“She needs to do her taxes for the first year,” River says, nodding in my direction as though he’s trying to communicate something unsaid.
“Really,” I say. “Well, I can help you with that.”
“Mark’s the geek of the family,” Tobias says with an affectionate grin.
“No one complains when it comes to needing my help, though, do they?”
“Exactly,” River says.
“You’d do that?” Cora asks, the surprise evident in her voice.
“Sure. Why not?” I flick the blender on, watching all the bright colors merge with the protein powder and almond milk. “I was going to hit the gym, but maybe after. You could come with me if you like. I have a guest pass.”
As Cora shovels in another mouthful of pancake, she looks first at my breakfast and then at hers. I guess the gym isn’t a place she frequently visits, not that it shows in her body. The girl has sweet curves for days. “Actually, that would be great. I think I need an outlet today.”
I need an outlet too. An outlet for the rage I felt last night, and the urge I felt toward Cora. When Tobias embraced her, I wanted it to be me. I wanted to wipe away her tears and tell her everything will be alright. I wanted her to know that I’m someone she can rely on. Instead, I had to watch my brother take on that role.
And anyway, she doesn’t need us hovering around her with sex on our minds. She needs people who’ll support her. At the very least, we need to not make things worse.
“Don’t get drawn into competing with him,” Tobias warns Cora. “He’s ridiculously competitive about his gym routine. The dude could do triathlons if he ever got his head out of work.”
“You wait until you graduate,” I say. “There’s no time for hobbies. It’s all just grind.”
“Tell me about it,” Cora says. “Sometimes I dream about going back to the days when all I had to worry about was showing up to cheer training on time and finishing assignments.”
“Did you used to wear those little outfits?” River asks, seemingly forgetting what happened last night. I brace for Cora to rail at him for being sexist, but she just rolls her eyes.
“Seriously, dude,” she says, stuffing the last of her pancake into her mouth and chewing messily. “It’s about the routines, not the outfits.”
“That’s not what the girls say about our tight pants,” he laughs.
Cora cocks an eyebrow. “I think I’d have to see that to judge either way.”
“Either way, what?” Tobias asks.
“Whether the tight pants are anything worth writing home about.”
We all laugh, mainly because we’re brothers, and we know there’s a lot to write home about. Let’s just say the Carlton men have been blessed with good genes in all the departments that count.
“We have a game tomorrow,” River says. “Maybe you should come to check it out.”
“Maybe she should stay home and avoid checking it out,” I say, licking cool smoothie from my top lip.
“Sounds like you’re jealous, man,” River says, cocking a dark and knowing brow, but I return a withering look because seriously, doesn’t he realize how inappropriate all of this sounds?
“I’ll be ready to leave in around ten minutes,” I tell Cora. “Meet you by the front door?”
“Sure.” She slides from the high stool and rests her plate by the sink. “See you,” she calls to River and Tobias, who nod and smile broadly as she leaves the kitchen.
As I shake my head, they both say ‘What?’ at the same time, shrugging their shoulders with matching denial. I roll my eyes. “I’ve got whiplash from the change in relations in this house.”
“Hey, don’t knock it.” Tobias forks the last of his egg and picks up his cup of coffee to wash it down. “I hated seeing Cora upset last night, but she seems better today, and that’s all that matters. If we’ve reached a state of peacefulness, then I’m all for trying to maintain it.”
“Me too,” I say. “But just make sure you’re not pushing too much in the other direction.”
“And what direction would that be?” River asks, pausing with a large forkful as he eyes me with interest.
“The direction that involves hinting at the impressive size of your junk. That girl has had enough douchebags in her life. She doesn’t need more.”
“She was laughing,” River says, popping the food into his mouth.
“She was being polite.” I rinse out my glass, leaving it for Mrs. Henderson. The scent of eggs and bacon in the kitchen makes me hungry, but I want to work out before indulging in proper food.
“I’ll take polite over fish in my closet any day,” Tobias says. “Anyway, we’re not the ones inviting Cora to come and get sweaty with us.”
“It’s the gym,” I protest.
“And the gym is never a place where people hook up.”