Page 27 of Stick to the Plan
I grip the back of the chair across from her, leaning towards her as I maintain her stare. My lips spread into an answering grin. “Any rules?”
She tilts her chin up and nibbles on a waffle square. My gaze dips to her lips, glistening with butter. My knuckles whitened on the chair, and I swallow back the desire to lick her lips.
“Nothing too melodramatic. Other than that, anything goes.”
“Got it.” I hold her gaze for another beat before turning to the others. Nic’s eyes dart back and forth between us. Anna holds a strip of bacon halfway to her mouth, forgotten. “Ladies, feel free to use my shower while I’m out. I have nothing to hide.”
Straightening, I walk towards the kitchen, feeling three sets of eyes on me the entire way. This is a grand morning. I get to work on the breakfast dishes.
“Hot Damn. And he cooks? Think he’ll marry me?” Anna lowers her voice, but I can still easily hear her southern drawl from the quiet kitchen. I bite my cheek to keep from chuckling.
“You can already cook. I need his skills more, so I’llmarry him.”
That sounds like Nic.
“I saw him first.”
I drop the sponge in my hand at Brianna’s words. My chest swells with a deep breath, and I can’t help but close my eyes, trying to contain the hope that’s bubbling up. God, I hope she means it.
Chapter twenty-one
Dinner and a Movie
Brianna
Maybe it’s the post-party glow - or the caramel latte Colin picked up for me while shopping - but I am in a ridiculously good mood. A weekend with my besties is definitely the reason for my inner peace. It certainly has nothing to do with the earth shattering kiss last night.
It really has been too long since we got together. Nic’s job often keeps her away for weeks at a time, but Anna is always nearby, running the restaurant. Normally I see her there a few nights a week, but I’ve been off my routine since Colin arrived. I have a bad habit of hyper-focusing on a situation until I work out all the pieces - and lately, I’d been low key obsessing about the generator in general, and the Colin situation in particular.
This promotion has been my top priority for almost a year now. If this generator is half as successful as I predict, the title of director is as good as mine. I need to survive all the secrecy and bullshit with Stone, though. Things have been so much more complicated since Colin arrived.
Not that it’s Colin’s fault - not really. He is actually quite pleasant to live with. Tidy, respectful, and always willing to help. Hell, half the time I goto feed Riley or empty the dishwasher, Colin has already gotten to it. He is always doing thoughtful things, filling gaps he sees around him - like that delicious breakfast this morning. Sometimes it feels like he’s always been here. It is a dangerous feeling - makes me worry about what life will be like again after he leaves.
“Hey, Irish, get the popcorn while you’re in there!” Nic’s yell breaks my inner monologue.
“Anything else, your highnesses?” I can’t help but smile at Colin’s flippant response. It is amazing how comfortable he’s been with the girls.
“Can of Cola!” I yell, smile still in place.
“Candy!” Anna adds.
We hear some good natured grumbles from the kitchen and laugh. Colin walks in carrying a tray with three bowls of popcorn, drinks, and candy. He stops just behind Anna’s chair and surveys the living room, eyebrows raised slightly.
“And where is it, ladies, that you expect me to be sitting at?”
We’d all claimed our usual movie spots in the living room, while Colin was putting away his market haul and preparing something for dinner. I am on the larger couch under a giant throw with Riley laying in a blanket-nest on my feet. To my left, Nic is stretched out on the loveseat, a mountain of pillows behind her and her long legs dangling over the arm. On my other side, Anna sits in the recliner wearing an oversized sweatshirt, knees pulled up, hugging a pillow. There is not a spare cushion in sight.
Nic leans forward and pulls an extra pillow from her pile before throwing it on the floor halfway between our seats. “Newbies sit on the floor.”
“Will I, yea? After slaving in the kitchen all day, this is what I get? A wee pillow?”
Anna and I laugh at their banter. Lifting Riley from his spot, I scoot back on the couch and pull my legs up to make room for Colin on the other end of the couch. “Here. You can sit on the couch, but I expect first dibs on whatever smells so good.”
His eyes twinkle as I take my soda and a bowl of popcorn from him. My heart speeds up as I maintain eye contact, the moment stretching on.
“Deal.” Colin’s voice grumbles, lower than normal. Someone, likely Nic, clears her throat, breaking the moment.
Colin finishes passing out the bowls and drinks before settling in on the couch. “What’s the first movie?”
