Chapter Nineteen #2
“I don’t intend to hide or minimize what I feel, Peaches. I told you I was all in; I meant it. You’re just gonna have to deal with all that entails.”
“Why does that sound like a threat?” I ask, tilting my head to one side.
“Because it should probably be taken as one.”
It’s stupid to smile, right? That wasn’t romantic… was it? I mean, traditionally speaking, of course not. It gave more alpha-male, you’re-my-property-and-I’m-a-bad-man vibes, but maybe that’s why it’s so romantic? Or maybe I’ve been listening to way too many of those dark romance audiobooks lately.
Kolter’s hand drops to take hold of mine, then he leads me further into the apartment.
In the living room, there’s a large TV accompanied by an entertainment center with a fireplace, a couch and a coffee table absolutely crammed with food.
Any takeout food you could imagine, it’s here—Mexican, Italian, sushi, Korean BBQ.
There’s even the iconic to-go box from my favorite pie restaurant in Seattle.
Yeah, you heard that right. A pie restaurant. It’s literally everything.
“What is all this?” I ask as Kolter leads me to the couch.
“Food. You were whining about it the whole way up here,” he says with a mock eyeroll.
I smack his shoulder and laugh. “You’re a loser.”
“Hey, you’re the one that loves me,” he says with a shrug.
A blush hits my cheeks at how casually he throws that out. That’s dumb, right? I mean, we’ve had sex; we’ve exchanged the I love yous. This next part is only natural, right? Still, no matter how hard I try to school my expression, my smile grows, as does the flush coloring my face.
He notices too.
“I’ll never get sick of you getting all rosy for me,” he teases, wrapping his arm round my shoulder and pulling me into his side.
“You’d think you would—it’s been happening practically our whole lives.”
He brushes a lock of hair out of my face. “I loved it then too.”
My heart flips as he stares into my eyes reverently, like he’s attempting to commit them to memory, or maybe it’s the moment he wants to save forever. Either way, same, because never in my life have things felt this… perfect.
“What are you having first?” Kolter asks, redirecting my attention towards the plethora of food.
“Well, I was going to go for the chips and queso until I saw the pie,” I say, reaching out with grabby hands.
Kolter laughs and shakes his head. “How’d I know?”
He passes the pie box to me before taking some sushi for himself.
I smile when I discover that it’s a mud pie.
Not the kind Mom used to make either—this is a peanut-butter-and-chocolate pie with chocolate fudge and whipped cream.
It’s a cavity waiting to happen, and I happily sink my teeth into a slice, humming my approval as I do a little happy bounce.
Kolter is watching me out the corner of his eye, a smile on his face, but I pretend not to notice as I grab the remote and turn on the TV. A football game flashes on, and Kolter reaches for the remote.
“Sorry, we can change it.”
I pull the remote out of his reach and set it down. “I like football.”
He furrows his brows and cocks his head to the side. “Since when?”
“Since Cassi screwed half the O line at our school,” I say through a mouthful of pie.
Kolter lets out a surprised laugh, and I nod.
“As her designated wingwoman, I sat through a lot of games. The Seattle Crusaders are my favorite too,” I say gesturing to the screen.
The camera pans just in time to catch Trevor Michaels, the team’s quarterback, snapping the ball. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he knows it too. Aren’t all pro players at least a little cocky, though? That’s what makes them good, right?
Kolter and I spend the next few hours watching the game, eating until we can’t move and just talking.
We talk about my classes and my friends; we talk about Ace and everything Kolter’s been up to these last few years.
That conversation was pretty short. Lots of need-to-know information that I don’t need to know, I guess.
Kolter checks his phone a few times, like he’s waiting for a message—or maybe hoping one won’t come through.
When he does it again, I finally ask, “Is everything okay?”
He pockets his phone. “Of course, Peaches. Why do you ask?”
I glance down at his pocket before giving him a flat look. “You’ve been checking your phone like you’re waiting to win a radio contest. You trying to make sure your girlfriend stays out of the apartment?” I tease.
He scoffs and rolls his eyes. “My girl is sitting right next to me.”
“So what is it then?”
“It’s nothing,” he says, shaking his head.
I continue staring at him, until he sighs and runs a hand through his hair.
“Just making sure I don’t get called in for anything. I should be at the clubhouse tonight. Things have been… tense since the club.”
I nod. “So why are you here then?”
“Because I promised I’d take you out. Because I wanted to see you. Because… I shouldn’t be seen with you—or vice versa more like.”
I frown. “Says who?”
“Bones.”
“Is that the older guy from the clubhouse?”
Kolter nods.
“He doesn’t like me?” I say with a joking smile.
“He doesn’t like that I like you. It’s dangerous, for you and me, especially if my dad finds out.”
“So, what, we just have to sneak around until the end of time?” I ask, laughing.
When Kolter doesn’t join in, though, my face falls.
“Oh.”
He reaches out and squeezes my thigh. “Not forever; just for now. Besides, not sure Mom and your brothers are ready for us anyway.”
“Will they ever be?”
“Fuck no. Nick is gonna be pissed. He always knew I had a thing for you.”
“Really?” I ask, shocked.
“Yeah, why do you think he’d never let you hang out with us when I stayed the night before I moved in?”
“Because he’s a jerk?”
He laughs. “True, but it’s because he could tell that once you were in the room, all my attention went to you. Drove him crazy. We never talked about it directly, though. When Mom adopted me, I think he assumed it went away. I tried to make it.”
“Me too,” I admit.
So many nights I begged, prayed, manifested that the feelings I had for him would go away. When he legally became my brother, I felt wrong, dirty, but all that fighting was no use. On both sides, clearly.
“Wow,” I breathe.
Kolter nods.
“And to think, we could have been hooking up for years.”
An amused snort escapes Kolter, then he smiles. “Guess we better start making up for lost time.”
Excitement surges through me as Kolter climbs on top of me and pins me to the couch.
“Be a good girl and scream for me, Peaches.”