Aren’t we over the awkwardness? I scoop the scrambled eggs onto Maia’s plate and set the pan down. “Come on. You know I’m only kidding. Don’t look so constipated.”
I reach for the fruit in the fridge and pick out my daughter’s favorite before throwing a grape at Finn’s face playfully. He usually laughs, but not today.
“You were flirting with him when we were watching TV,” is his terse reply.
“I flirt with everyone,” I reason, popping another grape into my mouth. “You should know by now it’s nothing personal. Hell, I flirt with Dante, and we both know he doesn’t like me.”
Finn’s eyes bolt to mine. “Why would you say that?”
The alert in his tone has me staring a little harder at him. “He’s… Dante. Unlike Brodie, he doesn’t really express himself that often. Sometimes I wonder if I annoy him or amuse him.”
Finn looks away, slowly nodding. “If he didn’t like you, he wouldn’t talk to you.”
I’ve learned as much over the years. Last night was evident that he liked me enough to cross boundaries we definitely shouldn’t have. Rolling my shoulders back, I focus back on Maia. “More?”
The cutie with bedhead nods. “I want more, Mama. More, more, more!”
I scoop more food onto her plate even though I’m positive she won’t eat it. I’ll eat whatever is leftover before going to work so it doesn’t go to waste. It’s why my diet consists of crust, half-eaten fruit, and cold eggs. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable by bringing up the flirting thing.”
Finn snorts as he stands, grabbing his travel mug and dumping the remainder of his coffee into it to leave. “I’m not uncomfortable.”
“Fine. You’re mad. Is that better?”
He turns to me and stares for a second before shaking his head. “In this apartment, I’m always feeling something.”
What is that supposed to mean?
Instead of explaining it, he walks over and gives me a one-armed hug. It feels forced, so I don’t return it. “Waco tonight. I’ll pick up popcorn from the theater on my way home.”
I blink. “We have popcorn here.”
He ruffles Maia’s head before picking up his messenger bag and draping it over his shoulder. “But I remember Brodie saying that you preferred the movie theater kind with extra butter.”
Brodie noticed that? There have only been a few times I’ve stopped by the theater to get a small popcorn. It’s too expensive to do it often, so I only go when the guys and I are planning movie nights when something new drops that we want to rent.
Brodie enters the kitchen as Finn walks out, calling, “See you tonight. Have a good day at work.”
I wipe off Maia’s face, which is covered in smashed berries and remnants of scrambled eggs, and look over to the man who pays attention to my snacking habits. “I’m probably going to make another pot of coffee if you want some to take with you.”
Brodie leans his back against the counter and crosses those giant arms across his chest with an arched brow. “I know what you did last night.”
His statement gives me pause, causing my eyes to dart up to his in high alert. There’s no way. Is there? I wasn’t necessarily quiet, but I wasn’t loud either. It could have been anybody in Dante’s room.
Brodie must know what I’m thinking. “Don’t try to deny it. I saw you in Dante’s room.”
Heart dropping to the bottom of my stomach, I set the dishrag down. “So what now?”
His other eyebrow raises in curiosity. “What do you mean?”
“Are you going to rat on me? Judge me?”
When I see his lips curve upward, I know he has no intention of tattling. But something tells me whatever he’s thinking is hardly innocent. “No. I am, however, going to use this to my advantage.”
I make a face. “Is this your way of saying you want to hookup or something? Because I’m feeling pretty fucking terrible this morning.”
Brodie turns to give me his back as he prepares the coffee. “As much as this is going to shock you, no. Don’t get me wrong. I’d love to get you naked. But it’s not going to be because of blackmail. It’ll be when we both want it.” He looks over his shoulder and winks at me, then goes back to making coffee. “It’s fun to flirt with you because it gets a rise out of the guys. Finn, especially.”
It’ll be when we both want it.