“If that’s true, I’m making you carry all my furniture over by hand. I’m just happy to be here with you.”
I hold Luke’s head close to me, getting a whiff of citrus. “How the hell do you smell so nice after two flights and thirteen hours?”
He shrugs. “I showered and changed during my layover.”
Of course he did—he’s so resourceful.
“Hello? Erik, are you gonna make me third-wheel again?” Eva asks in English, walking up to us.
Luke laughs. “Again? Is this a common theme for you?”
“Eva hung out with me, Nils, and Silja after a game,” I explain. “She thinks spending time with any couple is third wheeling.”
“Okay, let’s not ignore your sister anymore.” He turns to her. “Hi, you must be Eva.”
“I am. Hi, Luke.” Eva smiles back, and for a split second, warmth buzzes through me at the sight of Luke and my sister getting along well.
And then I see the mischief in her eyes.
Shit.
“Since I’m the only other person in our family who’s here, does that meanIhave to do the whole ‘what are your intentions with Erik’ speech?”
Here we fucking go.
“No,” Luke and I say together.
“I think I will. Luke, what are your intentions with Erik?” she asks.
Leaning over to whisper in Luke’s ear, I smirk. “She’s only sixteen, so don’t go into too much detail about your intentions.”
Luke chokes on a sip of water. “Jesus, Erik. Behave yourself.”
Eva grins. “He never does, but you know that already,” she says. It’s clear she didn’t hear what I said to Luke, and I’m glad.
“So,” Luke starts, “I guess you could say that my intentions are to make Erik behave himself?”
My breath catches in my throat. That soundssowrong.
Thankfully, Eva shrugs it off. “That’s good to hear. Erik is a menace.”
“Eva, I amnota menace, come on.”
Luke snickers into his hand. “You kind of are, but that’s why I love you.” And when he rests on my shoulder and slips his hand into mine, I can only agree.
That’s met with a groan from Eva. “Hey, what did I say? Stop making me a third wheel.”
Luke and I are existing, nothing more. We’re even holding ourselves back from all but the mildest PDA. This is an Eva problem.
Nope, it’s a me problem, apparently, because Luke decides to throw me under the bus.
“Sorry, Eva, affection is one of the things that I pay Erik for. He needs to meet his end of the bargain.”
Where the hell did that come from? I didn’t tell him about Eva’s sugar daddy joke from two months ago.
Eva doubles over in laughter, joined by a quieter but still amused Luke, and I accompany the two of them in absolute silence.
If I’m a menace, it’s because I’m surrounded by them.
