Page 58 of The Biker and the Baker
On the heels of Rishi is Preeti with my two nieces, who come prepared in little aprons to bake with me. It’s routine for me to bake big batches of cookies on Sundays for the entire family. For the past few weeks, my nieces have been coming over to help, so neither of them are happy to hear I won’t be baking cookies today as I’m spending time with a "friend."
Before leaving dejectedly, they give Onyx the stink eye, much to his amusement.
Lastly, Mira and Kim drop in for their routine Sunday visit to the house. Except once they spot Onyx, they don't bother to leave—Mira’s much too curious.
Now, all four of us are binge-watchingShameless.
"Bringing back the Mickey and Ian chemistry iseverything," Kim says.
"Straight up," I agree. "Because Fiona and Ford bore me to tears."
Mira glances over at Onyx. "So, what doyouthink about the Ian and Mickey scenes?"
It's a test. And I want to punch her in the nose for it.
Onyx, who’s casually laid out on the couch, with one foot to the ground and one stretched out, me laid against him, back to chest, shrugs with one shoulder. "Don't think nothing ‘bout them. Not my thing." He skips his gaze back to the TV where Kelly is tackling Carl to the ground and binding him with a cable tie. " Nowthat'smore my speed. She's one badass bitch."
His answer must not have been enough for her, because she immediately follows up with, "What are your thoughts on same-sex relationships?"
Again, Onyx shrugs. "Got no thoughts on it. You love who you love."
"What about—"
"Enough, Mira," I snipe at her. She rolls her eyes.
"It’s okay, babe," Onyx whispers in my ear. "Not offended. She's your sis. Nothing's wrong with her wanting to make sure I'm not a homophobic dick."
“I don’t care, it’s not cool. Mira,quit it.” Sitting up, I glare at her and she lifts her hands in surrender. “I think I’m gonna pack that bag now.”
“You do that,” Onyx says, sitting up behind me and pressing a kiss to the back of my neck. “Be back in a few.”
I twist to peer around at him. “Where are you going?”
He just straightens up from behind me and flicks my half-unraveled braid. “Be back. Promise.” And then he’s out the door.
When the door clicks behind him, I stand and glower at Mira. “There. You’ve scared him off. Happy?”
Her eyes circle heavenward. “Oh, stop being dramatic. That man isn’t the type to be ‘scared off.’”
“That was out of line and you know it.” I stomp past her to the bedroom, and she follows.
“You’resucha hypocrite,” she says through a laugh. “You grilled my girlfriends worse than that back when I was dating.”
I fetch my duffel from the closet.
“Facts!” Kim chips in from the living room. “You grilled me for half an hour straight when Mira first introduced us.”
“And let’s not even talk about when Rishi brings home a new girl,” Mira continues. “We’ve lost count of how many of them you and Preeti have scared off.”
Although I hate to admit it, what she speaks is the truth. Iambeing a hypocrite. Were Onyx any of my sibling’s new love interest, I would’ve done much worse.
“You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”
I cast her a glance. “What?”
She’s leaned against my doorjamb with her arms crossed over her bosom, a knowing grin on her face. “That’s why you’re pissed off at me,” she says. “Because you’re falling for him.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her conjecture makes me irritated for some reason. “Wejuststarted hanging out.”
