Chapter 28 #2
“I agree.” We enter the kitchen. “Take a seat at the island. I’ll get started on breakfast.”
“You need help?”
“Nah. You relax. Keira will be down soon. She has a lot to share. Not to mention, my chef has stocked up my fridge.”
“Show off.”
I grin. “I couldn’t resist.”
“I just spent God knows how many hours strapped in a confined airplane seat. I need to stretch my legs,” he says.
“No problem.”
I head to the fridge and rummage through it, pulling out the ingredients I’ll need for breakfast.
“Eggs, pancakes and bacon, or quiches my chef prepared?” I give him his options.
“I’m up for anything that involves bacon. That’ll hit the spot nicely.” He nods a few times.
“Excellent.”
I get started to keep myself busy and channel the nervous energy running through me.
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” my best friend says with a slow head nod, “the chef comes with the restaurant style kitchen.” He scours the space. “Keira isn’t roughing it at your place.”
The only rough action she gets is in my bedroom. “I’m proud of the house and it’s great to have Keira around.”
“I’m sure I sound like a broken record, but thanks so much for everything you’ve done for her.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“You’re taking good care of all her needs.”
In every sense of the word. “I’m doing my best.”
“She keeps going on and on about you, Rhys this and Rhys that. In her eyes, you can walk on water.”
“The last time she saw me, I was in a different place in my life. I was crawling out of a hole. She’s seen the before and after. She hasn’t seen the ups and downs in between.”
“You know how she is. She can easily be impressed.”
His comment rubs me the wrong way.
“We can all have twinkles in our eyes when we don’t know the full story,” I say.
“I guess you’re right,” he says. “I hope she isn’t breaking your balls.”
I wince.
No, but she’s doing a great job emptying them. “Keira is Keira, right?”
He chuckles. “Some things never change. The guy who goes after her is in for a rude awakening. You need balls of steel to be with a woman like my baby sis… either that or no balls at all.” He lets out a boisterous laugh and play-punches my arm.
My body vibrates from the impact.
The beating is going to hurt real bad.
He leans in closer. “Seriously, she isn’t driving you nuts?”
“Seriously, she isn’t.”
“Good. If anyone can handle her, it’s you. It’s a good thing your cojones are big enough to handle that fiery temper of hers, huh?”
I wish he’d stop talking about balls. “Her personality sure keeps me on my toes.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she doesn’t invade your space for too long.” He took my words the wrong way. Shit. “While I’m here, I intend on having a serious discussion with her. She needs to get her life back on track so she can afford to move out.”
“There’s no rush,” I say, “No rush at all.”
“Rhys, I’m abusing our friendship.”
I drop the knife I’m holding on the counter.
“Listen, Noah, I know firsthand what it’s like to get back on your feet when you’ve lost it all.
The house is massive. Keira isn’t in the way.
Things are different now. It’s not like before when she lived in LA and she had you, Chelle, and me.
Do you want her to live alone in a small apartment in a dubious neighborhood?
As for getting her life back on track, you should talk to her. You’ll be surprised.”
He cocks an eyebrow.
“What?”
“You sound almost as protective of her as I am.”
“It’s because I am.”
I go back to preparing breakfast.
I’m keenly aware of the moment she enters the kitchen. The floral scent of her new perfume permeates the air.
“Rumor has it my big brother is in town,” she says,
I catch a glimpse of her from over my shoulder.
She’s wearing a pretty, aqua-blue sundress with spaghetti straps that hits her mid-calf. She’s barefoot. Under the morning sun with her short hair slicked back and without a trace of makeup, she’s so fucking beautiful.
The urge to kiss her is overwhelming, but I suppress my desire.
The next few days are going to be unbearable.
I shoot Noah a glance.
He looks at his little sister like he always does––with fondness, devotion, and love. As an only child, witnessing their unconditional bond is always a surprise.
“Get over here, Cocoa Puffs, and give me a hug.”
She runs to Noah.
He lifts her in his arms like she’s a tiny puppy. She squeals joyfully. He covers her face with kisses before dropping her back to her feet. The difference of height between them is staggering.
“Good morning, Rhys,” Keira says. Her voice is sugary sweet.
“Good morning,” I say, keeping my tone even. “Did you sleep okay?”
“The best sleep ever.” She offers a bright smile. “And you?”
“Until your brother rudely woke me up, it was a great sleep.”
We smile at each other, exchanging a silent complicit conversation.
“Stop pretending you’re not happy to see me, Hartford.” Noah play-punches me again.
I wince.
“Careful there, you might hurt him,” Keira says.
I narrow my eyes at her.
