Page 54 of Bossy Ex's Brother

“What are you doing?” I asked curiously.

“Making soup,” he commented. He selected a knife from the cutlery set and then started slicing it into the meat.

“Soup?” I watched as his hands moved expertly, cutting the meat into thin strips. “You can cook?”

“I’m a bachelor, aren’t I?” he quipped as an answer and then continued slicing. I guessed that made sense. He couldn’t very well go to his mother’s house when he needed to eat, although I knew a man of his wealth could probably afford a chef.

Yet he didn’t. Apart from his business, he never seemed like the type to spend money on himself. He wore pretty simple clothes, drove a nice bike everywhere, and generally lived a normal life. I knew from the books that he was easily clearing several million dollars a year, if not one billion.

So why did he remain in some old apartment in Glenfield rather than move somewhere more upscale?

I eyed him curiously, watching him as he put the items in the pot. I felt nausea build up again, but I took deep breaths through my nose, refusing to let myself dry heave until it subsided.

When I opened my eyes, he was watching me with that fathomless gaze of his.

Pretty soon, the air was filled with the aroma of the soup, and my mouth watered.

“What is it?” I asked as he brought over a bowl.

“Vegetable chicken soup,” he said. “My mother’s recipe.”

I smiled. I knew from everything he’d said last night that he was a mama’s boy, even though he’d never admit it. Probably a part of his tough-guy act. I didn’t mind it; I found it really endearing, actually.

It was also kind of touching that he had cooked for me.

I wasn’t sure about it until he spooned some liquid into my mouth, and the flavors burst on my tongue.

“Mmm,” I exclaimed in surprise. “This is actually pretty good.”

“I’m glad.” He slipped onto the seat beside me. “Keep going. It should help with your stomach.”

“Uh-huh,” I said, spooning another bite into my mouth. He watched me as I ate, watching me with satisfaction in his eyes.

“Better?” he asked, and I nodded, surprised to see that the nausea had subsided significantly.

In fact, the soup seemed to be soothing every ache in my body and loosening all my muscles. I meant to take a shower after I was done, but I just had to lean back and rest my eyes for a little while as we sat in companionable silence.

I didn’t even know when I fell asleep.

I woke up to strange sounds. The sun was setting outside, and I glanced around, disoriented. I was in my bedroom, but I had no idea how I got there. My guess was Luca, but how did I not even stir when he carried me? Speaking of which, where was Luca? It sounded like someone was playing a video game downstairs, and two people were arguing in subtly hushed tones.

I got to my feet, happy that I no longer felt like throwing up. Then I headed to the door and down the stairs.

It was exactly what it sounded like.

It was the most bizarre sight.

Luca was sitting on the couch, lounging back. His concentration was on the TV in front of him, and he was pressing the controller to move his fighter back and forth, delivering a parry of punches. The other controller was with Emmett, who seemed to be bouncing in step.

“I’m going to end you,” Emmett was muttering to the screen. “I swear it.”

“Do your worst, little man,” Luca shot back just as intensely.

I didn’t quite know what to say. I knew how passionate Emmett got about his video games and had half a mind to tell Luca not to encourage violent tendencies in my brother.

But on the other hand, they looked like they were having so much fun that I couldn’t interrupt. And not just them.

Bethany was next to Luca, and she had Angel on her lap. They were both watching the boys play, too, in rapt attention.

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