Chapter 20 Riley
CHAPTER TWENTY
Riley
A stream of grease and juices runs down my hand when I lean over, taking a big bite of my taco. I told the guys I would cook dinner tonight. I’m freeloading off them, so it felt like the right thing to do.
I didn’t, however, end up doing all the work on my own. Theo and Maverick helped me with practically the whole meal.
I was shocked at Maverick’s comfort in the kitchen. He has obviously been helping out for his whole six years.
It was adorable watching him perch on a kid’s step stool, carefully stirring the pans of food on the stove, under the careful supervision of his uncle.
When Maverick darted off to use the bathroom, Theo took full advantage of those two minutes. He pressed me against the shelves in the pantry and kissed me.
It wasn’t frantic like the moment probably warranted. It was slow and tender, leaving promises of more.
It left me wanting exactly that… more. More from him. More of everything. Now that I’ve had a taste of him, I need to experience everything.
Would he take control in the bedroom like he did during our first kiss? What would he sound like when he came? What would I sound like when he made me come?
Because who are we kidding here… He would absolutely make me come, probably multiple times.
The sound of Finn shoving nearly an entire taco into his mouth draws me back to the present, where we’re all gathered around the table, eating. He groans loudly, followed by a string of unintelligible words as he chews.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Maverick scolds him from across the table. I bite my lip to keep from laughing. A glance to the side shows Theo doing the same.
Finn rolls his eyes, snapping his teeth around the remaining chunk of his taco. Most of the hard shell disintegrates onto his plate in a pile of crispy tortilla shards.
Maverick starts laughing first. Soon, we’ve all joined in, Cole included. I haven’t seen much of the lighter side of him since I’ve been back.
The only two things that allow it to peek out are alcohol and his son. I hope he isn’t this quiet and shut down all the time. That isn’t any way to live your life.
Hopefully, his bad attitude is reserved for when I’m around. When I leave, his life can go back to normal.
An uncomfortable feeling settles over me at the thought. I’m going to miss Finn and Theo, especially given the events of the last few days. That isn’t who drew this incessant feeling through me, though.
It was Cole. Despite the mess of feelings I have for the man, there’s at least a small part of me that will miss him, too.
My brain and heart need a serious talking-to because there’s no way in hell I can be feeling any way about Cole. Just… no.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Cole and Finn ushered the rest of us into the living room after dinner so that they could clean up. I should have excused myself, but nothing about retreating to my room sounded appealing.
I don’t want to work anymore tonight, and I don’t want to scroll aimlessly on my phone in silence. I want to spend more time with Theo and Finn.
I still can’t believe I kissed both of them. I hadn’t intended to do it again until I was able to have a conversation with them, but then Theo’s dark brown eyes were boring into me, and all rationality flew out the window.
All I could think about was the way his lips felt as they caressed mine.
So, now here I sit waiting to spend the evening with the two guys I recently kissed, along with my ex-boyfriend and his six-year-old son. And it’s all because I will greedily soak up any time I can with Theo and Finn, regardless of how messy all of this is.
Maverick has been a happy addition to the men in this house this week. He always makes me smile with the way he talks like an adult. I love hanging out with him.
Theo and Maverick are crouched together in a deep discussion about which show we should watch. Finn plops down beside me. He must see where my eyes are trained because he looks at his brother and nephew.
“No…” he groans, “we can’t let them decide. They’ll make us watch something that forces us to learn something.”
“Learning is a good thing,” Maverick says, not even glancing away from Theo.
A smirk crosses Theo’s lips. “You could probably stand to learn a thing or two.” He isn’t looking at him, but it’s clear the words are directed toward Finn.
Finn turns to look at me with a what the fuck face. “Do you see how they treat me?” He lays his head on my shoulder, like a dog in need of comforting after getting scolded for doing something naughty.
I pat the back of his head, trying not to laugh. “I think you’ll survive.”
Curious, I peek at the screen. Sure enough, they’re flipping through the documentary page.
I love watching things like this, so I’m totally on board. I generally watch something animal or nature-related, or a good old love story.
“What did you two brainiacs decide on?” Cole says, sitting on Maverick’s other side.
“We have it down to two selections. Give us one more minute,” Maverick says.