“It’s all in good fun. It’s not like I’d ever take a real swing at him,” Noah says.
“I can’t think of a reason why you’d want to do that,” Keira says.
Why is she so determined to deliver me to the slaughterhouse?
“Exactly,” Noah says. “Rhys is solid. He’s irreproachable. A good guy to a fault.” He takes me into another one of his infamous bear hugs.
I close my eyes and thank God for the thirty-one years I’ve spent on this planet.
My days are numbered.
“Man, you have some hidden talents,” Noah says, forking a chunk of sausage.
“So, so many hidden talents,” Keira says.
I frown at her.
She responds with an angelic smile.
“I hope you’ll make this again before I leave. This is delicious.” Noah shoves the sausage in his mouth. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but these are better than your mom’s recipe.”
“Thanks. It’s one of my favorite breakfast dishes, so I perfected it.”
It was Keira’s suggestion I ditch the predictable breakfast idea in favor of one of my specialties––a cheesy sausage and egg bake. She even helped me prepare it. Knowing Noah, I also prepared a plate of bacon. I’m no chef in the kitchen, but I perfected a few recipes, this being one of them.
During the forty-minute bake time, Keira filled in her brother on last night’s big news.
Understandably, Noah is excited for her.
He marveled at the uncanny timing, considering how determined he was to talk to Keira about her plans to find a new direction for her life.
So far, the conversation has been smooth sailing, which is a blessing.
For a long while, we sit in a comfortable silence, enjoying our food. In a blink of an eye, Noah polishes off his second serving, loaded with extra bacon.
I can pack some food, but Noah could eat a restaurant out of business.
The coffeemaker bubbles, the sound breaking through the clatter of cluttery against plates.
I could use another cup.
I lift my gaze to Noah. “Would you like some more?”
“I wouldn’t say no.” He gets up. “I can get it.”
“Sit down.” I wave him off. “You’re my guest.”
He chuckles. “I kinda imposed myself, but we’ll go with your angle.”
She laughs.
I don’t even crack a smile. “What about you, Keira?”
“I’ll have a bit more, and more bacon, please,” she says.
With their plates in hand, I walk to the oven, serve them both and return to the kitchen table. I make a second trip to grab my second latte of the day.
“There’s more coffee if you guys want some,” I say before sitting back down.
Noah eyes my empty plate. “You’re done?”
“I’m good.” I force a smile and point at my mug. “I just need coffee.”
My stomach is too tied up in knots to eat more. Not to mention, my mind is racing, searching for suitable ways to tell my best friend about my new relationship status. I can only focus on so much at a time.
The Weatherly siblings are chatty people. I’m quieter. Breakfast must be outstanding because their sole focus is on the food. I’m grateful for the silence because it gives me time to map out how and when and I’m going to drop the bomb on my best friend.
“Rhys and I are seeing each other, Noah.”
What the actual fuck?
Noah’s forkful of baked eggs freezes halfway to his mouth. His whole body becomes still.
Armageddon strikes.
The apocalypse is now.
Annihilation of the human race is eminent.
It’s the end of the world as I know it.
I choke on a gulp of coffee, swallowing down the wrong pipe. I cough so hard, I fear I’ll rupture a lung.
“Oh my God, Rhys.” Keira slaps my back.
I take in huge breaths, but it’s like I can’t get enough oxygen to fill my lungs.
If I die now, Noah won’t get a chance to kill me.
“Are you okay?”
Oh, now you’re worried about my well-being?
“I’m okay.” No. I’m a dead man.
Noah drops his fork on his plate.
RIP, Rhys Hartford.
His gaze slides to meet his sister’s. “What did you just say?” His calm voice sends a shiver of worry down my spine.
The dragon awakes.
“I’m a grown woman and I can see whoever I want.” Keira holds her brother’s furious gaze. “Rhys and I are together, and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it, Noah.” She places a possessive hand on my forearm to drive her point home.
I’m surprised she doesn’t sit on my lap and start French kissing me to hammer the nail in my coffin.
My best friend growls.
He fucking growls.
My mouthy girlfriend lifts her chin in defiance, daring her brother.
Stop poking the bear, dimples.
Keira’s impetuous nature characterizes her.
Spontaneous and unbridled thinking prompt her to take life by the horns.
In bed, it’s fucking sexy as hell. But in this instance, it’s like sending a condemned man—me—to the guillotine.
Being headlong with a pissed-off Noah Weatherly is plain stupid and dangerous.
This is my Eddard Stark moment.
There’s no glory in dying too soon in a series.
In real life, dying too young is a shame. A crying shame.
“What the fuck is she talking about?” Noah says, and I swear the walls rumble.