Page 62 of The Attraction

“You don’t have to. You’ve slept with her again, but this time it’s more, I can tell. The attraction was written all over both your faces when I walked in on whatever was about to happen.”

“Well, my advice would be don’t use your key going forward. Might be best if you knocked first.” I turn and walk out of the pantry before it looks suspicious and leave him there smiling like a Chesire cat and doing thrusting movements with his hips.

“Grow up,” I mouth to him.

To which he replies, mouthing back at me, “Never.” And I don’t doubt it.

Leaving Flynn to create his culinary delight, I organize drinks for the girls. The TV is off now, and with the music low in the background, I feel more relaxed than I have in a long time. I can see a future like this, the four of us spending time together. I remember back to when Flynn was in Australia, and I was so wrapped up in work and looking after our parents that it wasn’t until he came home for a holiday that I realized I actually missed him. But it wasn’t until he moved back permanently and we started working together that we really developed a proper adult brotherly relationship.

But this, here, tonight.

This is what I longed for.

I’m in the kitchen stacking the dirty pots and pans from Flynn’s cooking that is now in the oven, and my phone buzzes for the fourteenth time.

“Just in case you were all worried, Mum and Dad are now down to five minutes away.” I look up at the two girls laughing, and Flynn just drops his head into his hands. “Lord, help us,” I mumble to myself.

“Oh, tonight is going to be so much fun,” Harper calls out to me, and she is being sarcastic, but just seeing her enjoying herself and not thinking about her life outside this apartment is comforting.

“I’ll ask you if you feel the same after they have left later, hey, Flynn?” But before he can reply, Felisha is looking at both of us.

“You two boys are terrible. Your mother is so beautiful and kind, and your dad, he’s a sweetheart. I don’t know where you two come from, because you didn’t inherit any of their good qualities, that’s for sure.” She hits Flynn with a cushion off the couch.

“What do you mean, that’s exactly how you would describe me and my brother. I’m beautiful and kind and he’s a sweetheart.”

This brings a huge explosion of laughter from all four of us.

“You can’t be any further from that, Mr. Annoying and Proverbial Pest.” Felisha points to Flynn.

While Harper points to me. “And Mr. Grumpy and Serious over there didn’t get any of the sweetness, that’s for sure.”

“How do you know I don’t taste sweet?” And it’s game on, judging by the look in her eyes at my comment.

Trying to come up with a reply, she is saved by her friend.

“Well, I don’t know about that, but I can confirm my man is annoying and certainly doesn’t taste sweet at all. Have you smelt this man’s gym socks? There’s not a chance in hell that any part of him tastes good.” Felisha kisses Flynn on the cheek as she gets up to walk toward me with the empty glasses from the table.

Harper’s eyes haven’t left me, and I can tell she is plotting how to return the favor of my comment a moment ago.

The knock on the door saves this conversation from certainly steering into one full of innuendos that will surely give up the fact that there is something more than friendship going on in this apartment.

Opening the door to Mum and Dad, I can see their excitement at being here.

“Hi, Mum.” I lean down, kissing her cheek and giving her a deep hug, then look up at my dad standing patiently behind. Heaven help Dad, if he ever tried to walk in the door in front of Mum, stealing the first hug from her children.

“Dad.” I shake his hand and give him a man hug as Mum now rushes to Flynn. “How’s things?” I ask him as we walk into the apartment to join the others with the whirlwind that is my mother.

“Good, Son, really good. And can I just say, good luck tonight.” His deep little chuckle confirms what we already knew; Mum is so excited that she has been driving him crazy all day.

By the time I get to the others, Mum is fussing over saying hello to Felisha, and I can see Harper shrinking back a little.

That’s not like her at all, but I’m not about to let her feel uncomfortable around my family.

I step up behind her and place my hand on her lower back, feeling her lean into me without her even realizing she’s doing it.

“Mum, Dad, you remember Felisha’s best friend Harper who is my current house guest.” I can’t lie to my parents, so I didn’t even bother with introducing her as my friend, because she is fast becoming so much more.

“Harper, my dear, how are you?” And I wasn’t even thinking about my mother and how everyone she meets gets a hug, and the moment she goes to drag Harper into her arms, I pull Harper toward me.

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