Page 15 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

“I have a hard time concentrating when you’re around.”

He chuckles.“The feeling is mutual.But we have to get used to it, so we may as well start now.That way when we’re interacting with the public, it won’t be weird and awkward.”

“Okay, you have a point.But if I screw up now, please realize that’s not normal.I’m nervous with you watching over my shoulder.”I bounce my toes a little and then still them when I realize I’m jittery.

“Fair enough.”

I work in silence for about fifteen minutes, and though I move slower than I normally do, I manage to keep it all together.Then he points at the screen and makes a small suggestion, and it’s a good one, so I make the change.

And the rest of the afternoon goes like that.We manage to work together without anything naughty happening, and while I’m slightly disappointed, I’m glad we’re capable of it.Seth is easy to work with.He makes suggestions without sounding condescending, and if I don’t take his advice, he doesn’t get offended.

“I’ve brought snacks.”

Both Seth and I jump.Terry stands there with a tray full of crackers, cheese, and her famous Nutella brownies.All three dogs trail behind her.

“You are a heavenly vision,” Seth says as she sets the tray behind our laptops.She leans down and kisses him on the cheek, and then Seth attacks the food.

Terry studies my screen.“How are things going?”

“Good.Abi’s pretty talented.”

She waves to the laptop.“So are you.”

“Hey, I helped,” Seth mutters with his mouth full of brownies.

Terry pats him on the shoulder.“I’m sure you did, but this is where Mae shines.”

“And this is where you shine, Mom.”He holds up his second brownie.“Well, one of the places.I swear this is better than half the desserts in Paris.Or even the thousand-dollar brownie I tried in Atlantic City.”

Terry gapes at him.“Please tell me you did not spend a thousand dollars on a brownie.”

“Just once.And I was trying to impress a girl.It was divine but not as good as yours.”

A pang of sadness hits me as I watch them.Terry is the mom I wish I’d had.If I’m ever privileged to be a mom, I want to be just like her.She’s utterly selfless and is always helping one of her boys or her husband.And yet, she still has time for her own projects, which she ropes the family into helping with.

My mom left when I was six.One day, she just didn’t pick me up from school.The principal found me alone on the playground an hour later and called my dad.For years, my dad never talked about it.In high school, I sat him down and made him tell me what he knew.Which wasn’t much.She left a note saying she couldn’t stand the quiet and that she needed city life.A few years after she left, Dad was served divorce papers, and they came from an attorney in New York City.I’ve thought about trying to track her down, but she obviously wants nothing to do with me.Why bother?

Besides, I’ve got Terry.

She reaches over, grabs a brownie, and hands it to me.“You better eat, or there will be nothing left.There would be more, but Ollie got into them.Then I ran into Todd and Keith on the way here.You’re lucky there were any left at all.”

I take it.

“You know, I’ve eaten all over the world at some of the most expensive places, and nothing compares to your cooking.”Seth has a small smudge of chocolate on the side of his mouth.Without thinking, I reach over and rub it off, his stubble pricking my finger.He raises his eyebrows at me, and I drop my gaze.

“You should come home more often.”Terry squeezes his shoulder.

His eyes snap to mine.“Maybe I should.”

Terry looks like she wants to say something but instead lets out a sigh and leaves the room.

“What do you think that was about?”I ask after she’s gone.

“What?”

“She seemed like she wanted to say something but didn’t.”Probably something about Seth sticking around, but maybe she doesn’t want to push him right now.

“I didn’t notice.”Seth shrugs and taps my laptop.“Break’s over now.Let’s get back to work.”

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