Page 49 of Swift and Saddled

Gus rolled his eyes. “Is that all you’ve got today, Theodora?”

“No,” Teddy said. “But lucky for you, I’m not really in the mood to watch a grown man cry today.” Ada was looking from Gus to Teddy and back, like she was watching a tennis match.

“Okay.” Emmy clapped. “What you’re smelling is actually none of our business, and all of us are leaving now.” Shestarted pushing Gus toward the door. “Except for you, Ada. You get to stay.” Emmy winked at her.

Subtle.

“Why do I have to leave?” Gus asked.

“Because you have things to do,” Emmy hedged.

“No, I don’t,” Gus said—the only one who wasn’t getting it.

“Oh my god,” Teddy groaned. “You are literally so stupid. C’mon, Top Gun, let’s go shave off that mustache.”

“Oh, fuck off,” Gus snapped. Emmy started to push him out, and Teddy helped.

“See you guys later!” Emmy called.

When I heard the door shut, it was just Ada and me. Whenever it was just the two of us, wherever we were felt smaller.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hi,” she responded, tucking some of her loose black hair behind her ear. I wanted to go to her and fold her into my arms, but I didn’t want to come on too strong. I didn’t know how to do this. Not after last night.

“How was your day? You met Aggie?”

Ada’s face lit up. “Yeah, it was great. She is great. We’re getting two credenzas, a kitchen table, and a coffee table, and she’s doing custom leather pulls for some of the drawers.”

“That sounds amazing,” I said truthfully. I loved the way Ada brightened when she talked about Baby Blue. “I’m glad you got to catch up with Teddy too.”

“Speaking of that.” Ada sat down at the kitchen counter. She was directly across from me now. “What is going on between her and your brother?”

I had never been more confused in my entire life. “What do you mean?”

Ada raised her eyebrows. “There’s obviously something going on there. Did they date or something?”

I laughed. “Teddy and Gus? You think something is going on between Theodora Andersen and August Ryder?”

Ada nodded excitedly. “Obviously. Can’t you see the tension?”

“Yeah, because they hate each other,” I said, confused. “Like actually hate each other.”

Ada didn’t seem convinced by what I was saying. “I would bet my life savings that something has happened or will happen between those two.” She seemed very sure. I liked it.

“Maybe when hell freezes over,” I countered.

“Fancy a wager?” Her smile was playful.

“You’re on,” I said, and I reached out my hand to shake on it. She looked down at my hand, studying it for a second before she put hers in it. We looked at each other, and I saw her chest heave slightly.

I wondered if she was thinking about last night.

I sure as fuck was.

“So,” she said, pulling her hand away far too soon. “What am I smelling in here, though? It smells amazing.” As if on cue, the timer on my phone went off, and I quickly grabbed some oven mitts and pulled the dish out of the oven. I set it on the hot pads that were right in front of Ada.

“Spanakopita,” I said, suddenly nervous about…everything.

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