Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
KIKI EMMERSON
W e climb off the boat, and I wipe my sweaty hands on my shorts. I’m determined to keep my feelings under control but sitting that close to Tobias made my heart hammer in my chest. Why does he smell like cinnamon and pure masculinity? Why do I want to slip my fingers through his and walk beside him like we’re a couple? I don’t know what’s wrong with me. That kiss really messed with my head.
Skyler grabs my hand and looks up at me with her large, blue eyes. “Can we have pizza for dinner?”
I turn to Tobias. He smiles and shrugs. “Sure. I was just planning on leftovers anyway. Pizza sounds great.”
“Yippee!” Skyler breaks away from me and runs to the car. Tobias uses his key fob to unlock it, and she opens the door and climbs in.
We get in the car and Tobias pulls out of the parking area. “What’s your favorite kind of pizza? I’ll order when we get home.”
I bite my lip, knowing my choice is going to spark controversy. “Pineapple and Canadian bacon.”
Tobias makes a face. “You’re not one of those people, are you?”
“Yes, I am. Sorry, but I like it. And I will defend my choices until my death.”
He chuckles and raises one eyebrow as he turns down the main thoroughfare on Willow Shade Island. “Death? Pineapple on your pizza means that much to you?”
“We didn’t get pizza very often when I was growing up, but when we did my grandmother’s favorite was pineapple and Canadian bacon. I adored her, so of course that became my favorite, too. Every time I eat it, it reminds me of her.” My throat goes tight, and I stare down at my shorts to get my emotions in check.
He slowly nods. “Then I’ll allow it, although I won’t promise that my brothers won’t make gagging noises and make fun of you.”
I bite back a smile. I like Tobias’s playful side. “Duly noted.”
He pulls into the driveway and parks the car. We get Skyler out, and I take her inside. “Can we make another castle with boxes?” she asks.
“We already have a castle. How about something else?” I ask. “What other thing would you like to make?”
Skyler thinks about it a moment. “Racecars.”
“Great idea.” I size her up so I can pick an appropriate box. “I’ll grab more cardboard from the attic.”
“I’ll get the crayons.” Skyler climbs the stairs, and I follow her. I go up to the attic, which I found out the other day is surprisingly clean and organized. For four bachelors living under one roof, I’m constantly shocked at how tidy they are, and I’m sure it’s all Tobias. For some reason, I find the neat-freak side of him terribly sexy.
I rummage around the boxes and grab two that are perfect for making into racecars, and I take them down to the family room. Skyler is sitting on the floor with Levi, her crayons and colored pencils scattered around them. Levi looks up at me and grins, his single dimple showing. “I heard you’re making racecars. Can I help?”
“Of course.”
I give the boxes to Levi and walk into the kitchen to get the utility knife out of the junk drawer. Tobias is at the sink, his white sleeves rolled up. Man alive. Why does that look so good on him?
“Are you doing the dishes?” I walk to him. “I can do those after dinner.”
He shrugs. “I figure we could use paper plates tonight and maybe watch a movie together or something.”
At first I think he’s talking about just me and him, and I imagine what it would feel like to sit next to him on the couch as we watch something romantic. But then I realize he means watch something with Skyler, and I shove that image out of my head. “Good idea. Still, I can clean the kitchen. You don’t have to do that.”
He shuts off the water and turns to me. “When did it become your job to do the dishes?”
I open my mouth to answer but then shut it again. It’s not my job. He’s right. I was just helping out since Violet was in the hospital. “It’s not,” I finally say.
He turns back to the sink and picks up a cereal bowl. “I’m glad you realize that. I don’t want you to think you have to do all the cooking and cleaning, too. You’re here for Sky.”
For some reason this touches me. I’ve never met a man like Tobias. “All right.”
I go back to the family room and plop down next to Skyler. I draw the basic shapes of the cars and use the knife to carefully cut the cardboard. Skyler colors on her car while I cut the second one out.
Micah comes into the room with a girl. She’s wearing large glasses and she carries a physics book. Her blonde hair is pulled back in a ponytail.
“Hey,” he says, motioning to me. “This is Skyler’s nanny, Kiki. This is my friend, Cricket.”
I smile at her. “That’s an unusual name.”
“That’s just my nickname. I’m Christine.” She reaches out a hand and I shake it.
“Nice to meet you. I didn’t know Micah had a girlfriend.”
Cricket blushes, and Micah throws his head back and laughs. “She’s not my girlfriend. She lives two doors down. We used to play together as kids. We’re just friends.” He looks at Cricket and shudders. “She knows way too much about me. We could never date.”
Cricket stares at the floor, and I can’t help but notice she doesn’t offer the same sentiments. I wonder how long she’s liked Micah that way.
“I heard we’re having pizza.” Micah raises his eyebrows. “Can Cricket eat here too?”
Tobias enters the room wiping his hands on a towel. “Sure. I ordered plenty.” He still has his sleeves rolled up, and I look away so I don’t blush like Cricket, making my feelings as obvious as hers.
Cricket crouches down next to Skyler. “What are you guys making?”
