Page 34 of The Pass Protection
Heads whip at Q’s random outburst, and Brynn slinks in her chair, her cheeks reddening. Something is off with those two.
Once the salad is passed around, everyone helps themselves to the Italian dishes spread around the table.
“Oh my gosh, this lasagna is amazing,” Bret moans around a mouthful.
“Thank you,” Chloe says, her smile warming her face. Over the last year, I’ve learned that Chloe loves to feed people. Call it her lovelanguage, but she exudes joy when she sees people enjoying the dishes she prepares.
Bret angles her shoulder toward Chloe. “Seriously, if you guys ever need any help preparing dinners—”
“Please don’t ask her.” Harris cuts off her words.
Bret’s perfect mouth flies open as her eyes widen. “That was so harsh.”
“Harsh was you trying to kill us.” The mouthful of food muffles Harris’s words.
“Dude, you didn’t let her cook?” Grant shakes his head.
Harris raises his hands. “I didn’t know.”
“It wasn’tthatbad,” I add.
Harris scoffs. “It wasn’tthatbad? Dude, the ocean has less salt than that asparagus.”
“Hey, assholes, I’m sitting right here.” Bret crosses her arms across her chest and purses her lips.
“I know,” Harris says, flinging his arm around her shoulders, which has my blood tingling. “Which is why I’m letting the girls know that if they ever need help in the kitchen, maybe you bring something premade.”
“Or cups and ice,” JP adds.
We all let out a chuckle on Bret’s behalf, but the taken aback mixed with the offended face she makes is priceless.
“Grant, you’re my big brother. You’re supposed to defend my honor.”
“Not on that one. Cooking is not your thing. I feel sorry for the man who marries you.” He takes a bite of his lasagna as Bret’s eyes find mine. Her cheeks take on a pretty pink hue as she blushes slightly. Does shefeel the way I do?
Brynn comes to Bret’s defense as she points her fork at Harris. “All right, leave my girl alone before she decides she never wants to hang out with us again.”
“Nah, she’s stuck with us now.” JP nudges her shoulder from where he’s sitting next to her.
As much as I miss home in Silo Bay, these family dinners make the homesickness not as severe. The way we all can bust jokes at the expense of others and have the evening feel like a real familial bond makes everything worth it. Bret fits in like she’s always been a part of our CTU family. These dinners feel like a family reunion when your favorite cousins surround you. The ones who make the large events worth it with their jokes, but at the end of the day, you know they’ll always have your back.
“Okay, now that we know that you are to stay away from the kitchen,” Brynn muses as she cuddles into Quinton’s side. “Tell us more about you.”
Bret rocks in her chair. An uneasiness settles over her as attention is once again returned to her. “Is this like speed dating?”
“Oh, that could be fun.” Brynn sits up higher in her seat. “What’s your major? Your hobbies? Favorite music? Movie? How many piercings do you have? I totally noticed the nips, and you go, girl.”
Grant groans, rolling his eyes as he sips from his Coke.
“She’s pretty much the girl version of Grant. That is why she was easily accepted as our new roommate. Boy, were we fooled.” Harris’s tone is dry.
Bret shrugs. “Once again, it was your fault for not having a gender box.”
“I didn’t think a girl would want to live with three guys.”
“Oh my gosh!” Chloe is practically vibrating from her seat. “Do you have some like reverse harem fantasy?”
Coughing sounds around the table, as I’m pretty sure each one of us guys just choked on whatever we were ingesting. Brynn’s laugh fills the air as it’s swept up in the late summer Texas breeze while Bret’s cheeks flame red.
