Page 34 of The Baby Bargain
"Are you fourteen?" Wes asks. "That's so—"
"You're practically green," I say.
Wes's eyes flit to mine. For a second, he studies me. Tries to figure out what I'm after. "I'm jealous?"
"Yeah. It's sad. As you say." My smile spreads a little wider. For once, this is easy. I'm not thinking about our mom or our middle brother or all the tension that came with them.
I'm teasing my baby brother about how much he loves his girlfriend.
"I do say." Wes folds his arms. "It's sad you can't see that my and Quinn's love is more powerful than anything."
"Aww." Griffin reaches out and musses his hair. "Isn't he cute?"
Wes slaps his hands away. "Stop it—"
I copy Griffin's gesture.
Wes folds his arms over his chest. He huffs an exhale so exaggerated it could be a panel in a comic book.
Forest chuckles. "You're just like Holden."
Wes drops the faux irritation. "In his dreams."
"What a nightmare." I shudder.
Forest nods.
"You realize he's coming in later?" Griffin looks from me to Forest. "Both of 'em are gonna be here."
"Horrible," I say.
Forest nods. "True pain."
Griffin chuckles. "You have competition."
"In his dreams." Wes rolls his eyeshe wishes. "You're lucky to have me. I know that's what you're thinking." He nods alaterand moves to his suite.
Griffin heads to the empty suite in back. Pulls out his sketchbook. Drifts into concentration.
Forest shifts his weight between his feet. It's still there, that sense that he owes me. But he doesn't.
I'm not doing this as a favor to a friend.
I asked the owners if they could find spots for Forest and Holden because it's good business.
That's it.
Favors are great. When they stay professional. When you start to make exceptions for friends and family—
Not making that mistake again.
"I think I've given him a long enough break." Forest motions to his client, who's still lying in the chair, tapping messages on his cell.
The guy looks grateful for the reprieve, but I'm not about to argue.
I nodsure.Open my mouth to say something about how I'm glad to have him here.
The ringing door interrupts me.
