While I was preparing that, Luke was asking Nelson questions about his work.
My brother doesn’t get that a lot, so he was eating it up like cake.
“We should go home.” Joel nudges an elbow into Nelson’s side as they stand in my garden.
We took dessert outside since the scent of smoke is lingering in the air inside.
Nelson tosses his husband a look. “Soon.”
Joel sighs. “I’m tired.”
I know exactly what Joel’s doing. He’s trying to clear out so that Luke and I can be alone.
I appreciate his effort, but judging by the smile on my brother’s face, he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
“I bet you shot right into action when the smoke alarm went off,” Nelson says to Luke. “You knew exactly what to do.”
I’m all about the hero worship going on right now, but it was a burned tart. I’ve had enough of those mishaps in the past that I know how to handle them.
I won’t take this moment away from my brother, though. I secretly like that he’s in awe of Luke.
“My only regret is that I didn’t save the tart.” Luke chuckles.
Joel huffs out a laugh. “Afton will make you another. She can hand-deliver it to your place tomorrow.”
I shift my gaze to my best friend to shoot him a look, but he’s staring at Luke, so my attempt to visually scold him misses the mark.
Luke glances at me. “If you’re up for that, I’ll take care of dinner.”
I feel all eyes glued on me, so I keep my gaze set to Luke’s face. I don’t want to see hope in Nelson’s eyes, or the playful smile that I know will be on Joel’s lips.
I may have wanted to kiss Luke before the smoke alarm interrupted us, but I have no idea if he feels the same way.
He made it clear early on that we’re just friends.
“Joel forgot that I’m working tomorrow night.”
“Dammit,” Joel says under his breath. “That’s right.”
Luke heaves out a noticeable sigh. “Another time then?”
“Sure,” I say with a light-hearted lilt in my tone. “I’ll make a tart for another time, and I promise I won’t burn it.”
“I’m looking forward to that.” Luke shifts his gaze to my brother and Joel. “It was good meeting you, Nelson, and I’m glad we had a chance to talk, Joel.”
Both men smile.
“I’m sure we’ll be seeing you again soon,” Nelson says before Joel can get a word in. “We’re going to head back upstairs, so you have a chance to say goodnight without the two of us hanging around.”
Joel nods in agreement. “Take care, Luke.”
“You too,” Luke offers with a grin.
I walk my brother and Joel out in silence. When we reach the door of my apartment, Nelson turns to look at me. “He’s a good guy, Afton. I like him.”
I fight the urge to say that I like him too because this isn’t the time since I can hear Luke approaching me from behind.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Joel says in a soft tone. “Or not. Shoot me a text if you have company when you wake up.”
Swatting a hand over his arm, I lean in to kiss his cheek before I do the same to my brother. “Goodnight, you two. I love you both.”
Chapter 24
Luke
I watch Afton close the door after saying goodbye to her brother and his husband.
They’re good people. It’s apparent how much they care for Afton.
I felt welcomed by them. There wasn’t any of the expected awkwardness often there when you spend time with people you just met.
Afton spins around to face me. “I didn’t have a chance earlier to thank you for saving the day when I burned our dessert to a crisp.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I smile. “I have every confidence that the tart would have tasted incredible even with charred edges.”
I’ll never know whether that’s true or not since Afton tossed it out while she was preparing her second dessert of the night.
Her hands drop to her hips. “I disagree.”
“When I first started to cook, burned food was all I ate,” I confess. “Until I realized that I couldn’t fuck up sandwiches or boxed cereal.”
Her head bows as a broad smile glides over her lips. “You claim to be a great cook now.”
“Claim?” I spit the word out in a hearty laugh. “I’ll have you know that I got the Martina Calvetti stamp of approval on my cooking.”
Her eyebrows bounce up. “Really? You don’t think there’s a chance that she stamped that approval on you because you’re her grandson?”
I fucking love this.
The teasing is effortless. It feels so damn good to be with her. It’s easy to smile when I’m around her.
“I’ll prove it to you,” I say while trying to keep a stoic expression on my face. I fail hard. “How late do you have to work tomorrow? I’ll throw something together if you want to stop by my place once you’re done.”