Page 28 of Cinnamon Strudel
“You looked happy with her.”
“Until you idiots dragged her away.”
“Crossed a line?”
“Edged really close to it.”
“Sorry.”
He shrugged, setting his phone down and searching for his bag. “So, now that you’ve officially met her, you still approve?” he asked once he’d taken a drink.
“You better not mess this shit up because that woman is on fire. If you don’t marry her, one of us will.”
Morgan let out a huff and shook his head. “Sounds like you two need to step up your game now.”
Alexander’s usual playful reply felt flat as silence built. “What if I told you that there’s someone you don’t know about?”
There was a seriousness in Alexander’s voice that gave Morgan a pause. “I would tell you that I’m here to listen whenever you’re ready.”
“Fucking double standard, isn’t it?” His brother’s words dripped of sarcasm, but Morgan didn’t need sight to know that something was eating his brother up. “Me stalking your girlfriend while I keep my own relationship a secret.”
“I’m sure you have your reasons.”
“Yeah: I’m a fucking coward.”
Morgan didn’t know what to say, he wasn’t used to this side of his brother. “Do you want to come over tomorrow? I can text you once Ruby leaves.”
“Yeah, sure.”
With a grunt Alexander stalked off, leaving him rather puzzled. They weren’t really known to keep secrets, especially not big ones like a serious relationship, but before he could spiral, Ruby called his name.
“How are your nerves? Ready to try again?”
And with that he was back on the ice, feeling more confident than the first time.
After another few laps and Ruby’s fingers turning colder by the minute, they finally stepped off the rink to remove their skates.
“So, is this one of those things we can repeat someday?” Ruby asked once she’d returned their rentals.
“Very much so.”
“We better be invited,” Manuel insisted.
He already had an answer on his tongue, but Ruby beat him to it. “Only if you behave.”
“Are you this bossy to everyone?”
“Cake helps,” Rhett offered. Morgan heard a smack followed by a gasp, and snickered—Ruby must have served instant revenge.
There was more bickering on the way out, with hugs exchanged once they stepped out onto the parking lot. Before Alexander could slink off after the others, Morgan pulled him back by his arm. “I’ll text you tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” and though Morgan didn’t like the way it sounded, he let his brother go.
“You two okay? You seemed rather serious earlier,” Ruby asked as she walked him back to the car.
“I don’t know… I’ll see him tomorrow after you leave for work—maybe he’ll talk then.”
“I don’t mind giving you some privacy tonight.”
