“What’s in the shopping bags?” Cole asks.
I laugh and glance down to where I dropped them at my feet. “Gifts and free samples courtesy of the new head of creative at Zilker.”
“There’s a yoga mat in here,” he says, sounding shocked as he peers inside.
“Yeah, and a new set of yoga clothes from Alo. Apparently she doesn’t want me embarrassing her by showing up to yoga in a ratty tank top.”
Aiden smirks at my quip.
“I haven’t eaten yet—have y’all?”
“We were going to order pizza, but then Aiden got to writing and left me high and dry.”
I shoot Aiden an admonishing glare. “That’s not the way to treat a guest.”
He drags his hand through his hair and shrugs as if to say, Deal with it.
“I’m too hungry to wait for delivery, but I can pop a frozen pizza in the oven if that’s okay with you guys.”
Cole nods and follows me around the island. “That’s great. Here, I can help.”
“She likes cooking,” Aiden says, taking a seat on a stool at the island. “And she’ll get nasty if you try to get in her way.”
It’s true. Aiden and I have worked out a system. I cook. He cleans up afterward. We’ve tried cooking together and it just gets annoying because I’m kind of a control freak when it comes to the kitchen. Even so, I don’t have the heart to tell Cole I don’t want his help, so I suggest he open some wine.
“You could probably use a drink if you’ve been putting up with Aiden all evening.”
In response to this, Aiden leans forward to prop his elbow on the island then drops his chin onto his hand. He arches a brow as if to tell me I’m walking on thin ice. Proceed with caution.
I stick out my tongue at him, and Cole laughs.
“Yeah, well, you know him better than anyone. Do you want me to open this bottle of red or the white?”
“She likes white, especially in summer.”
It’s true, but Cole looks over at Aiden with a funny glance.
I choose to ignore it, instead focusing on preheating the oven and reaching into the cupboard for three wine glasses. Aiden doesn’t love wine, but he’ll drink it if I pour him some. I think he knows I hate drinking alone, and most of the time he puts up with it for a sip or two.
“So how have you been lately, Maddie?” Cole asks. “You look great.”
I laugh, feeling as though I’ve been put on the spot. “Oh, thanks. That’s nice of you to say. They tried some makeup on me at work and I haven’t had time to wash it off.”
I can’t make myself look at Aiden. I’m desperate to know what he thinks of me and the makeup and Cole’s compliment. It’s safer to keep my attention on Cole.
“Seeing anyone new?”
I’m immediately reminded of my argument with Aiden yesterday. I don’t feel like revisiting that territory, so I just shake my head. “No. What about you? Any new girls in your life?”
He rubs the back of his neck and huffs out a breath as if exhausted by the idea of dating. “I joined Tinder, but it’s not really working out.”
“Really? Aiden doesn’t think I should download it.”
“It sounds bad when you say it like that,” Aiden says, defending himself.
“What do you mean? Why?” Cole asks.
I finally give in to the urge to glance at Aiden. He’s looking at the bottle of wine in Cole’s hands, avoiding me.
“He says it’s because he doesn’t want a bunch of random guys coming in and out of our condo.”
“You could always just go to the guy’s place,” Cole points out.
He makes a good point.
“True, and it’s not as if Aiden doesn’t have girls parading in and—”
“Are you going to open that any time soon?” Aiden asks, pushing off his stool to take the bottle out of Cole’s hands. He tries to brush past me to get to the wine key in the drawer I’m standing in front of, but I don’t bother moving to let him by. I’m curious about his mood.
He gives me a mocking glance when I continue to block his way.
I mimic him.
His lips tip into a smirk, and I cross my arms.
Then, fed up with me, he puts the wine bottle on the island, places his hands on my hips, and pivots me around so he can push me back against the counter opposite where I was. I don’t think he meant to put as much force behind it as he does, because I knock against a plate and it rattles in the quiet kitchen. My heart hammers in my chest and my eyes flare up at him. He’s still touching me, his hands at my waist.
An invisible string pulls taut between us and I swear he’s about to say something to me, in front of Cole, but then he shakes his head and turns to retrieve the wine opener.