Page 15 of Stepbrother With Benefits

James's hearty laugh was interrupted by an enthusiastic honk as Quinn pulled up to the curb. He flicked on the emergency blinkers, hit the slow release button for his trunk, and hopped out to give James a hug.

They both threw their arms wide and held on for a few beats longer than I expected, long enough that I might've made a get a room joke if the sight of my favorite guys hugging hadn't made an unexpected well of emotion bubble up and clog my throat.

When they stood apart, James set his hands on Quinn's shoulders. "If you weren't so bloody handsome, I'd punch your lights out."

Quinn smiled. "I missed you, too."

"You can't park here," a cranky traffic warden shouted. "This is a pick-up zone."

James pointed right between Quinn's eyes. "This conversation isn't over."

"Yeah, yeah." Quinn waved the threat away like a bad smell. "Get in the bloody car already," he said, putting a special, mocking emphasis on the funny word.

James went to throw his bag in the trunk, and I hopped in the backseat while Quinn strolled around the hood. "You can sit in front," they both said to me at the same time.

"That's okay!" I chimed. "I'm already settled back here."

Quinn flinched when James slammed the trunk. "I have a button for that, remember?" he asked when James slipped in the passenger seat.

"I forgot," James said, his eyes telling a different story. "My bad."

"So we figured you'd want to eat right away," I blurted, trying to ease the tension between them. "Since they probably only gave you salty bird food on the flight."

"We." James repeated the word like he hadn't heard any of the others I’d used.

"Yeah, we." I leaned between the gap in their seats. "As in me and my super-hot boyfriend. Get used to it."

"Not like I’ve got much choice," James mumbled. "What with this united front the second I arrive."

"Didn't you get the videos I sent?" Quinn asked. "I figured if you started your exposure therapy before you got home—"

"Shut up and drive," James said as the angry traffic attendant tapped on the back windshield.

Quinn shifted gears, crept into the lane to our left, and sped up to keep pace with the flow of traffic.

"So where do you want to eat?" I asked again cheerfully.

Quinn shot me a look in the rear-view mirror like I ought to tone it down.

"There's a Panera on the way," I said. "I know how you like their cheddar broccoli soup."

"Panera's fine with me." James looked out his window like the weight of the world was suddenly on his shoulders.

"Quit sulking," Quinn said, his grip on the wheel tightening. "It's not a good look for you."

"I'm not fucking sulking," James snapped. "I'm just…still coming around to this idea."

"Well come around faster," Quinn said. "Because this isn't just a good thing we've got going, it's a great thing."

James sighed. "She's my little sister, asshole."

"That may be true,” Quinn said. “But she’s also the love of my life, so I'd appreciate if you didn't make her feel bad about it."

James turned his head and spoke over his shoulder. "You know that's the last thing I want, right?" He raised his eyes over the top of his sunglasses. "To make you feel bad?"

"Then stop pretending you're going to punch Quinn’s lights out because I know you're not going to do that."

James's lips twitched.

"You love each other," I said. "So drop the act. We're all going to live happily ever after starting now."

James faced forward again, and when I leaned back, I caught Quinn's subtle smirking in his rear-view mirror.

The love of my life. He'd said it like it was nothing, but nothing couldn't be further from the truth.

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