Page 20 of Code Mages & Empty Pages
There he is! There’s the baby brother I know.
“Not at all.” I laughed and checked the stairs because I did not want Luc to overhear this. He wasn’t there, thank fuck. “He just lets me stay here so I can stash my cash and pay for the fungus removal, you know.” I turned towards the stove to give the Bolognese another stir. “It’s not like we’re colleagues with benefits or something.”
A choking sound came from the door.Oh my gosh.Luc stood in the doorway to the kitchen, an unreadable expression on his face.
Holy shit, fuck my luck.
I bet he only heard the last bit and he thinks I called us colleagues with benefits.
I wanted to evaporate on the spot but somehow had to keep it together. “Love you, little bro, I’ll, um, talk to you on the weekend, okay?”
Owen did not ask any more questions. He heard in my voice that I wouldn’t give him any more information right now.
“I’ll talk to you on the weekend. Love you, big sis. Bye.”
I hung up and steeled myself for Luc’s wrath.
It never came.
Luc raised an eyebrow, still half-damp from his shower, but wearing his usual cargo trousers and another one of hispunny shirts that read “Will Code For Snacks.” “Colleagues with benefits, huh?”
Heat crawled up my neck. “That was just my brother. He thinks he’s funny.”
Luc grinned, then sobered a little, running a hand through his neck fur. The tips still dripped with water. “I mean, if you’re offering, I could be persuaded.” He sniffed. “The benefits here seem pretty decent.”
I snorted, equal parts mortified and relieved. “Shut up, Luc. The only benefit you’re getting tonight is spaghetti.”
He held up his hands in mock surrender. “I guess I’ll take what I can get. But for the record, you make living with a colleague a lot more interesting than I expected.”
His words hung in the air a beat too long.
I fished around in my head for anything to say.
Luc cleared his throat before I could find the right words. “Don’t worry. Your brother’s just looking out for you, right?”
I nodded, grateful for the rescue. “Yeah. He just…worries.”
Luc’s smile softened a little. “You’re safe here, Dawn. I mean it. No strings, no expectations. Just make yourself at home.”
“Thanks. It means a lot,” I said, meaning it more than he probably realised.
I watched him pull two bowls from the cupboard and grab forks. “I like that you’re close to your brother. It’s good to have some family you can count on.”
He just grinned. “I’m starving,” he admitted, which reminded me I hadn’t eaten all day, either.
“Me too. How was your training?” I grabbed the parmesan from the fridge and started dishing up spaghetti.
Luc snorted. “I think my coach wants to kill me. Mio is this ultra-fit Jaguar hybrid, an ex-MMA fighter. He kicked my arse.”
I slid a bowl in front of his spot at the table. “Enjoy.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What, the spaghetti or getting my ass kicked?”
I grinned. “Maybe a bit of both?”
He shook his head and sat down, still smiling.
After a pause, I hesitated. “I wish I was closer to my brother, honestly. Owen’s younger. He works in engineering in Edinburgh.” My voice came out smaller than I wanted.
