Some of us work normal hours, you vampire.
Arden sent a doodle of a fanged face, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Arden was a night owl who got so caught up in her work she could forget to eat, sleep, or step outside for some fresh air.
Trace
How are Sutton and Luca doing?
A bite of jealousy grabbed hold at my brother asking about them. I shoved it down as I slid the scramble onto two plates that already held wheat toast. Sutton and Luca deserved all the people in their corner they could get.
Me
Good. Speedy and I are just about to have breakfast and hit the ice. Sutton’s already at the bakery.
She was used to those early morning hours, but I hated the ideaof her driving the winding country roads in the dark. Some deranged part of me wanted to hire her a driver. Or, even better, a night nanny to stay with Luca whileIdrove Sutton to the bakery.
Rhodes
I’m so glad she’s staying with you. Spoil them a little, would you? They deserve it.
Shep
Don’t think that’ll be an issue. A little birdie told me Cope already got a trampoline for the backyard and all the pastry accessories someone would need to turn his kitchen into a bakery.
My back teeth ground together as my fingers flew across the screen.
Me
Tell Thea she’s a traitor.
I could see my siblings laughing at me in my mind. Flipping the chat toDo Not Disturb, I shoved my phone into my pocket and carried the plates to the table. “Heading out of zombie land yet?” I asked.
Luca’s gaze lifted from his placemat, and he muttered something I couldn’t quite understand. But the second I set the plate down, he started shoveling bites into his mouth.
“Easy there, killer. Your mom is gonna be really peeved if you choke on my watch.”
Luca grinned, showing bites of a half-eaten scramble. “It’s so good. Don’t tell her, but you’re a way better cook.”
I laughed. “Your secret is safe with me.”
The truth was, I loved cooking for Luca and Sutton. I got the occasional chance to do it for my family, but most of the time I cooked just for me. And something about that felt a bit empty.
The sound of my doorbell cut through the early morning silence, and Luca’s head popped up. “Who’s here? It’s barely morning.”
I chuckled as I pushed to my feet. “It’s a surprise.”
Luca’s eyes lit. “Like a puppy?”
I froze. “You want a puppy?”
“I’ve been asking Momforever, but in our last apartment, we weren’t allowed.” He frowned. “Probably our next one we won’t beallowed either. But you could get one. Look at all the places he would have to play.”
Fuck.This kid deserved a dog. A pet was a rite of passage. I hated the idea that Luca wouldn’t get one.
But I shoved those thoughts down for now. “No dogs today, but you might like this surprise better.”
Luca followed me out of the kitchen and toward the entryway. I punched in the alarm code and flipped the lock, opening the front door.
Teddy’s lean form filled the doorway as he grinned at me. “Damn good to see you, brother.”
