Page 20 of Entwined with My Best Friend's Brother

That surprises me, "Gwen? Are you sure?"

When Gwen pinches my arm, making me almost jump, "Dumbass, why would I treat Cale like I treat you? He is so much cuter, and you are not at all."

I smile sarcastically, "I am not talking about how you treat Cale. I am actually pointing out your inability to care for children."

She pinches me again, viciously this time. This witch. How did she have such strength in her fingers?

Gwen turns her attention to an amused Jen, "Will you please make some pancakes for breakfast? I am hungry, and it's been such a long time since I have had your cooking."

I don't notice when but Gwen has snatched Jen's arm from mine and is almost dragging her to the kitchen as she sticks her tongue at me. Her actions are seriously childish, but I can't help feeling jealous. It took me a lot of effort to get close to her, but Gwen could take full advantage of being her friend.

Sighing, I follow them when Gwen throws back, "You better not come into the kitchen in your dripping shorts. Go change."

If Jen weren't here, I probably would have gone into the kitchen as Gwen said, but Jen is here. I turn when Jen calls my name, "Ryan?"

I turn, my breath caught in my throat, "Yeah?"

She seems flustered, "Can you also see if Cale is awake on your way back?"

I nod, "Sure."

Cale is still asleep. Maybe he stayed up for too long last night. Dressed in my casual black slacks and a long-sleeved shirt, I go to the kitchen, accidentally overhearing Jen and Gwen's conversation, making me pause.

Gwen sits on the stool at the counter, "So you won't be taking time off work anymore?"

Jen whips something in a bowl behind the counter, "I can't. If what Charles said is correct, I need to dig deep into this."

Gwen interjects, worried, "But Jen, won't it be dangerous?"

Jen replies, amused, "You seem to forget that our line of work is dangerous."

"But that doesn't mean we must get involved in such situations."

There is silence as Jen pours the mix from the bowl into the frying pan when Gwen asks, "Jen, tell me the truth. Are you hiding something from me?"

But Jen keeps silent as she works on the breakfast when Gwen asks again, irritated, "Why won't you answer? Are you really hiding something?"

When Jen almost spits out, "No. I'm not."

That sounds suspicious enough. I remember her working on something near the pool early in the morning. So, deciding I have to get a look at her laptop, I enter the kitchen, "Cale's still asleep."

Both turn to me; Gwen's expression is still complicated as Jen smiles, "Thanks. Maybe he stayed up too late. I guess I will have to wake him up soon."

After putting down a plate full of pancakes with honey and chocolate syrup, assisted by black coffee, she exits the kitchen, "I'll be right back."

Just as she exits, I turn to Gwen, but she is faster than me, "Jen is definitely hiding something."

Honestly curious, I ask, "How do you figure?"

Gwen started, "Two years ago, Jen's personality completely changed when the incident happened. She was acting exactly the way she is now."

That grips my attention, "By incident, you mean?"

Gwen nods, "Her husband's death."

I pry, "What do you mean by her personality changed?"

Gwen continues her explanation, "Well, it was a change anyone would suffer from after losing Someone important, so I didn't give it much thought initially. But once, when I visited her room, I noticed her wall."

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