She pushes aside the empty carton of ice cream. “Okay. I’m full and happier now and done with the snippy comments,” she says. “For now.”
I go back to my food.
“What’s really going on, Gage?” she asks, her tone gentle this time. “I can tell something is bothering you.”
I feel myself soften. I pick at the pile of noodles on my plate. “Look, I appreciate that you care, but I’m not gonna talk about this with you.”
Her gaze on me narrows, then her brows lift suddenly. “Oh, damn. Something went down. Something…romantic maybe?” Her voice hitches up.
“I swear to god, if you keep at this, I’m leaving.”
She holds up a hand. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” She rests her hand on my arm. “Really. I know I shouldn’t pry, but I can’t help it. You’ve been so secretive ever since…well, you know.”
“No, I don’t. Explain it to me.”
She leans back at the hardness in my tone before exhaling. “You’ve been this way ever since you fell out with your dad, Gage. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
I can feel all the muscles in my torso tighten as I brace myself for whatever my cousin is about to say.
“I know you hate talking about it, so I won’t. I promise. But I just want to say that ever since then, you’ve been really secretive about your work. You don’t talk about it. And you don’t talk about anything personal either. You’ve really clammed up. And when I press you on it, like the stubborn brat you are, you clam up even more. And I get it, I do. But I also want you to know that you don’t have to be like that, not with me. You’re like a brother to me. I don’t give a shit what you do for a living or what you do in your relationships, as long as you’re not hurting anyone. I just want you to be happy.” She grabs my forearm and squeezes, melting the invisible armor I just threw on.
“Thanks, Millie.”
I help her off the stool. She’s standing at the open fridge door, surveying the contents, when I finally speak.
“You’re right. I guess you could say it’s a romantic issue with Becca.”
She spins around to look at me.
“I’m trying to figure it out. I’m not sure how it’ll pan out, but I’ll be okay. Promise.”
“Can you make up with her soon? I’m gonna need you to go back and get me more Sweet Cheeks. Ben & Jerry’s is good, but going back to that after eating Becca’s heavenly ice cream is like going back to ground chuck after you’ve had Wagyu beef,” she says.
I start to chuckle. “I’ll do my best.”
She stands there with an expectant look on her face, clearly waiting for me to say more.
“That’s all I’m going to tell you, Millie. I don’t care how close we are, I’m never, ever talking to you about my sex l—”
She shrieks and cups her hands over her ears. “Gage! Earmuffs! I didn’t meanthatsort of stuff. Please, for the love of god, never tell me about your sex life. I can’t even stomach watching your TikToks.”
I cackle at the horrified look on my cousin’s face. “Hey, you asked.”
“Well, there goes the rest of my appetite.” She winces and rests a hand on her stomach. “And now I have to pee.”
She disappears down the hall. I hear the front door open. Austin walks into the kitchen with his husband Declan.
Austin smiles when he sees me. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Millie had an ice cream craving,” I explain as I hug him and Declan.
Austin rolls his eyes, laughing. “Guess who she roped into hanging the artwork for the nursery?” He and Declan point at themselves.
“Man, she’s really putting all of us to work, isn’t she?” I say.
Declan walks over to my plate ofpansitand helps himself to a bite. “If I had known I’d be tapped for free labor for the rest of my life, I’m not sure I would have married into this family.”
“Oh, please. You absolutely would have. First of all, you’re crazy about me. And second, you get delicious free food for the rest of your life. That’s more than a fair trade.”
