“Thanks.” I waved her inside. “You can enter the room, you know.”
“Well, you looked like you were about to crash. I wasn’t sure.”
I shook my head. “I’m trying to stay awake until at least nine p.m., but I’m dragging hard.”
“You hungry? I was about to order Chinese food.”
“I’m starving. All I’ve had today is a cheese omelet and a couple of Red Bulls.”
“I gotcha. Please tell me you’re a beef and broccoli fan.”
“You know it,” I said with a laugh. “How have things been here?”
“Cheese has been keeping Zip in the loop about me. I made sure to flirt extra hard with Doctor Patterson in front of Cheese. Made him extremely uncomfortable. It was awesome.”
“So that’s why Zip was in such a shit mood,” I said with a laugh. “He was grumpy as hell.”
“I know I should feel bad about what I’m doing, but I really don’t.”
We wandered out of Colt’s room and I sat down on the couch. Joni took it upon herself to order half the menu. “The guys will be hungry, no doubt.” She hung up the phone and sat down next to me. “I don’t know about you, but I’m going crazy here.”
I nodded. “I feel like a prisoner, which is weird because I know it’s for our own safety, but I can’t help feeling like—well, fuck it. You know?”
“Yup. I’m ready to demand my freedom.”
“I missed karaoke night with Shelly. We usually go once a month.”
“Dude. You sing karaoke?”
“I do.”
“Are you any good?”
“After three tequila shots, who cares?”
She laughed in a way that showed me she had seen a night or two of karaoke in her time. We kept up a steady stream of chatter and the two prospects on duty brought in several bags of Chinese takeout. Joni and I didn’t bother waiting for the guys to finish church—we dug into the food straight from the boxes.
“Why are wontons so freakin’ good?” Joni demanded as she shoved an entire dumpling into her mouth.
“No clue, but I’m inclined to say MSG.”
Joni moaned. “Don’t tell me that. Let’s pretend we’re getting all our vegetables in this one fried food dish.”
“Deal.”
The backdoor opened and the brothers strode inside, looking tense. Not even the sight of Chinese food brought a smile to their faces. Well, except for Boxer, who plopped down next to me and opened his mouth.
“What are you, a baby bird?” I demanded.
“Feed me, Mama,” he pleaded.
I slid a piece of beef between his lips.
“Youactuallyfed him.” Joni grinned.
“I’m afraid he’ll die if I don’t,” I said. “Boxer is the human equivalent of a lab puppy.”
Reap and Gray chuckled, but Colt didn’t show any signs of humor. Instead, he walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed himself a beer. He held it up and I shook my head. Colt closed the fridge and then leaned against the kitchen counter.