I swore I could see steam rising from Nathan’s head. He was used to getting his way. It was easy enough for him at the shop, where he built custom motorcycles with his brothers. They each kinda did their own thing for the most part. Except when they butted heads, and then it really hit the fan. Which was why the Urban Channel had signed them for a second season of their reality show.
Nathan’s fork fell to his plate with a clank. “That’s bullshit. It’s too soon. You need to stay home and recuperate.”
“Nathan, dear.” Wendy leaned across the table with the bowl of mashed potatoes. “Sabrina is a grown woman. If she says she’s ready to return to work, then she’s ready. Drop it.”
Nathan shook his head. “But—”
“Drop. It.” Wendy scooped some potatoes and slapped them onto his plate. “Here. Clearly you need something to fill that mouth of yours. Eat up.”
An awkward silence hummed in the room. I stared at my mashed potatoes in fascination. I bet with a few more, I could build a mountain like that guy in Close Encounters. Anything to avoid the tension in the room. I really hated confrontation.
But after a minute, Nathan reluctantly went back to eating, and conversation started up again.
And still Nathan didn’t say anything to me. Or even look in my direction.
Not that I expected him to.
“Hey Maddie,” Dylan, my other best friend, and Nathan’s brother, nudged my arm. “Did you still want to swing by your place and pick up some clothes?”
I nodded tightly, trying not to draw any attention to myself since my apartment had been a hot topic lately.
But apparently today was not my day.
Nathan’s head snapped up. “Why are you swinging by Maddie’s place? I thought you moved out of that hellhole.”
And now I was the one under the wrath of Nathan Burns. I slumped down in my chair. “Not yet. I haven’t had time to clear the apartment out.”
Mostly because I didn’t want to go back there alone. Not that I would admit as much to Nathan. Now that I had his attention, I quivered like a rabbit in headlights.
It didn’t help that he clearly saw me in the same vein as Sabrina.
Family.
Not girlfriend material at all.
“Well, shit. Let’s get a convoy together and get your shit. I bet between all of us, we could pack up your apartment in one haul.”
Oh my god. I fought to hide the blush that was no doubt staining my cheeks.
“You’re still young enough that we can move you with garbage bags like we did with Sabby last time. Only took like two truckloads, I think. I miss being able to pick up and move like that. Damn, those were the good ol’ days.”
Of course he had to point out our age difference and compare me to his sister. Agony.
I continued to stare doggedly at my plate. I couldn’t trust myself to look at him tonight. Seeing what Sabrina had with Logan, and knowing that Nathan would never feel the same way about me had my feelings a little too close to the surface. “No, we’ve got it.”
I could practically feel his eyes on me. But I knew it wasn’t because he was finally seeing me. He was still pissed that I chose to live with Dylan. When the family found out about me staying on Dylan’s couch, Nathan had offered his guest room up for me. But I couldn’t stand the thought of living in the same place with him and seeing him come home with beautiful woman after beautiful woman. Although in hindsight, staying the condo next door wasn’t exactly the smartest choice. I still had a prime view of the parade of Nathan’s women.
Nathan huffed. “What if your neighbors hassle you?”
I looked at Dylan out of the corner of my eye.
He gave Nathan a baffled look. “Do you think I can’t handle a couple of small-time thugs?”
“Have you looked in the mirror lately?” Nathan drawled. “You look like you’ve lost twenty pounds at least. A stiff breeze would knock you over, let alone a couple dealers.”
“He’s not wrong, Dylan.” Wendy interjected; her brow wrinkled in concern. “I’m worried about you, sweetie. You’ve hardly touched your dinner tonight. Are you feeling all right? Have you been to see your doctor?”
“I’m fine.” Dylan groaned before pushing away from the table with a screech of his chair. “I just decided I don’t want to keep up with the whole muscle building thing you guys are doing for the show. I don’t have time for it. You ready, Maddie?”
I pushed away from the table with a screech of my own chair. Dylan had been my ride here so if he was ready to leave, so was I. “Yeah. Yes. I am. Thank you so much for dinner, Wendy. It was delicious.”
“You guys aren’t staying for dessert?” Wendy asked as she stood as well. “I made your favorite, Dylan. Cherry cheesecake.”
She must’ve been worried about Dylan if she went to the trouble of baking a cheesecake for him. Since her restaurant burned down, though, Wendy had nothing but time on her hands while the arson investigation and the insurance company dug their heels.
“Nah. Thanks though, Aunt Wendy.” Dylan crossed the room to drop a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll swing by tomorrow and grab a slice if there’s any left.”
“There won’t be.” Nathan retorted from his side of the table. “I’ll make sure of it.”
I raised my eyebrows but didn’t say anything as the brothers bickered over dessert and who got how much.
Wendy crossed the room and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “You sure you can’t stay for dessert?”
I smiled wanly. “I don’t think Dylan is in the mood for dessert.”
“Dylan hasn’t been in the mood for
