Chapter 17 #3
“Oh ho!” Wei’s eyes sparkled as he topped off coffee cups no one had touched, his movements those of a man who enjoyed watching chaos unfold.
“Our Colt, suddenly so concerned with proper attire. And here I thought you enjoyed seeing our Celestial Peach swimming in oversized shirts.” His gaze flicked meaningfully to where I was still struggling with the rebellious collar like it was a particularly uncooperative pet.
“Since Lan needs clothes…” Jaxson’s voice cut through the tension like warm honey laced with poison, “…it’s my responsibility as the eldest to take him shopping.” His eyes met mine, and my heart definitely didn’t do a synchronized swimming routine in my chest. “What do you need, Lan?”
The way he said my name, with a subtle emphasis that felt almost like a caress, made that strange warmth flare between us again. I could feel it humming under my skin, responding to his voice, his presence.
“N-nothing!” I protested, heat flooding my cheeks faster than Wei could critique a subpar coffee blend.
How could I possibly admit that I preferred wearing Jaxson’s old clothes?
That they smelled like him and made me feel safe?
Protected? That after last night, wearing his clothes felt even more intimate, more like being wrapped in his arms when he wasn’t there?
That every time I looked at him now, I could taste him on my tongue?
No. Nope. Not going there. Not with three pairs of eyes watching me like predators sizing up prey, and Wei’s knowing smirk growing wider by the second.
“I’m fine, really,” I mumbled into my eggs, as if they might offer sanctuary from this increasingly bizarre breakfast interrogation. “The old clothes work just fine.”
“They’re practically dresses on you.” Colt’s voice carried the kind of irritation usually reserved for misaligned picture frames and people who don’t use coasters.
“More like invitations,” Xander muttered, then cleared his throat when Jaxson’s head snapped toward him with the speed and precision of a striking cobra. “To catch a cold, I mean.”
“I think they look cute!” Nico chirped through a mouthful of toast, proving once again that his brain-to-mouth filter was permanently set to “whatever pops into my head.” “Like those oversized boyfriend shirts girls—”
“Finish that sentence,” Colt growled, his voice dropping to a register that made small animals flee in terror, “and you’re doing your own laundry for a month.”
“Cute,” Wei purred, drawing out the word like he was savoring a particularly fine wine. “Yes, our little Family Saint does look rather… delectable in hand-me-downs, doesn’t he? Almost good enough to—”
“It’s decided, then,” Jaxson cut in, his tone carrying enough authority to silence a boardroom full of arguing executives. “We’ll go shopping today.”
“We?” Colt’s eyebrow arched so high it threatened to escape his forehead entirely and establish residence in his hairline.
“Yes, we,” Jaxson replied, his voice silk over steel. “Unless you have objections to helping Lan look… proper?”
The temperature in the kitchen dropped several degrees as my stepbrothers engaged in some sort of silent warfare over my head.
Meanwhile, I contemplated if spontaneous human combustion was a viable escape route from whatever was about to unfold.
Maybe if I concentrated hard enough, I could burst into flames and avoid whatever bizarre shopping trip was being orchestrated around me.
“I’m free until my evening shift,” Xander added, his casual tone belied by the intensity in his eyes.
“Great!” Nico bounced in his seat like he’d just discovered a new limited edition console. “Family outing!”
I slumped in my chair, accepting my fate with all the dignity of a condemned man.
Somehow, in the span of a single breakfast, I’d gone from basking in the afterglow of last night’s activities to being the unwilling centerpiece of what promised to be the most awkward shopping trip in recorded history.
“Um, when are we leaving?” I asked, hoping against hope that I’d have time to mentally prepare for whatever fresh hell awaited me at the mall.
“As soon as everyone’s ready,” Jaxson replied. “Best to beat the crowds.”
“Great,” I muttered, stabbing my eggs with renewed vigor. “Can’t wait.”
“Oh, this is going to be fun,” Wei murmured into his coffee cup, his smile suggesting that his definition of “fun” was wildly different from mine. “Our Spirit Magnet, surrounded by his devoted followers. What could possibly go wrong?”
Spirit Magnet? I choked on my toast, earning concerned looks from everyone except Wei, who just watched me with that insufferable knowing smile. What was with him and these weird nicknames lately?
I focused on my breakfast, trying to ignore the charged atmosphere and the inexplicable tension crackling between my brothers.
If I survived this shopping trip without dying of embarrassment, it would be a miracle on par with Nico voluntarily cleaning his room or Colt taking a day off from color-coding his life.
The odds weren’t in my favor, but then again, they never were.