Page 67 of Rebel Secrets
Mom made an amused sound.“Who would’ve called?All the neighbors were here.What time did the party finally wrap up?”
Tricky question.I didn’t exactly know.
“I guess I went up around midnight?Maybe one.Not sure.”
Mom gave me a funny look.“Well, we paid the band until one.So if they were still playing, you didn’t make it to the end.I hope everyone had a good time.”
Mom put two mugs of coffee on a tray she pulled from a cabinet then opened the fridge and pulled out a tray of breakfast food.Muffins, croissants, donuts, pastries, breads.When I realized that wasn’t the only tray, I got off my ass and gave her a hand.How the hell all this food fit in there was a mystery.It was like someone with a degree in Tetris had packed it in.
“Erin outdid herself with all of this.”She paused as we put the trays on the counter then fussed with them for a few seconds before piling a plate high with muffins and pastries and adding that to her tray.“You two seem to have put aside your differences these past couple of weeks.I know your sister appreciates it.”
It took a little effort not to smile at my mom’s comment.I know she was fishing for information, but I had no reason to think she knew what Erin and I had gotten up to last night.
“I think we understand each other a little better now.”
Mom smiled, her gaze intent for long seconds.Then she picked up her tray.“That’s good to hear.Do me a favor and fill that carafe next to the coffeemaker, and then make another pot, okay?I think I hear people stirring.Dad and I plan to be lazy this morning, but Erin said she’d be here to help with breakfast.See you later, hon.”
I followed Mom’s directions, realizing Erin couldn’t just cut and run.I swallowed more coffee and let that sink in.There was a very small part of my brain that was telling me to get the hell out while I could.That if we were in the same room when my sister or Brian or my brother or, hell, anyone who knew us came in and saw us together, they’d know immediately what we’d done last night.
Instead, I kept one eye on the entrance to the back stairs, watching for her to show.
I’d just taken a bite of one of her cherry almond scones when quiet footsteps on the stairs announced another arrival a few minutes later.When they paused before continuing into the kitchen, I knew it was Erin.
My heart actually began to thump a little harder in anticipation.I told myself it was the coffee kicking in.
When she stepped into the room, our eyes met and held.That stupid saying about the world stopping when we looked at each other… not exactly true.The world kept spinning, but maybe it slowed a little.And it got a little harder to breathe.
Then her gaze slid away as she walked into the kitchen and headed straight for the coffee.After she’d poured herself a mug and taken a long sip, her back straightened, and she turned to face me with an expression that reminded me of a kid facing the principal.
Then Rain shuffled into the room.
“Hey—” my sister yawned, long and loud and ruffled her hair, which was a mess and made me smile.“Ugh, why am I up this early?I mean, seriously.Brian’s still asleep, but my eyes popped open, like, fifteen minutes ago, and I couldn’t fall back to sleep.Probably because I smelled coffee.I love coffee, but damn, I don’t want to be up right now.”
“Good morning to you, too.”
Rain held up an index finger while she lifted a mug to her mouth and swallowed at least four times.Erin took the opportunity to make herself busy with the trays of food, moving them around on the island, grabbing plates from a bag I hadn’t noticed sitting in a corner on the other side of the room.
She took the plates out of the plastic wrap and set them on the counter, reached into the bag and brought out plastic utensils, reached in again and brought out insulated cups for coffee and plastic juice cups.The utensils went in holders, also in the bag.I began to wonder if that bag had a little Mary Poppin’s magic.I wasn’t going to be surprised if she pulled out a sink.
But no, the bag got folded and stashed under the counter somewhere.Apparently she knew this kitchen better than I did.And I’d grown up in the damn house.
Then she went about setting up a breakfast spread that rivaled any bed and breakfast.She even told the radio to play something called “Breakfast playlist” and soft instrumental music filled in the empty spaces in the room.
Rain had finally put down her mug and was giving Erin a hand when Ian wandered in, yawning and scratching his head.His face had sleep lines all over that made him look even younger than he was.
“Coffee’s over there,” I told him, grinning when he didn’t even look at me but made an immediate U-turn, eyes barely open.Open enough to see Erin, though.
“Hey.”
Her smile at my younger teammate hit like a punch in the gut.It wasn’t jealousy.I didn’t want to punch the kid for looking at her or talking to her.No, it was the feeling I got when she smiled.
“You have a good night, big brother?”
Rain stood by my side.She’d gotten so close without me seeing her, but somehow, she’d maneuvered herself next to me without me noticing.And the way she was staring at me…
I returned her look, taking another slow sip of my quickly cooling coffee.
“It was a great party.You have a good time?”
