Page 101 of Love Thy Brother
I wanted to tell him I wouldn’t either. That I did that morning so long ago because I was out of my damn head. But we’d had that conversation more than once.
It was time to move on.
I tugged him close, subtly pinching myself as my chin found a home on top of his head.
“What happened to the back door?”
“Hmm?”
“The door,” River repeated. “The frame looks like it’s survived nuclear war.”
“You’re not far off.” I kissed his temple and pulled back to study the repaired door frame. “Spanish mafia bashed it in when they kidnapped Mateo.”
River snorted. “In anyone else’s life that would be a joke.”
“Wish it was. That’s twice now I’ve had to clean up a reservoir of Embry’s blood.” A vicious shudder rocked me. I stepped away from River and picked up the bacon pan. “Were you incinerating this on purpose?”
River eyed me a second, then came closer and frowned at the pan. “I got distracted. Can we save it?”
“If you don’t mind crunching on charcoal.”
He probably didn’t, but that shit was carcinogenic, and he spent enough time inhaling diesel fumes and metal dust.
I fished a knife from a drawer and set about carving the burnt bits from the bacon while he went back to buttering the bread he’d abandoned on the side.
He’d made tea. I was already in love with him, but the sight of the mug with my name on it made me fall a little harder.
“I’m sorry I was a dick to you about Embry.” River finished with the bread and ventured closer. “I always knew you weren’t fucking him. I was just jealous because you’re so chill with each other while you and me are a steaming hot mess.”
“Ah. Well, if it’s any consolation, I’ve been calling Oscar a cunt ever since he moved in with you for the exact same reason, not helped by the fact he’s light years hotter than me.”
River choked on his tea. “No, he isn’t.”
“Yeah, he is. Younger too. I ain’t blind.”
“You’re blind somewhere if you can’t see you’re the most beautiful fucking man on the planet.” River shoved a plate of bread at me. “Make me a sandwich and shut the fuck up.”
It wasn’t the worst thing he’d ever asked me to do. I made the sandwiches and followed him to the living room, letting my gaze linger on the rug in front of the fire. The coals were still glowing.
So was I.
I passed River the plate and knelt to load the stove with more kindling and logs. I felt River’s gaze on me, but I lost myself playing Tetris with oak and birch from Saint’s campsite by the sea.
He flicked the TV on. “Did you watchHouse of the Dragonyet?”
“One episode. Doctor Who got naked and it freaked me out.”
“You don’t like Matt Smith?”
“Not what I said.” I hauled myself to my feet and limped to the couch—apparently, sex didn’t cure everything after all. “Just wasn’t ready for it. And... I couldn’t get into it without you. Felt like I was cheating on the nerdiest parts of our beautiful friendship.”
“We’re not friends.”
“Course we are. Wouldn’t hurt so much if we weren’t.”
River stuffed half a sandwich in his mouth in lieu of answering.
Probably for the best. And I loved to watch him eat. Meant his mood was good and I was here all day long for that. “Did you watch it?”
