Page 68 of Shortcake
I glared at my brothers as they entered the kitchen, looking around, scrutinizing every nook and cranny. “We’ve literallyneverdone this dinner at my apartment,” I said. “When it’s my turn to cook, one of you offers to host or we do it at Mom’s since my place is literally four hundred square feet and wouldn’t fit all of us, even if we wanted it to.”
“Exactly,” Liam said. “And now you live here. This place can definitely accommodate all of us, isn’t that right, Sheriff?”
Conrad gave my brothers a tight smile. “Of course. This is Addy’s home too for the time being.” Then, crossing over to me, he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry. Harper and I can make ourselves scarce tonight.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Finn said, draping his arm over Conrad’s shoulders. It was a seemingly casual gesture, but I knew better. I saw through the cracks to the veiled threat beneath.
Stay, I dare you, Finn might as well have said.
“We brought plenty of food,” Chloe added, all smiles.
Mom, always my saving grace, said, “We don’t know if Conrad and Harper already have plans. But Chloe’s right, hun. If you don’t have plans, wedohave plenty of food. And I promise that my kids will be on their best behavior. Isn’t that right?”
Her sweet expression shifted quickly, morphing into a threat as she glared one by one at each of my brothers. They nodded. Again, seemingly innocent. But I knew better. Those were the same nods they’d given before switching the heads of my Barbies. Before they gave me noogies and tortured me ruthlessly.
Conrad lifted his brows, silently asking,Can we stay?
Rolling my eyes, I shrugged.Why the hell not?
* * *
“You know,Addy used to wet the bed.”
Oh my fucking God. We’d almost made it through dinner without incident.Almost.
As I pushed the last bites of ratatouille around my plate, I lobbed a scowl at my twin brother across the table. “Liam!” I hissed, but he merely gave me a satisfied smirk.Asshole.
I glanced at Conrad, shadows of amusement dancing across his features. Despite the humiliating admission Liam bestowed on my behalf, Conrad shrugged. “Didn’t everyone?” He said. It might have been a lie, but I was grateful for it.
“Maybe,” Finn muttered. “But not everyone did it until they’re eight-years-old.”
“Eight?!” Harper repeated, a delighted grin spreading on her youthful face.
My eyes cut to Conrad and the little smile that he was fighting plucked at my sensitive core. Embarrassment heated my veins.
I slammed my fork down. “Finn was the one in eighth grade who took out the mirror on your Toyota,” I told Mom. “He was riding his skateboard and lost control and slammed into it.”
“Dude!” Finn cried out. “You swore you’d never tell.”
That’s right. Two can play at this game.
“And it wasn’t squirrels who broke the shingles off the roof.Neildid it when sneaking out in high school to go to the homecoming party when he was grounded.” Then, I turned to Liam, eyes narrowed. The Golden Boy. My twin who could do no wrong, and never broke any rules. He was the apple of Mom’s eye, but if she only knew all the stunts he’d pulled, too. He was just a hell of a lot better at not getting caught than the rest of us. “AndLiamis the one who used all of your fancy body butter, that expensive stuff from France, when he had his sunburn in eleventh grade.”
Mom’s eyes went wide. “That was you? You said the dog ate it!”
I pressed my mouth into a line and arched my brow. “Should I keep going? I have all kinds of juicy stories about what I’ve found under your beds… Or are we done playing thetry to embarrass Addygame?”
“We’re done,” all three of my brothers muttered together.
A slow clap began with Conrad, seated beside me. Loud and dramatic, he clapped his hands like it was the end of some John Hughes moment in an 80s romcom until Harper joined in, syncing her clap with his rhythm. Then Haylee, Chloe, and Elaina joined.
I tipped an invisible hat in their direction and took a quick bow. “Thank you, thank you.”
“Impressive,” Conrad said.
“Remember that when you think it’s a good idea to air my dirty laundry.”
He grinned. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
