Page 13 of Unwrap Me After Dark
I hand over my card, hyper-aware of Liam watching from a few feet away.
“You two visiting for long?” she asks, handing me my receipt.
“Just a few more days.”
“Well, enjoy the lake.” Her eyes slide back to Liam, and she gives him a little wave. “See you around, maybe.”
I collect my bags, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Liam follows me out, and I can feel his smugness radiating from behind me. As we load the groceries into the trunk, I notice him slipping a scrap of paper into his pocket. Her number. Of course.
“Gonna ask her out while we’re here?” I snap, slamming the trunk shut.
Liam shrugs, infuriatingly casual. “Maybe.”
I bite the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood. “Good for you, baby bro.”
He looks at me with narrowed eyes. “What’s your problem?”
“No problem.” I unlock the car. “Just making conversation.”
We climb in, and I start the engine with more force than necessary. A thought occurs to me—petty, childish, but too tempting to resist.
“Actually, can we swing by that coffee shop on Main before heading back?”
Liam gives me a strange look, but shrugs. “Whatever.”
The coffee shop is only a few blocks away. We walk in, and the bell above the door announces our arrival. The smiley barista with the man-bun looks up from the espresso machine and his face brightens with recognition.
“Hey, you came back,” he says, eyes sliding from me to Liam and back again. “Coffee, black, large, right?” He smirks, quoting me.
I nod. “And whatever he wants,” I add, gesturing to Liam.
“I’ll have a latte,” Liam says flatly. Of course he drinks lattes.
The barista nods, setting to work. “You guys enjoying your stay at the lake?”
“It has its moments,” I reply, leaning against the counter. “Weather could be better.”
“Yeah, but rainy days have their advantages.” He winks as he steams milk for Liam’s drink. “Forces you to find…indoor activities.”
The innuendo isn’t subtle. I laugh, feeling Liam’s eyes boring into my back.
“I’m Nick, by the way,” he says, nodding at his name tag and extending a hand across the counter.
“Tyler,” I reply, shaking it. “And this is Liam.”
Nick nods at Liam, who returns the gesture stiffly.
“So, you guys up here for vacation?” Nick asks, sliding Liam’s coffee towards him.
“Sort of a forced family bonding thing,” I explain, accepting my cup.
“Oh!” Nick’s eyebrows rise. “So you’re brothers?”
“Stepbrothers,” I clarify.
“I see. I guess that’s why you don’t look alike.” Nick flashes a sheepish grin. “I thought maybe you were, you know…together.”
Liam chokes on the latte.
