Ember
I stare at the sketches on the kitchen table and sip my coffee, trying to decide on fabric colors. My mind keeps replaying last night, and I touch my lips remembering the kiss Robbie gave me when he dropped me off at my car. The feel of his mouth still lingers on mine.
Cruz walks in, followed by Alex, both wearing flannel pajama bottoms. I can’t help but smile.
“What are you smiling about?” Alex squeezes my shoulder and goes to the coffee pot.
I don’t respond but point between the two.
“Not talking this morning?” Cruz asks.
“Do you really want to hear what I have to say? I can’t believe you cornered Robbie yesterday. What exactly did you say?”
“Oh, don’t get your panties in a bunch. It was just a friendly chat.”
“Were you trying to embarrass me?”
“No, it was a good talk. Stop stressing. I had questions. He had answers. It’s all good.”
“Cruz—”
“Don’t say anything else, Ember. You may not realize this, but big brothers look out for their little sisters all the time. Robbie respected me for it.”
“But I’m not your little sister!”
He raises one eyebrow, challenging me to go further, but I snap my mouth shut.
“Don’t be too hard on him, Little Star. I encouraged it too. We wanted to know his intentions were solid. This is the first guy you have shown interest in. It’s not lost on us that the other guys you’ve gone out with were nowhere near long term material. Robbie is.”
“Are you going to tell me what you talked about?”
“Nope, it’s not really relevant. Did he treat you differently?”
I drop my head to the table and nod. “Yes, but in a good way. We went out to dinner and talked for hours. Your little chat led to him telling me about his first confrontation with Declan Collins when he found out Raven was dating him. The night seemed to fly by, and when he took me back to my car, he asked to see me again tomorrow.”
“So all of this is good.” Alex pats me on the head.
“Yeah, but being with him is so easy for me. He asked me to call him when I got home. I tried to tell him I would text, but he said he wanted to hear my voice.”
“Smooth, that’s a smooth move.” Cruz whistles.
I sit back and cross my arms, glaring at him. “That wouldn’t have anything to do with your talk, would it?”
“Honestly, no, he came up with that on his own.”
I stare at him for a minute before deciding I believe him and let the whole thing go. The truth that it led me to my first kiss with Robbie doesn’t need to be discussed either.
“Oh, shit, from that dreamy look on your face, I can tell something happened. I’m afraid to ask what.”
“Then don’t, because I’m not telling you.”
“You will. You always do.”
I shrug and sip my coffee. “As aggravated as I am with you, your advice is needed. Do you think it’s weird to ask him to come here tomorrow night and I cook?”
“AKKK! I thought you liked this guy? Why the hell would you want to poison him with your cooking?” Cruz’s horrified expression makes me want to throw something at him.
“You asshole! I can cook!”