“Jules, will you run and pick up dinner?”
“Absolutely. In the mood for anything?”
He shakes his head. After grabbing what I need to make my run, I kiss him softly and go on my way. I don’t want to be gone long. I just run to the nearest restaurant, grab some grub, and head back. Unfortunately, Cal pokes his head out of his apartment as I’m walking to Collin’s door.
“What do you want?” I ask.
“You will not come between me and my brother again, Julie. I don’t know what you think you’re doing here, but you will not ruin my relationship with Collin.”
With a sweet smile, I reply, “You don’t have to worry about me ruining your relationship with Collin.
I’m sure you’ll do that all on your own, Cal.” I quickly enter the apartment to avoid further conversation.
Collin lies on the couch, knocked out from the mentally draining day, and Marmalade sits on the back of it, his tail swishing and flicking back and forth. I place our food on the kitchen bar, sit, and eat my meal. I won’t wake him; he deserves to sleep. My concern for him has grown tenfold since this morning. He’s in such serious trouble. Hopefully, the time off the team is giving him, plus seeing two therapists, will really help him.
After I eat, I curl up in his recliner and doze off. Who knew I would be as tired as Collin.
The sensation of being lifted wakes me.
“Just carrying you to bed,” Collin whispers. “Thanks for supper.”
“Any time.” I nuzzle my face deeper into his neck, even as he lowers me to the bed.
He chuckles and manages to climb into bed without me having to move. “Don’t start a war with him, Julie,” he says with a bit of heaviness.
I lift my head. “Cal?”
He nods. “If he tries to stir shit up, or says something out of the way to you, don’t say a word back to him.” I open my mouth, ready to fire away, but he lays a finger over my lips. “No more glares either. Don’t contribute to the war, Julie, because he’ll make it one and then I’ll be miserable.”
“Okay,” I reluctantly agree. He kisses my forehead in appreciation. “Can they really not trade one of you without the other?”
Collin seems a bit ashamed. “I really don’t think I could handle a career like this unless I had him as backup, as support for my bad days.”
Before I can stop myself, the words flow right out of my mouth. “Or maybe he’s a crutch for you and you should have a tiny bit of separation.”
“How about we let my shrinks figure that one out?” The tips of his fingers drag along my side, causing a shiver to run down my spine. “It’s been a long day; you’re amazing; and I want to focus on the best part of my life right now: the fact that you’re here.” His mouth blazes a trail down my body until he reaches my sweetest spot. If pleasuring me is what Collin wants to focus on, I most certainly won’t stop him.
The next morning, I shower and pick out the best clothes for my first interview. Collin isn’t in his room when I come out of the bathroom, but I find him once I enter the main room. His eyes meet mine from across the room and he smiles hopefully.
Cal is here cooking breakfast.
Without skipping a beat, I walk confidently and comfortably over to Collin.
“Morning, Jules,” he murmurs as he leans in and kisses me softly. “What time do you have to leave?”
“In about fifteen minutes,” I answer, trying not to eye Cal. What is he doing over here already?
A plate clatters onto the bar in front of me, nearly sending eggs flying off the plate. “Eat before you go,” Cal says blandly. He’s made French toast, eggs, and bacon.
Collin grabs my hips and forces me to sit. “See? You two can get along just fine.”
Except Cal is only doing this to wiggle his way back into Collin’s good graces. It’s not sincere. But I begin to eat because the twins watch and wait for me to do so.
“What’s your job anyway?” Cal asks, apparently now trying to make nice with chit-chat once everyone is eating.
“Dental hygienist.”
He nods. Collin rests a hand on my thigh in approval. “Where is your interview?”