Page 82 of Fortune's Control
“You bought four pies? Why would you bring us four pies?” Shane asked.
I had a more important question. “What kind are they?”
Aiden and Dean followed Jack through the still-open kitchen door.
“One for each of us,” Jack explained. He set the four boxes on the table and held out one hand. “You promised to pay me back.”
Shane’s jaw tightened. “This feels like a setup.” He opened his wallet and pulled out several bills. “I thought you were volunteering tonight,” he said to Aiden.
“Not yet. That was an excuse, so I didn’t feel guilty about taking your entire plate of brownies with me. I cleaned the plate before returning it.”
Aiden held up a plate. I took it, setting it next to the sink for another rinse.
“And you?” Shane shot at Dean.
Dean held up his hands like a man surrendering. “Innocent bystander. I was finishing up dinner when Jack walked into the diner.”
“We planned to watch a movie. Does anyone want to join us?” I asked.
Shane opened the pie boxes while I fetched some knives.
“Is Sophie around?” Jack asked.
His mumbled question caught me by surprise. “Why don’t I see if she’ll join us?”
*****
“Your tea.” Shane set a mug on the table and took the empty seat beside me. “This night veered off course, didn’t it?” he whispered.
“I’m stillenjoying it.”
Sophie walked into the family room, earning stares from all four men. “What? You’ve never seen a woman comfortable in her own home before?” She stared down at her bunny slippers and flannel pajama pants with a shrug. I suspected the oversized sweatshirt and pigtails also earned some curiosity. “What are we watching?”
“Lilah gets to pick,” Shane said.
“Where’s your friend?” Aiden asked as the television came to life. “She never said goodbye.”
His sudden question caught me off guard. “Emma? She has a boyfriend, remember?”
“Irrelevant,” he said. Aiden took a bite of coconut cream pie. “This is amazing. Also, tell her to be here for our next game.”
“Why?” Shane asked.
“Also not relevant.” Aiden’s shuttered expression let us know he wasn’t ready to explain.
Dean crossed his arms and took pity on his twin brother. “I have no opinion on the movie selection, as long as it starts soon.”
“What are we watching?” Sophie asked again.
“Probably a RomCom,” Aiden guessed.
Shane laughed. “Oh, no, it won’t be that.”
I grinned and rubbed my hands together. “It’s one of my favorites. Almost everyone on the planet dies in an explosion, and then it gets gruesome.”
Several jaws dropped open at once.
“I told you guys.” Shane kissed me as the movie started. “Isn’t she great?”
