Laughing, I took a big bite of my hamburger and then moaned.
I hadn’t realized just how hungry I was.
Pairing the last few hours with the hour before that I spent underneath Zee? Yeah, I was completely and utterly ravenous.
“You running still?” Cabe asked.
I nodded, swallowing my large bite of hamburger before I said, “Sure am. I’m up to twelve miles this week. I’m running that tomorrow, by the way. You up for a couple of miles?”
Cabe pursed his lips. “My long run day is Saturday. If I run with you tomorrow, I’ll be tired Saturday. Sorry, but no.”
“It’s his recovery day,” Aunt Brittany said. “He ran and lifted weights today, and if he runs with you, he’ll blow out his legs and then whine because he did too much.”
I snickered. “Uncle Cabe whine? No!”
Channing started to laugh at that, causing me to look at her.
“You look good, Chan,” I said to her. “How’s your husband doing?”
Channing practically beamed. “Loki’s doing great. He solved a murder case that’s a couple years old just a few days ago, and we celebrated last night. I swear to God, I’m tired as hell. I can’t remember drinking all night being this hard on me a few years ago.”
Brittany snickered. “Just wait. One day you’ll go from being able to drink a glass of wine with dinner, and following up with one for dessert, and the next you’ll be going to bed before dessert even arrives.”
I smiled and was just about to say something in reply to that when the door to my aunt’s office opened and Zee poked his head in.
I hated the way that my heart did an erratic titter the moment he came into my sight.
“Um,” I hesitated. “Hey, Zee. What’s up?”
He looked around, stared at the spread of food in front of me, and then nodded once. “Just making sure that you ate. The girl at the front said to come down here. She said you ate, but I just wanted to make sure.”
His thoughtfulness washed over me, and I had the urge to walk over there and peck him on the lips.
“Who are you?” Cabe asked.
There was no annoyance that a random man had shown up in his wife’s place of business. Only curiosity.
“Ezekiel,” he held out his hand. “I’m the guy that gave this one a ride.”
He came farther into the room, and it was then that I saw the bag he had behind his back. A food bag.
“You bought me food?”
Zee’s eyes came to me. “Actually, I bought myself food. To eat tonight. I was on the way to the cottage, and then I thought maybe I should ask before I went all the way home.” He looked over at Cabe. “You’re going to take her home with you?”
Cabe nodded. “Yes. Or Brittany will. Either way, she’ll get there.”
Zee nodded once, and I felt a chord of discontent flow through me at not being able to stay with him tonight.
“Actually,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. “If you’ll wait, I’ll just come with you. No offense or anything, Uncle Cabe, Aunt Brittany. But I’d like to sleep on a bed, and that cottage has extras.” Lies. All lies. “I love your couch, but my back’s stiff from riding the bike all the way here today.”
More lies.
Shit.
I was so going to hell for that one.
Cabe nodded in understanding.
When their last child moved out of the house, Cabe and Brittany moved to the lake and into a tiny house. It was great—for them. Anybody else that wanted to stay over? They had to take the couch, and although it was nice and comfortable, it was a good reason to use not to stay over with them.
Though granted, technically if Brittany decided to drop me off or pick me up, she’d likely see that the cottage was roughly the same size.
But I was counting on Zee to pick up my drift, which he did without missing a beat a few moments later.
“I can wait,” he said, sounding bored.
I patted the seat that was next to me.
“Sit then, loser.”
Cabe choked on his drink.
Zee narrowed his eyes at me.
“I don’t understand why you open your mouth,” he said, eyes pointing in my direction. “You’re acting like a child.”
“I’m not a child.” I licked mayo off one finger. “Eat your food.”
He narrowed his eyes even more, this time focused solely on my tongue.
“Zee as in Ezekiel McGrew, Gordon McGrew’s son, and the boy Annmarie was dating?” Cabe asked suddenly.
My eyes were practically ripped away from Zee as my uncle said those words.
I instantly felt cold as I lost his heated gaze. I knew the moment he looked away.
“Yes,” Zee didn’t lie. He was never good at it, either. “I am.”
“I heard you were in the same town as this one.” He gestured to me, but his eyes were all on Zee. “I didn’t realize y’all were on speaking terms, however. Gordon always makes it sound like y’all hate each other.” He paused. “I guess I can see that now.”