Unspoken Vow (Steele Brothers 2)

I want to cock my eyebrow in challenge, because a few extra minutes won’t kill him or the dojo or Law. I want to call him on his skittish behaviour, but I’m so out of my depth, I don’t know if that will push him away more.

“I’m sure you’ve got work to do anyway, right?” Anders’ hopeful tone tells me all I need to know.

And I mean, he is right. I always have stuff I could work on. I brought my work laptop home with me last night so I could go over some case files, but I don’t want Anders to walk out that door without resolving anything.

I nod. “I do have work to do, but it can wait. If you can—”

“I’ll just see you there this afternoon. It’s fine. I’ll save you a spot in Law’s class.”

Great, I’m back to getting fake smiles.

* * *

When I turn up to Law’s dojo a few hours later, Anders is nowhere to be seen.

Shocking.

Part of me wants to slip out of here before I’m spotted, but no dice.

The second I turn my back to walk out the door, Law’s voice hits my ears. It sends a shiver through me, because it sounds exactly like the voice I hoped would be here.

“Chickening out?”

Ugh. I cannot deal with Law’s smugness right now. From the way Anders talks about his brother, I get the feeling Law doesn’t mean to be smug, but it still pisses me off. It makes me want to yell, I want your brother not your boyfriend, Mr. Egotistical.

Still, I plaster on my mocking smirk because I’m me, and I actually kind of enjoy the tension between Law and me. He’s fun to piss off, and it’s only fair to make him as mad as he makes me.

I turn to him. “Chickening out of what?”

“The free class.” He frowns. “Did Reed tell you about it?”

Tempting to say yes, but I’m not that mean. “Anders, actually.”

Oh, hello. Law’s jaw hardens, and he glares at me. I haven’t had that big a reaction since he first found out I used to date Reed.

“Living with him going well, then?”

“Wouldn’t you know? You guys talk about everything.”

“He says it’s going fine.”

“Fine?” I mockingly exclaim. “All I get is fine? I need to up my roommate game.”

Law loses the tension in his shoulders and finally relaxes a little. I find it interesting his mood reacts off mine. We’ll probably have to clear our bad blood one day, but not today.

“Where is Anders, anyway? He said he’d meet me here.”

Law opens his mouth, but nothing comes out.

That can’t be good.

“Uh, he, uh … he should be back later. He had to step out for a bit.”

Shit. “Did he have a panic attack?”

Law’s eyes widen. “How … I mean, he …”

“He told me what happened to him. He kind of had to when he punched me for trying to wake him from a nightmare.”

More surprise on Law’s face until he smiles to cover it. “Is that what happened there?” He points to my eye which isn’t so much bruised now but yellowish.

“Okay, I’m starting to think you guys don’t talk as much as I thought. This happened last week.”

“We don’t talk as much as we used to,” he mutters.

Aw, dammit. I don’t want to feel sorry for the guy.

“Maybe that’s a good thing.”

When he scowls, I continue.

“Anders has relied on you for so long. Maybe it’s good he’s doing something on his own.”

“Do you and Reed talk about Anders and me often? You sound just like him.”

Again, I want to say yes, because it’s like a reflex to drive Law crazy. I think it’s because I’m protective of Reed, and Law messed with him when they first got together. But if I want whatever is happening with Anders and me to work out, I have to play nice with his brother.

“I haven’t spoken to Reed for a while, but Anders told me.”

“How close are you guys?”

Mutual orgasms this morning is probably the wrong answer here.

“Nothing forces two people to get to know each other faster than living together.”

“Guess that’s true.”

Reed appears from the back office. “Hey! I didn’t realise you were coming.”

“Anders invited me. And then disappeared, it seems.”

Reed smiles.

Aw fuck no. I know that look. Reed wants something from me. “Whatever you’re thinking, the answer is no.”

“I was thinking Law needs an inexperienced assistant to demonstrate moves for the class.”

“No,” both Law and I say at the same time.

Reed pouts, and he looks utterly ridiculous, but one glance at Law and I know we’re doing this. Guess one thing we have in common is being unable to say no to Reed.

“Fine,” I mumble.

“Can’t wait.” Law’s voice has an edge to it.

The place is mostly set up for the afternoon festivities, and people start arriving. Reed greets everyone at the door, while Law does the finishing touches.