hogs you, and I want you all to myself.”
“Ha ha ha. You are absolutely hilarious.”
When he says nothing more, I add, “I would really like to only admit to everything that has been going on once. Can you please just act like civilized human beings for one lunch?”
Reece groans. I don’t know what happened between them, but I hate that my two favorite people cannot stand to be in the same room as each other ninety-eight percent of the time.
I push away from the counter and head to the guest room’s connected bathroom to shower and get ready. “Riley’s at twelve thirty. It’d be really cool if you joined us.”
After a quick wash of the hair, I slip into some of my softest sweatpants and a bookish tee. It’s of a fictional hockeyteam from a book series, and I could not help myself when I saw it. I forego socks and slip my bare feet into my Sketchers. Instead of brushing and drying my hair, I secure it in a messy bun as exhaustion makes its existence known. And no, this is not some cutesy messy bun. This is anI’m tired and my hair is long so let us please get it out of the way without cutting it offmessy bun. It’s typically my go-to hair style.
As I slip out of the guest room, I hear the water turn on across the hall.
Success. Brother is going to go after all.
***
