Page 35 of Meet You in the Waves
The smell eventually woke the other boys and they both drifted into the kitchen. Rob sat heavily on the stool beside Ajay, looking slightly worse for wear as Mateo moved into the kitchen, straight to the coffee machine, looking completely fresh as usual even after a night on the town.
“I can do that for you,” I offered.
“Leave the coffee making to the Italian please,” Mateo returned, a little smile on his face. I knew better than to get in the way of Mateo and coffee so I gestured for him to continue.
“I don’t care who makes it just as long as I get one in me pronto,” Rob piped up from the kitchen island.
“So demanding for a grifter,” Mateo eyerolled. “You want another coffee?” he added, eyes on me.
“Yeah, sure,” I replied, focusing on the grill.
“What about your friend?”
“Ajay? Another coffee?”
“I’m good,” Ajay replied.
I could feel Ajay’s eyes moving between Mateo and me as we moved around each other, a familiarity to our movements that was not just to do with our long years of friendship. I couldn’t read the expression on Ajay’s face but I really wished I could dig into his mind sometimes, see what he really thought about everything.
I plated up enough food for everyone, even Dane who eventually trudged downstairs, his hair mussed in a way that was strange for his usually impeccable state.
“How’s Dee?” Ajay asked, a hint of guilt on his face that had no business being there.
“She’s fine,” Dane replied, clearly still a little huffy about the whole ordeal. “She and Kira had fun at the fireworks. They went home straight after. You should call Kira. She’s been asking about you.”
“Mmm,” Ajay replied noncommittally. I caught his eye, sending him what I hoped was an encouraging smile which he tried to return.
“Kira?” Rob cut in, deciding now was the time to engage his head in the conversation. “Isn’t she your girlfriend?”
“Ex-girlfriend,” Ajay informed him.
I felt Rob’s eyes flick straight to me, eyebrows shooting to the ceiling.
“Is that so?” Rob asked. “Whatever happened?”
Ajay’s eyes hit mine and I instantly went into bat for him, not wanting to leave him to deal with my gossipy friend alone.
“None of your business, nosy,” I said, sharing a glance with my friend that I hoped conveyed my wish for him to leave it.
“Well, Ajay’s a friend of mine too now so I would argue itismy business,” Rob replied imperiously. I was about to jump back in when I saw a smile cross Ajay’s face suggesting he might have liked being claimed as a friend by Rob.
“It was nothing overly dramatic,” Ajay offered. “Kind of one of those things that had been a long time coming.”
I ignored Dane’s scoff, Rob’s knowing look and Mateo’s suspicious eyes as I tried to eat the breakfast that suddenly felt overloaded with unspoken words.
“So, are we taking the boat out today?” Rob asked, finally getting the hint.
“Absolutely,” I grinned. “We have a long New Year’s Day tradition to uphold after all.”
“Brilliant,” Rob beamed.
“You have a boat?” Ajay asked, eyes lit up in his too-gorgeous face.
“Sure do,” I grinned back. “Although technically it’s my dad’s. You should come out with us. And Dane too, if you want,” I added as an afterthought, trying to remind myself that Ajay was actuallyhisfriend. That he had the higher claim on his time than me.
“You couldn’t pay me,” Dane replied, ever reliable.
“Really?” Ajay said, his face dropping as he glanced at his best friend. “You don’t like going out on the boat?”