“Racecars!” Skyler picks hers up so Cricket can see it better.
“Cool.”
The doorbell rings, and Tobias crosses through the room. “That will be dinner. Micah, go get out the paper plates and plastic cups.”
Soon we’re all sitting at the table, the smell of pizza filling the house and making my mouth water. Tobias says grace, and Levi stands to open the pizza boxes. As he’s exploring the pizza, Tobias leans close and whispers, “Wait for Levi’s reaction to your sick pineapple pizza choice.”
Levi doesn’t disappoint. He opens the last box and jumps back. “Ew. Who ordered pineapple?”
Tobias snorts, and I totally lose it. “It’s mine,” I say between giggles.
“Pineapple?” Micah says. “Gross. How can you eat that on pizza?”
Cricket playfully hits his arm. “It’s good. Why are you being so judgy?”
He turns to her. “You eat pineapple on pizza? That’s disgusting. How have I never known this about you?”
“There’s a lot about me you don’t know,” Cricket mutters under her breath. She jumps up and grabs a slice for her plate. “I love it. Ignore the haters. They don’t know what they’re missing.”
“I want the pineapple,” Skyler says, and the room erupts into laughter. I get her a small slice and grab one for me.
As the men clamor for the pepperoni and sausage, I take a bite. I haven’t had pizza in a long time. I don’t eat out much, and ordering a whole pizza just for me seems silly. The flavor instantly brings me back to my childhood, sitting on the porch with my grandmother, staying up late in the summer to watch the fireflies. I fight to breathe normally.
Tobias stills and our gaze connects across the table. He doesn’t say anything, but his careful assessment tells me he sees my pain. I try to school my features. I’m fine. I don’t need to think about the past. I eat another bite and shove my feelings away.
Micah shifts in his chair, a half-smile on his face. He and Cricket seem to have a non-verbal conversation of their own. Cricket shoves his shoulder, and he grins. I set my pizza on my paper plate. “You look extra happy. What’s up?”
“My YouTube channel got monetized yesterday, and I can’t believe how much I’m making.” His grin widens. “Seventy dollars a day. Can you believe it? That’s more than I made busting my butt at Shake it Up when I only made minimum wage.”
“That’s awesome,” I say and hold up my hand. Micah gives me a high-five. “I checked out your channel the other day and I’m impressed. I listened to a few songs, and they’re really good.”
Micah’s ears turn pink. “You listened?”
“Yes. You have a great voice.” I actually listened to quite a few. I can see why his channel is growing in popularity.
“Thanks.” His blush spreads to his neck. “I’ll have enough for my new recording equipment in no time.” He takes a huge bite, and Cricket smiles at him like she thinks he’s the best thing since someone put pineapple on pizza.
“Way to go, Bro,” Levi says. “You’re doing great. I always knew you’d be a star.”
I take a sip of water and motion to Micah. “I didn’t recognize the songs on your channel. Did you write them?”
He leans back in his seat, nodding. “Yeah.”
“That’s awesome. You have amazing talent.” I pick up my water.
His blush deepens. “Thanks, Kiki.”
“I have good news, too.” Levi wipes his mouth with his napkin. “I got the job at the diner.”
“Peachy Keen?” I lean against the table.
“Yes.” He sets his pizza down. “And they said they’d love for me to make them my biscuit muffins to see if they want to add them to their menu.”
“Nice! I’m sure they’ll love them. Will you get a cut of the sales?” I ask.
Levi waves his hand. “I’m not asking for that. I just want people to enjoy them. I think it’d be cool for a business to actually sell something I created.”
“I bet they’ll sell more of your creations after trying them.” I grin at him, and he seems pleased.
After dinner I help Tobias clean off the table. “Want to see who’s in the mood for a movie? Tell my brothers not to fight over which one and remind them it has to be appropriate for Skyler.”
I enter the family room. Skyler’s on the floor coloring the racecar again. Levi’s disappeared, and Micah and Cricket are leaving the room. “Do you guys want to watch a movie with us?”
Micah hitches up his backpack. “Love to, but we can’t.”
Cricket hugs her book to her chest. “We’ve got a test tomorrow so we’re going to go study.”
“Ah, I see.”
Micah and Cricket leave, and I sit on the couch. “Do you want to watch a movie, Skyler?”
“Yes!”
“What movie should we watch?”
“Bluey!”
Tobias chuckles as he enters the room. “Let’s see what else there is that you might like.” He picks up the remote and joins me on the couch. He still hasn’t put his sleeves down, and his forearms are distracting me. As he searches through the choices, Skyler goes back to her coloring.
He elbows me. “How about we go old school and watch Mary Poppins?”
“That would be fun. I haven’t seen that in years.”
He starts the movie, and Skyler climbs up on my lap. Tobias puts his arm on the back of the couch, and I can’t help but think of the closeness we’ve shared over the last couple of days. The way he caressed my tattoo and the kiss we shared. My heart pounds as I settle in to watch the movie. If we were a real family, this would be a perfect evening.
My gut twists as I remember we’re not. I’m lying to them.