Page 79 of Burnout
His innocent touch sends a rush of heat to my skin. I remember exactly what those hands can do.
In the living room, I can immediately pick out the youngest brother. He has a baby face and messy, reddish-brown hair. His cheeks are ruddy, and he’s quiet but sneaking glances at me. The other two stand.
The taller of them wears a playful smirk as he steps forward and loud whispers, “Did he force you here? Blink twice if you’re under duress.”
I hear Knox groan behind me, and his hands fall away from my shoulders. He edges in front of me and pushes his brother away with a playful shove. He’s signing again. This time as he talks. “Thank you all for making this super uncomfortable. Now you know why I don’t bring people here.”
His brother snickers. “I’m Brogan, and don’t worry, we won’t hold it against you that you’re hanging out with this asshole.”
Knox shakes his head and sighs like he’s annoyed, but there’s an ease in his stance being here. “That’s Archer, you met Hendrick in the kitchen, and this is Flynn.”
“Hi,” I say again, waving and moving my gaze around the room.
When Knox nudges Flynn’s foot and asks about school and practice, the rest of the room goes back to ignoring us.
“Sorry about that.” Jane appears next to me with two glasses of wine. “It’s just, there’s a lot of testosterone in this house. I got excited about another girl in the house. A peace offering, or whatever you call it when you want to apologize for coming on too strong.”
I can’t help but smile back at her. I take the wine just so she doesn’t feel bad, but after I take a sip, I feel a little more at ease.
“Are you two staying for dinner?” she asks me.
Knox isn’t listening, so I shake my head. “I’m not sure.”
“We’re making plenty if you do.”
“Can I help with anything?” I ask.
“Oh no, we’ve got it. Knox used to cook for us every night but since he’s started working out with you, Hendrick and I have made it our thing. It’s kind of fun.”
I try to picture Knox cooking, but can’t.
Jane walks over to the couch where Brogan is sitting and pushes his leg. “Move over and make room for Avery to sit down.”
I start to protest, but Jane doesn’t look like someone who is used to being told no. Brogan moves over without a second thought, eyes glued to the TV. He and Archer are playing some sort of video game.
I sit with my wine.
Brogan leans back into the couch. His shoulder brushing against mine. He’s a big guy, broader than the others. “I’m surprised we haven’t run into you on campus.”
“You go to Valley?” I wrap my hands around the top of the glass.
“Yep,” Brogan says. “Me and Archer, and Jane.”
“Really?”
He nods. “Seniors. What about you?”
“Sophomore.”
Something about Jane finally snaps into place. “Wait. Jane is…”
“Ivy Greene,” Brogan finishes for me with a proud smile. “Yep.”
“Knox never said.” Ivy Greene, or Jane Greenfield, is a Valley U icon. She was a child TV star and now she goes here. I’ve never seen her on campus, so I was almost convinced she wasn’t real.
“Something tells me there’s a lot Knox doesn’t say. Unless he’s a lot chattier with you than he is with us.”
Brogan nudges Archer next to him and signs something. Archer nods. Knox also never mentioned one of his brothers is Deaf. He didn’t mention a lot of things, I guess. Not that I expected him to spill his guts to some girl he’s only known for a month, but being here I already feel like I understand him better.
