Page 12 of The Question of Us
I roared and threw the headphones through the doorway into the hall. They hit the stairwell, one earpiece snapping against the banister, then bounced their way down to the basement. I fell back against the wall, wrapped my arms around my head, and slid to the floor.
“I’d offer to come back, but fuck that.”
Samuel.
My head jerked up to find my brother-in-law grinning down at me. “You nearly took my damn head off.” His light tone failed to hide the concern written in his eyes. “What the hell did those poor headphones do to you?”
“Not like I knew you were coming up the stairs,” I muttered unapologetically. “Which begs the question of whyareyou here? And also, a knock on the front door wouldn’t go amiss.”
“And hello to you too.” Samuel dropped his keys on the desk and proceeded to join me on the floor, sitting close enough thatour shoulders touched. “So...” He nudged me with his elbow. “Having a wee moment, are we?”
“Shut up,” I grumbled. “I was quite happy wallowing in my own little pity party, thank you very much. It’s way too early to have to deal with you as well. Go away.”
“Yeah, nah, not happening.” He nudged me again. “Besides, it’s morning teatime. How about being a decent host and offering me some? Then you can spill the beans on your latest relationship cock-up.”
I turned a glare on him. “What don’t you understand about leaving me alone?”
“Nothing,” he ventured evenly. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen, though. I’m your brother, Nick, not someone you can bully into submission.”
“There’s anin-lawattached to that brother bit, in case you’ve forgotten,” I countered, instantly regretting it. “Shit.” I banged my head back against the wall. “Sorry.”
Samuel snorted. “It’s not like I was expecting to be welcomed with open arms, is it? I know you, Nick. I get you hate that I do, but there it is. You love me and I love you. We’re family. So, grow a pair and talk to me.”
I wanted to be mad at him but all I felt was overwhelming gratitude. I swivelled to face him. “You love me, huh?”
He shrugged. “I said so, didn’t I? Although you’re fucking testing my patience, that’s for sure.”
I chuckled. “Join the queue. It’s a long one.”
He raised a brow. “Trouble in paradise?”
I let loose a much bigger sigh than I’d intended. “Paradise is a myth among many myths.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Deep and meaningful stuff.”
“Yep.” I gave another sigh, then cried out as his elbow connected with my ribs. “Jesus! What was that for?”
He made to do it again, but I scooted sideways just in time, shouting, “Stop it.”
Samuel grunted. “I will when you stop throwing bullshit around. You, Nick Fisher, are about as deep as a puddle, and I’m done fucking around. So tell me what happened or I’m going to mess up that sad little categorised wardrobe you froth over every morning. Blues in with the reds. Shirts with trousers. Shoes not matched in pairs. I’ll go all out.”
My eyes flew wide. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He stared back at me. “Try me.”
My teeth clenched at the very thought. It had been bad enough hanging my meagre collection of clothes in the space Mads had allocated for me in his wardrobe the past few weeks. The memory made my skin itch. “Fine,” I grumbled. “But I’m gonna need a coffee or, better still, something stronger.”
“Coffee it is then.” Samuel got to his feet and offered his hand to help me up. “Some of us have work to do.” He pulled me to my feet and brushed me off.
I was about to argue that having work to do washisproblem when I remembered two things. One, the spreadsheet I’d been working on. And two, a certain pair of green eyes laden with disapproval at the idea of alcohol before noon. I groaned. Was there no end to the man’s sneaky infiltration of my life?
“Fuck me,” I muttered.
Samuel slapped me on the back. “No thanks, sunshine, but I’m happy to make you a coffee.”
I rolled my eyes. “Definitely the hotter of the two options.”
He laughed and shoved me into the hallway. Ten minutes later, we were seated at the dining table with two steaming mugs of coffee. I took a welcome swallow of the hot brew and said, “So, back to my question about why you’re here.”
