Page 14 of Bake You Mine
Liam lived in a one-bedroom apartment above the restaurant. After the restaurant closed, he just had to round the corner and go up two flights of stairs to be home. His one beef with the place was the lack of covered parking to protect his beloved Challenger.
“It’ll be fine. I think the more pressing question is, you’re not going out with that fuckboy again, are you?”
She rolled her eyes. “His name is Ryan.”
“I thought he answered to the name of fuckboy after you caught him on a dating app?”
Sasha waved her hand. “We’re not talking about our romantic entanglements, remember?” She picked up her phone and began texting.
That meant the little shit was inbound. He wanted to warn his sister against Ryan’s type, because Liam had been friends with plenty of Ryans in his younger days. But Sasha wouldn’t hear it until she was ready, so he stayed silent.
A combination of booming bass and squealing tires alerted them to Ryan’s arrival.
“Tell the shithead not everyone wants to hear his awful DJ mix tape.”
Sasha reached for her coat and umbrella on the rack by the door. “I’ll be sure to do that. Bye, brother dear.”
Sasha opened her umbrella and stepped out into the rain. Fuckboy didn’t bother opening the door for her, leaving her to bang on the window. But the little prick had a pretty face, which was why his sister put up with his BS. Liam shook his head as they tore away into the night.
After flicking off the lights, he pulled up the hood on his jacket.
He exited into the alley and finagled with the gate on the wrought iron fence leading to his building. Once inside, he shook off like a dog. He skipped the elevator and ran up the stairs to his place on the top floor.
He scanned his key fob at the door and stepped inside. Light spilled in from the street, illuminating the small, tidy space. Liam didn’t need much. A place to sleep, a couch, and a TV to watch Netflix or play a video game on when he had the time.
“Mrowr.”
Teddy Spaghetti, his ten-year-old malcontent Maine Coon, rubbed between his legs, not caring that his pants were wet.
“Hey, Teddy-o. Let me get your vittles.”
Teddy formerly belonged to his older brother Brandon’s family until his middle son, Alex, developed an allergy. The old grump always loved Liam, probably because he’d never fussed over him like everyone else. He did a fair share of fussing now.
Liam kicked off his shoes and hung his coat in the closet. Then he padded into the kitchen and took out the old man’s $4 can of food. He had crystals in his urine, and if he didn’t eat it, peeing hurt like hell.
Teddy hopped up on the small pony counter that divided the living room and kitchen as Liam dumped the stinky mess onto the plate and pushed it toward Teddy. He absently petted him with one hand. Teddy refused to eat unless his long fur was stroked. While the old man chewed, Liam scrolled through his phone.
He had another text from Dani, this one inviting him to come over tomorrow night.
He’d stopped petting Teddy, who’d started butting his head against Liam’s forearm.
“Sorry, old man.” He resumed his petting, and Teddy ate.
He ignored Dani’s message and clicked over to Instagram. Aubrey had followed him back. She’d also liked his most recent comment. He scrolled through her profile. He paused at a photo of Aubrey and her daughter, taken from behind. She was in the same eighth-grade class as his nephew Brody. The kid never said the words, but Liam could tell he had a crush on the little girl.
He tapped up to that pretty photo of Aubrey in the frothy pink dress. Damon might be right—there was something about her. When he’d called out his friend for putting ideas in Liam’s mind, Damon replied that you couldn’t plant an idea that wasn’t already growing.
Teddy finished his plate and hopped off the counter toward his water bowl. “Guess it’s just me and you tonight, dude.”
He glanced at the photo of Aubrey again, slightly annoyed that it turned him on. He had to keep his energy where it mattered: the competition, not his newly found realization that his opponent was fucking sexy.
He swept Teddy up into his arms and snapped off a quick selfie with the caption:
@aubspetitchou isn’t the only one readying herself for the biggest competition Port Fortune’s ever seen. Consulting with my general on battle plans!
He posted the photo, and his phone immediately began buzzing with notifications. He put his phone on night mode, and, at least for tonight, he only had his cat for company.
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