Page 28 of Keep Your Guard Up
“Sunny.” He flicked his chin up. “Nice shorts.”
I frowned down at my satin red pyjama shorts—shorts that were way tooshortfor the dinner everyone was apparently dressed to attend.
“Riordan.” I rolled my eyes. “Nice ass-kissing ‘fit’.”
He tipped his head back in a laugh, the column of his throat moving with the sound. Extending a hand out, his large palm was wrapped around the side of a tray I hadn’t even noticed. “If you like thefit, you’re sure to love my ass-kissing brownies.” He smirked and pushed the tray into my hands.
Gently sidestepping me, he made his way to Nan and planted a kiss on her cheek, and she tenderly squeezed his arm in return.
“It smells fantastic in here.” He inhaled deeply over Nan’s steaming pot, the rising heat pushing more colour into his lips. “Is there anything I can help you with, Marilyn?”
“Don’t be silly.” She shooed him out of the kitchen and steered him towards the set table. “I’ve got it, dear.”
“You let me know,” he said, smiling up at her as he sat in the chair next to JJ’s.
I scoffed and Chance winked at me.
Ass-kissing indeed.
“Ignore her. She’s always been hopeless in the kitchen,” Nan said, glaring over her shoulder at me with a look that said, ‘We just talked about this, Marilyn, and if you don’t do something about it, we’ll be talking about it later too’.
“You got that right,” JJ said, getting up to grab another beer from the fridge.
Nan whirled up the towel and whipped his ass with it.
“Ow! What was that for?!”
“Manners! We have company!” she scolded, finger pointing and everything.
I swallowed a laugh.
“Ugh! Fine!” He threw his hands up in the air. “Would any of you like a drink?”
“Actually—” Chance started.
“Not you. I’m wearing this shit because of you—that’s enough for one day,” JJ cut in, pulling his singular beer out of the fridge, followed by a sparkling water can.
“You held up your end of the bargain, I’ll hold up mine. Stop whining,” Chance replied, catching the can JJ threw him.
“Not having a beer?” I asked, sliding into the only available chair that wasn’t next to him but across from him.
“Teaching tomorrow morning—remember?”
“Of course. How could I forget?”
Al cleared his throat. “So, how’re you finding things at the gym, mate? Anything we can help you with?”
Those blue eyes flickered to mine for a beat before returning to Al’s. “Nah, everything’s great.” His eyes bounced back to mine again. “Everyone’s real welcoming and patient with me.”
“I’d hardly think they’d need to be patient with someone of your expertise,” Al replied.
“You’d be surprised,” JJ snorted.
Though Chance rolled his eyes, his face was soft and content. Gone was the man I saw on the mats today during class—tucked away for another time was the fighter inside of him.
“You’re the only one we have to be patient with around here, JJ,” I retorted.
All eyes snapped up to me, Al’s expression gleaming with approval. That familiar burning sensation trickled up my neck and I didn’t have to look to know Chance’s gaze was on me. I dared a glance, just one, and lost myself instantly in those ocean blues.
