Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Wendy
Dinner. With both of them.
What on earth could possibly go wrong?
I tug at the hem of my dress for the millionth time, hating how tight it feels against my chest. It's one of the few decent outfits I own, a simple navy-blue dress that hits just above my knees. But the cut accentuates my curves and the color complements me.
Scraps sits at the foot of the couch staring at me like I hold all the secrets to life.
Or I suppose it could be that I haven't fed her yet.
"Don't look at me like that," I mumble, fiddling with the clasp of my necklace. “I won't be gone long. I know I promised you a night in, cuddling and playing. But Cole said I had to be there, and dammit. Dammit Scraps, I really want to."
Scraps blinks, clearly unimpressed.
Sighing, I head to the kitchen and quickly feed my companion her dinner before placing her in the bathroom. I really need to sort some kind of permanent solution out, but every time I leave her unattended in my small apartment she comes up with some new way to get tangled in something, trapped somewhere or stuck in the most impossible places.
"Be good. I'll be home before you know it," I whisper, giving her one final scratch before heading out.
Cole and Ethan had insisted on picking me up, but after letting them bully me into dinner, I held firm. I couldn't stand seeing their expressions at my apartment again. So instead, I'm meeting them at the restaurant. My stomach twists the entire way there, a mix of nerves and... something else. Something I don't want to name. Something I'm too scared to name.
When I walk into the restaurant, I spot them immediately. Of course I do. Cole's commanding presence draws every eye in the room, and Ethan's easy smile makes him look like he belongs at the center of attention. They're seated at a booth in the corner, and Cole's eyes lock onto mine the moment I step inside.
Swallowing hard, I push down the nerves. It's too late to back out now.
"Wendy," Ethan says, standing as I approach. He looks as effortlessly handsome as I've come to expect from him, in a crisp button-down shirt, his grin wide and warm. "You look... absolutely amazing."
"Thanks," I mutter, feeling my cheeks heat up. Cole doesn't say anything, but his eyes sweep over me in a way that makes my skin tingle. He stands as well, motioning for me to move into the booth.
"Sit," he orders, his tone leaving no room for argument.
I do, my pulse hammering as I slide into the booth. Ethan sits on my left, Cole to the right, and suddenly the space feels entirely too small. Cole signals for the server, not even glancing at the menu.
"We'll start with the charcuterie board, and two glasses of the house red," he says before turning to me. "What about you, Wendy?"
"Uh... water's fine," I say quickly, feeling like he's putting me on the spot.
He raises an eyebrow. "Water isn't a drink."
"I..." I glance at Ethan, hoping he'll rescue me, but all he does is give me an encouraging nod. Ugh. "Okay, um... a mojito?"
Cole nods approvingly.
The server leaves, and I'm reminded of how close they are. And how annoyed I am by Cole's high-handedness.
"Really," I mutter before straightening and staring at Cole. "You weren't this bossy when I was... dating Callum. I would have remembered."
He shrugs nonchalantly. "You weren't mine then."
"I'm not yours now!" I bite out, keeping my voice low.
Ethan's warm chuckles fill the space around us and I turn my narrowed gaze to him. "It's not funny!"
"Oh, sweet Wendy, from where I'm sitting? It's hilarious. I had these same battles with him when our relationship evolved. It's way more entertaining experiencing it from the sidelines. Want some advice?" He doesn't give me a chance to respond. "Fight. Fight as hard as you can. Don't let him boss you around too much or he'll think he's doing something right and start bossing me again."
Cole growls. Fucking growls!
"You're impossible," I say.
"And you're stubborn," Cole counters, leaning back in his seat. "The only way I know how to counter stubbornness is with bossiness."
Before I can respond, the server returns with our drinks and the charcuterie board. Cole picks up a piece of prosciutto, placing it on a cracker before bringing it to my mouth.
"Open, babygirl," he purrs.
I hesitate, the sweet pet name battling against my pride. "I can feed myself, you know."
"Oh, I don't know about that. Twice this week already you've left your lunch at home. Indulge me, babygirl."
Heat rushes to my face as I open my mouth, letting him place the cracker on my tongue. My lips close around his fingers, the touch intimate and so deliciously forbidden in the public setting. Yet, all I'm aware of is Ethan watching us.
"You're good at this," I whisper, trying to shift the focus. "Bossing people around."
Cole chuckles, breaking the tension. "It's a gift."
Ethan laughs, his voice a warm balm against Cole's intensity. "Don't let him fool you. He's a softie under all that bravado."
"I highly doubt that," I say, earning another laugh from Ethan and a mock glare from Cole.
As the evening goes on, I find myself relaxing despite my best efforts. Ethan shares stories about his childhood, and his laughter is contagious. He tells me about being adopted, how his parents took him and his baby sister in.
"I was a handful," he admits, grinning. "But Monty and Lo never gave up on me. They're amazing. Even though they're starting to nag me for grandkids now that my baby sister Suzie is knocked up. You'd think that with one on the way, they could let it rest."
The affection in his voice as he talks about his family makes my chest ache. "You're close with them?" I ask, eager to know more, even as my jealousy at him having the lucky break tries to rear its head.
"Very. We're a very close-knit family. It's harder now that Suzie's moved halfway across the country, but we still make an effort."
Cole's hand brushes against mine under the table, grounding me. He knows where I come from, and how much it's always hurt that I didn't have a family to depend on.
"Even though he's adopted, I'm pretty sure he got his big heart from his dads," Cole tells me, as he squeezes my hand. "Sometimes, his heart is too big for his own good."
"Says the guy who brought me lunch today," I shoot back, surprising even myself with the playful edge in my voice.
Cole's eyes darken slightly, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Careful, babygirl. Keep that up and I might think you're starting to like me."
I open my mouth to argue, but Ethan cuts in. "Watching you two fight is like watching a pair of kittens with a ball of yarn," he says, shaking his head. "But I freaking love it."
The words hang in the air, heavier than he probably intended. My chest tightens, but before I can overthink it, the server returns with our entrees. Cole ordered for me—Smoked chicken with roasted vegetables—and I'm annoyed at how perfect the choice is.
"This looks divine," I say, narrowing my eyes at him. "How did you know?"
He shrugs. "Lucky guess."
"Lucky, my ass," I mutter, earning a chuckle from Ethan.
The rest of the dinner passes in a blur of laughter, teasing, and stolen glances. For the first time in... I don't know how long, I feel something close to happy. By the time we're finishing dessert, my guard is almost completely down.
Almost.
As we're leaving the restaurant, Ethan offers me his arm, and I take it without thinking. Cole walks on my other side, his hand hovering near the small of my back. I should feel trapped between them, but instead, I feel... safe. Cherished.
"You did good tonight, babygirl," Cole says as we reach their car. His voice is softer than usual, and it sends a shiver down my spine.
"Thanks," I say, my own voice barely above a whisper.
"Can we take you home?" Ethan asks, boxing me in from the other side. "To your place? Please? We want to see you home safe."
Maybe it's the fact that they're not pushing for more, or maybe it's my warm, full stomach. But whatever it is, my guard is finally down enough to take what I want.
"Yes, please," I respond before grabbing Ethan's shirt and pulling his mouth down for a kiss.