Page 86 of Coming Up Roses
She curls into me, expanses of her warm, bare skin against mine.
“Sweet dreams, Flynn,” she whispers to my shoulder, then presses the softest kiss there.
My arm reflexively tightens around her. “Goodnight, Abi.”
Then we sleep, both of us, so tangled up in the other I can barely tell where one of us begins and the other ends.
And I’m not just talking about our bodies.
There’sa banging coming from somewhere, but I’m too busy nestling into the delicious warmth of my bed.
“What the fuck is that noise?” Abi mutters and I let out a soft chuckle.
“Flynn! I’m coming in so you’d better make sure you’ve got clothes on.” The voice shouts from the front door.
“Okay, so that’s my brother.”
“Oh, shit.” Abi throws back the duvet, then hunts for her clothes. She pulls on her underwear, then the t-shirt of mine she’d worn last night. “I had the pleasure of meeting him last night.”
I roll out of bed and narrow my eyes at her. “Was he a dick?”
“No. Just … he’s not like you is he?”
I let out a laugh, but it’s not particularly amused. “An irresponsible idiot? Nah, not really. Hunter very much has his shit together.”
“I meant fun and happy.”
I toss her a pair of sweatpants. I’m not particularly concerned about Hunter catching an eyeful of me, but I’d rather he didn’t make Abi feel uncomfortable. She’s just tugging them into place when Hunter hollers through the door again.
“Time’s up. Hope you’re not naked.”
At least he’s prevented me from having to reply to Abi’s comment, because I have no idea what I’m supposed to say to that. She didn’t acknowledge me saying Hunter has his shit together and implying I don’t, so does that mean she also doesn’t think I have my shit together? I mean, I know I said it, but it still kind of stings. I’m too wrung out from emotions and the most incredible sex to ever happen to deal with all this today.
The door creaks as it swings open and Hunter steps inside. I’ve managed to get my own underwear on, and a pair of jeans halfway up my thighs when his gaze lands on me.
“Didn’t I give you enough time?” he asks, tone as grouchy as ever.
“I was asleep,” I mutter.
Hunter scans the room, eyes landing on Abi. “Asleep. Sure. Late night, huh?”
“Uh, I’ll leave you to it,” Abi says, folding her dress over her arm and holding it against her body like a shield. “I’ll see you later. Hunter.” She gives him a nod as she passes my brother and steps outside before I have the chance to reply.
“Why are you here so early?” I mutter once the door is closed.
“I stayed at Violet’s. You’d know that if you bothered to turn up to dinner.”
“I was working.”
“Like Vi gives a fuck about the crop. Family is what matters to her. You know that better than anyone.”
“Did you just come here to be an asshole, or did you have an actual purpose in mind?”
He sighs and runs a hand over his face, rubbing at the stubble on his jaw. “I came to check on my little brother. I didn’t realise I would be interrupting.”
“You weren’t interrupting anything. Abi’s my friend. She brought me some dinner.” And then fucked my brains out. Probably shouldn’t tell my brother that part though, even if I kind of do want to shout it from the rooftops because holy shit, it was the best moment of my life.
“I’m aware.” He talks to me like he’s talking to a child. “You think that’s really a good idea? To have her spending the night?”
