Page 226 of The Baby Bargain
Chapter Forty-Seven
Ariel
Dinner is surprisingly easy. Sure, Chase eyes his mom carefully. And his laugh gets stilted when his brother makes jokes. But it's easy for everyone to focus on Quinn and Wes.
They're happy and in love and adorable. She and Mr. Keating gush over classic movies.Casablancais just so romantic. But what aboutRoman Holiday? OrHis Girl Friday? OrThe Philadelphia Story?
Mr. Keating can't pick a favorite.
She's adamant aboutCasablancabeing the greatest film ever made. An unsurpassed and unsurpassable work of cinema. Not just the greatest movie, but the greatest story of all time.
I don't have it in me to tell her I don't like it.
Yes, it's beautifully shot and well-acted and the music is fantastic.
But Ilsa leaving with Victor? Because duty is more important than love? Because Rick knows what she wants more than she does?
I guess it makes sense, what with them fighting Nazis, but it's not romantic.
It's just sad.
* * *
Hunter setsa mug of milky coffee on the table. Then a black one. "Decaf."
I hug Chase's blanket around my shoulders. The one from his old room. (All black, of course).
Mmm. It still smells like him.
Hunter sits across from me. Takes a long sip of his black coffee. "From Chase."
"Oh." The mug is warm against my skin. It feels like love. It's just a cup of coffee, but it still feels like love. "Thank you."
"Thank him. He insisted," he says.
"But you made it?"
Hunter's laugh is easy. Like there's no frost between him and his brother. "Chase can't make coffee for shit."
"He drinks it every morning."
"Drip." Hunter's nose scrunches in distaste. "That isn't coffee."
"Oh?" I take a sip. It's rich, warm, creamy, sweet. But it's still coffee. It tastes like any other cup of coffee.
Hunter nodsyeah. "Drip is basically swill."
"I didn't realize." The warmth is exactly what I need, but it's just… so much less good than tea. "I'm more of a chai girl."
"You have a favorite?"
"I make my own."
"Impressive." His gaze shifts to the dining room.
The warm, yellow light surrounds Quinn and Wes in an angelic glow. They're sharing a piece of pie. Feeding each other.
It's sickeningly sweet.
