Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
I smirked and bumped my shoulder against his.
“Luckily, I’m clinically sane,” I assured him before leaning forward so that I could see Garrett. “I didn’t know you guys could cook. Quite a few guys I dated only knew how to throw a frozen pizza into the oven.”
Gabe and Garrett shared an amused look before shaking their heads.
“We prefer to be more self-reliant than that,” Garrett replied before gesturing around. “The house actually looked pretty sad before we moved in. I had to do a lot of repairs.”
My eyes swept over the kitchen, now noticing the gleam of the polished wooden cabinets and what looked like a brand-new windowpane in the kitchen window. I remembered him being in a workshop class back in high school. Meanwhile, Gabe was cracking people up with an unforgettable stand-up comedy routine in the school’s talent show.
“It looks really nice,” I said, enjoying the warm atmosphere that settled around us as we chatted while dinner cooked.
Once everything was plated, we all took a seat around the wooden, oval-shaped dining table next to the kitchen. Gabe sat to my right at the end of the table, while Garrett took a seat across from me and placed a glass of water next to my plate.
“Thank you,” I expressed sincerely as I looked between them.
Wow, things had changed. But we were older and more mature now. Arguments and conflicts in the past seemed so petty now.
“What have you guys been up to since graduation?” I wondered as we got to eating. As expected, the chicken was juicy and flavorful with hints of garlic and paprika, while the mashed potatoes were just as fluffy as I liked them.
“I was a mechanic for a while,” Garrett replied. “I like to work with my hands.”
Oh, how simple of a human being I was. My eyes immediately darted to his hands, admiring the length of his fingers and how his knuckles were slightly scuffed. He certainly did work with his hands.
“I worked at the gym until I went into the fire academy,” Gabe answered. He must’ve worked out while off his shift because the muscle tone in his arms was impressive. “And you left town to be a journalist.”
“We didn’t think we would see you again. Glad we were wrong,” Garrett commented as he cut into his chicken breast, his eyes briefly meeting mine.
Something stirred low in my stomach whenever I felt their eyes on me. Even when I couldn’t stand them in high school, there was a twisted part of me that always found them attractive, but I never allowed those desires to become more than fantasies. That was even harder now because I could stand them.
Truthfully, I liked them. They seemed like good guys.
“Me too,” I agreed, passing them a smile before taking a bite of my mashed potatoes.
“You should come by for dinner again,” Gabe told me as we started to finish up. “My brother is great, but I’m sure we both wouldn’t mind some new company.”
Garrett smirked and gave his younger brother’s arm a light push.
I cracked an amused smile and shrugged in a teasing manner.
“Maybe. It’s definitely cozy in here,” I replied before glancing at my phone, my eyes widening. “It’s already past midnight!”
“Time flies when you’re having fun,” Gabe quipped before standing to collect everyone’s plates. “Sure you want to leave? It’s nice and warm in here and cold out there.”
“You should stay. I don’t want you to drive if you’re tired,” Garrett insisted as his eyes met mine. Those bold, dark eyes. How could his words sound like an order and a kind suggestion at the same time?
“I don’t want to put you guys out,” I denied him as I shook my head. They already went out of their way to make dinner for me.
Garrett shook his head back and rose to his feet.
“Gabe has some old clothes you can change into,” he told me. “You can take my room.”
I got up and walked around the table toward him.
“If I’m going to stay, I’m not taking anyone’s bed. Besides, your couch looked super comfy,” I stated in an equally firm voice.
Garrett held my gaze, his brow slightly furrowing like he wanted to argue. He then sighed as the side of his mouth turned up.
“I’ll get you some blankets and a pillow,” he told me before walking off.
My heart fluttered as I walked to the living room in a trance, thinking about the way he towered over me. How it felt like he was looking into my soul. Gabe’s warmth and inviting nature made it that much harder to deny their request. It looked like I was staying the night.
Gabe and Garrett met me in the living room. While Garrett made up the dark blue, polyester couch for me, Gabe walked over to me with a white t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants.