Page 43 of Losing Sleep
Thundering footsteps were the only warning before Grey and Brad appeared at the top of the stairs, roughhousing and laughing as they tried to beat each other to the top.
“She lives!” Brad called, when he spotted me. “We were worried you’d gotten lost when it took you so long to get ready.”
“You guys didn’t have to hold dinner for me,” I said, looking at the platters of food Tory had laid out on the counter.
“Kylie also showered. I think she’s still getting ready.”
“You can’t blame our delay solely on the ladies, Grey,” Brad chimed in, peeking over Tory’s shoulder to see what she was cooking. “Those phone calls with your brother and mom took a good chunk of time too.”
“True,” Grey said, refusing to elaborate. I watched his face, trying to read from his expression if everything was okay at home. Instead, he smiled and came to stand beside me, reaching for an olive and bumping my shoulder in the process.
He quirked an eyebrow, as if asking if I was okay, but instead saying, “You look nice. Though I also liked the no-makeup-braid look from earlier.”
I ducked my head. “Sweaty and covered in hiking dust is hardly my best look.”
“Could have fooled me. Though this outfit brings back memories of a certain bed.” Grey’s eyebrows danced, and I gave him a playful shove. His gaze captured mine, and I became lost in the chocolate depths of his eyes as I soaked in his sincerity and a promise of something more filling their depths.
“Great minds think alike. You look good, Audrey.” Kylie’s words broke into the moment.
Kylie stood in the kitchen, wearing a near identical teal lounge set to mine. But while mine was clearly well loved, the fabric worn and pilling in spots, Kylie’s looked brand-new.
“If I’d known, I would have brought my matching pajamas too,” Grey said as he stepped away from me and settled at the table.
Kylie was quick to join him, and I ignored the jealousy curling in my stomach. Instead, I helped Tory put the finishing touches on dinner, pulling out plates and utensils. When all was ready, we served ourselves and dug into the food, conversation flowing around me as I did my best to focus on my tacos and ignore how Kylie scooted her chair closer to Grey.
“What are we doing tonight? More stargazing? Movie marathon? Night games?” Alex asked around a mouthful of beans.
“I vote video game tournament. Y’all were trash talking on the hike. It’s time to see those car racing skills,” Tory said, serving herself a second helping of corn. “And since it’s my birthday trip, I think my vote wins regardless of what anyone else says.”
“You’re on!” Brad said. “Be warned, I was the champion race car driver in my home for over a decade.”
“Just because you cheat,” Alex shot back.
Brad flicked a black bean at Alex, nailing him in the forehead.
“Sensitive, are we?” Alex asked with a laugh, picking up an olive to launch back.
“No food fights at the cabin!” Tory cut in, holding up her hands in a stop gesture. “My mom would kill me if she found out.”
“Fine, though she wouldn’t have to find out. I know a guy who can make all food fight evidence disappear,” Brad said, arching an eyebrow.
“What are you, the food fight mafia?” Grey laughed, pointing at the bowl of olives with his fork. “Do you know a place where you can bury those olives where they’ll never be found?”
I snorted, picturing Brad wearing a dark suit, his hair slicked back, as he buried the unsuspecting olives in a shallow grave behind the cabin.
“If you start a food fight at the cabin, it’s your bodies that will never be found. Don’t underestimate my mama.” Tory reached for the bowl of olives, placing a few on her plate.
“Your mom? Isn’t she like five feet tall?” Trent asked.
“And scary as all get out if you cross her,” Brad said, his lips tipping up in a slight smile as he got lost in memories. “I remember when we were kids, Tory convinced Alex and I to let her try our bow and arrow—”
“Not that story!” Tory groaned, slumping back into her chair, the frame protesting at the sudden movement. “I was ten, and I’d never shot anything before.”
“More accurately, you’d neveraimedat anything before.” Alex nudged Tory with his shoulder, joining in the banter.
“How was I supposed to know that little bow and arrow would have enough strength to break a window?”
“That was the day I gained a healthy…respect for Mrs. Allen,” Brad said with a shudder.