The way he talks both flabbergasts me and makes me smile. He still sounds like a little kid when he speaks, but he sprinkles in these huge words that you rarely hear fall from a child’s mouth.
It’s the cutest juxtaposition I’ve ever seen, and I eat it up every time he’s talking.
Cole nods, resting his head against the back of the sofa. “Take your time, bud. Just wondering what we’re exploring tonight.”
I’m smiling at Cole before I even realize it’s happening. It’s quickly wiped away before he sees it. Cole’s a great dad. I’ve only seen him in action for a short time, but it’s very evident.
Documentaries aren’t really his thing. He was always more into action movies or an occasional comedy, but here he is signing up for a night of watching educational content because it’s what his son loves.
It’s obviously not the first time it has happened, either.
Why couldn’t he be a crappy dad? I would never want that for Maverick, but it would make it hell of a lot easier to hold onto my hate for Cole.
“Okay, we’ve decided,” Maverick says proudly. “It was between one on Komodo dragons and one about how they make soda.”
Finn’s head snaps up from my shoulder. “Please tell me you picked the food one.”
“Sadly, for you, no.” Maverick delivers the line in such a deadpan way that it’s unintentionally funny. He points the remote at the television and starts the show they chose.
Finn leans in, whispering in my ear, “This isn’t even the first time we’ve watched this one.”
“I could have picked the dangerous snakes one,” Maverick pipes up. “We’ve watched that one way more.”
“True,” Theo says, settling back into a comfortable position.
Finn opens his mouth but snaps it shut before he says anything.
“If I rub your feet, would that make it better?” I ask Finn.
His eyes widen like saucers. “F…” His head darts to Maverick. “Freak yeah… that would make anything better.”
I laugh as he swings his feet onto my lap, lying across the cushions. He’s so tall that he takes up the entire side of the sectional.
“You are really going to touch his feet?” Cole asks with an amused grin.
I hold my hands up in front of me. “Are they gross or something?”
Maverick turns his head from the TV, laughing. “They aren’t gross, but they are huge.”
Finn glares at his nephew. “Mav, I love you, but what the heck did I do to you tonight?”
Theo joins in the laughter. “You act like this isn’t normal banter between you two.”
Finn rolls his head so he’s looking up at the ceiling. He throws his arm over his eyes.
When I don’t start the massage right away, he wiggles his toes in my face. My hand smacks at him to get him to stop.
He moves his arm just enough so his eyes can connect with mine. He gives me a wink before covering those blue eyes once again.
Finn’s feet are perfectly normal, besides their size. I can’t help but wonder if the size of his feet and the general size of his body are indicative of other parts of him. I have to assume it is.
I’m equally intrigued by the show and the three men sitting on the opposite side of Finn and me. Maverick looks like his dad, but he acts way more like his Uncle Theo.
They both have shared interests in all things nerdy. They have glasses perched on their noses. Theo’s are simple black, while Maverick’s are a mix of bright green and blue.
I even heard them talking earlier about how Theo is teaching Maverick how to code. We can add extreme intelligence to that list of commonalities.
“What are you thinking about over there?” Theo asks, catching me staring.
My eyes dart to Cole and then back to Theo. “I was just thinking that Maverick seems more like he should be your son rather than Cole’s.”
I’m fully prepared for Cole to yell at me or march out of the room. What I’m not expecting is for him to erupt into a full-blown belly laugh.
I swear I see tears building in his eyes from how hard he’s laughing. In fact, everyone else in the room is laughing alongside him.
I must be missing something. I thought it was funny, but not that funny.
“My mom says that all the time,” Maverick finally says when his laughter subsides.
Cole looks over at Maverick with nothing but love in his eyes. “I wouldn’t trade a single thing about you, bud.”
Maverick rolls over, wrapping his arms around his dad. “Love you, Dad.”
“Love you, too, even if you are smarter than me.”
Maverick gently swats Cole on the shoulder. “You’re smart, too. Everyone is smart… even Finn.”
I know he doesn’t mean it as a jab, but it sure as shit comes across as one.
“Really?” Finn groans, not even bothering to move from where he’s sprawled across the couch.
We all settle in to watch the show. I can’t really focus on anything that is being said. All I can think about is this perfect little family they have.
It might be unconventional, but it’s filled with so much love and happiness. It makes a part of my heart supremely jealous because it’s something I doubt I will ever get to have.