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He nods. “So no more faking?”
“No. I mean, yes, we’re still faking it.”
“But she stayed the night?”
I lift Lacey to my lips and kiss her forehead, buying myself some time. “She made me dinner. When I got home last night, she was there. She said I’ve been working so many hours, that she wanted me to have something better than takeout for dinner. We had dinner and watched a movie. She fell asleep, so she stayed. It was late, and I didn’t want to worry about her driving home in the middle of the night.” That’s me being a good friend. Not the man who relished the feel of her in his arms as he carried her to his bed.
“You don’t have a guest room. Not a furnished one.”
“Nope.”
“You don’t look like a man who spent the night scrunched up on his couch.”
“Because I’m not.” I turn to face him, and he’s my twin. He knows, but he’s going to ask me anyway because he wants me to admit it out loud.
“I know you didn’t make her sleep on the couch. That’s not who we are.”
“Nope.”
“So she slept in your bed with you?”
“She did.” There’s no point in denying it. Maverick would be able to see right through my bullshit.
He grins. “How was that?”
“It was... not what I expected,” I confess as images of kissing her last night and holding her in my arms flash through my mind.
“You’re into her.”
“She’s gorgeous. Who wouldn’t be?” I’m deflecting. We both know it, but thankfully, Ada insists I read her a story. She climbs up beside me on the couch, handing me the book. With Lacey in one arm, the book in the other, and with Ada tucked into my side, I read my niece her story. By the time I’m done, she’s fast asleep, as is her baby sister, her baby brother, and my brother. Everyone is sleeping peacefully. I manage to slip out from under Ada without waking her and place Lacey in the Pack ’N Play, before carrying Ada to her room. Next, I take Ryan from Maverick. He wakes with a jolt.
“Go to bed. I’ve got this.” He nods, sleepily rises from the couch, and heads to his room. I lay Ryan next to Lacey and pull out my phone, snapping a few pictures. Before I can stop myself, I send a few to Courtney.
Me: Everyone is sleeping but me.
Courtney: You have that effect.
I grin down at my phone. I know she’s thinking about last night.
Me: What can I say? I’ve got skills.
Courtney: So he says.
Her message is followed by a winking emoji.
Me: I can prove it.
Courtney: This got way off track fast.
Me: Are you mad?
Courtney: No.
Me: Do you want me to show you?
I hit Send before I can think better of it. It’s similar to what I asked her last night, but we were in the moment, in my bed, huddled under the covers in the dark of night. It was easier for her to give me her “okay” than it will be now.
Courtney: Okay.
