Page 23 of Hearts of Fairlake

"It's a perfectly legitimate response when someone offers you something like that!" I protested, following him into the house. "It's an excellent opportunity, and I couldn't help but show interest."

"That sounded like more than just showing interest," Devin told me as we stepped into the kitchen.

"It's just showing professional interest," I snapped. "I used to do this kinda shit all the time. It was my bread and butter, my calling! So, of course, I jumped at the chance to look things over and see what they wanted out of me. But I never gave them a definitive answer. That's an entirely different discussion, and it's not like I'm the only person who got that information."

"So...why not mention it to Trevor?" Devin asked as helooked over the food. "Don't forget to eat some of the salad with the heaping serving of steak you're going to take."

Chase, who clearly knew that was aimed at him, scowled. "I know."

"Because I knew the assignment could be dangerous and I said I wasn't going to take those as often. It’s been a while since I did anything like that, and I wanted to know how much danger there was and how I felt about it before I brought it up. I didn't want him to start worrying before I’d even figured out if it was something I wanted to do," I growled, turning around and taking a moment to breathe before calling through the door. "Colin, get in here and have some steak!"

"I want salad!"

"Then come get some salad, and we'll see if there's any bacon bits we can throw on top for you."

"Croutons!"

"Yeah, I know, you want some crunch," I said with a shake of my head. "C'mon!"

Colin came tearing across the yard at full speed, and I knew he wasn't going to stop. Forgetting my anger for a moment, I bent down and caught him before he ran face-first into my knees. It was an experience we'd both had once, and neither of us had enjoyed it. He wiggled in my grip as I hoisted him up, squirming as my fingers dug into his armpits, making him giggle.

"Uncle Trevor, make him stop!" Colin pleaded, his words making me freeze and turn to find...my boyfriend, lover, whatever you wanted to call him, standing in the doorway. For a moment I forgot I was angry with him for going over my messages and not giving me a chance to explain before the argument devolved into something completely unrelated to the original fight. All I saw was a damn fine-looking man in a shirt that fit him perfectly and the jeans I'd insisted hebuy because they hugged his thighs in a way that made higher thought nearly impossible.

And then I glared at Devin and Chase, or at least the back of Chase's head and Devin's unimpressed expression.

"I'm not responsible for this," Devin said, shrugging as if he wouldn't have cared if he was responsible.

"I don't interfere in stupid shit," Chase said as he began slicing up the steaks. "Trevor, you want some?"

"I might take one," Trevor said casually as if we weren't supposed to be pissed at one another.

"Weareaccomplices, though," Devin added.

"Unwilling," Chase grumbled, slapping a steak onto a plate with the salad Devin had already doled out and handing it to Trevor. "Dragged into this. Which, thanks for that. I love being in the middle of your lover's spats."

Anger flashed through my head like a red-hot poker, but Trevor cleared his throat. “I think maybe Ethan and I should talk in the other room. Before this gets out of hand."

Devin elbowed Chase hard enough to make Chase take half a step away and wince while I grunted. “Fine, whatever. I want another beer."

I grabbed one on my way out as I heard Chase complain loudly. “What the fuck was that for?"

"Because you're…yes, Colin, that was an adult word, the most adult word, good call. Because you're being an ass."

"Well, that's what this is!"

"And you're being an ass who deserved what he got. So I guess it's fair."

"Babe—"

I closed the door to the living room, shutting off the rest of whatever Chase's whining complaint contained. I didn't care what he had to say, and I was just glad Devin and Trevor had intervened. Well, I was glad Devin had intervenedanyway. I still wasn't sure how I felt about Trevor's part in all this.

"Who the fuck was it?" I asked.

Trevor sat on the couch, putting his plate on the coffee table. "Who else would call me to yell at me for the fact that both of us are 'being stupid' and to get you off the couch?"

"Fucking...be glad you're an only sibling," I growled, dropping into the seat across from him. "Woman gets live-in babysitting and has the audacity to complain because I'm on her couch."

"Your sister loves you. That doesn't mean she doesn't find you a bit much sometimes."

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