“You made dinner?” He arches a brow in disbelief.
“Yeah, Viola said she was hungry, so I put something together.”
He pulls a chair out and sits down. “Since when can you cook?”
“Since now,” I fire back. “You going to eat or drill me all night?”
“Sorry, man. Mia is driving me nuts.”
“I thought you two were going to talk or something?”
“Well, we were, but she won’t tell me anything until we’re face-to-face, and just by the tone of her voice, it doesn’t sound good.”
I pinch my lips together, knowing exactly what Miashouldtell Drew, but knowing her, she’ll twist it around somehow and play the victim.
“When is she coming, then?”
“My next day off isn’t until next Wednesday, so she’s going to drive up Tuesday night and spend the night.”
I contemplate giving him a heads-up, but I’m not really in the position to be delivering bad news. “Well, hopefully, you guys can work it out.” The words come out sincere, but not at all believable.
“It’s just driving me insane. Is it that bad she can’t just tell me over the phone and put me out of my misery? I’ve even contemplated taking a sick day and driving up there myself, but she’s in the middle of studying for her upcoming finals, so I just have to fucking sit and wait.”
Viola walks in before I can respond. “Maybe Gryff can cheer you up.” She holds the puppy up with a wide smile.
“Doubtful.”
“Geez. Now who’s the one manstrating?” She cradles Gryff to her chest and takes a seat.
He sighs. “So, what’s the deal here? Are you two like...friendsnow?”
I see Viola’s body go stiff in her chair and know I’m going to have to be the one to smooth this one over. “I thought you’d appreciate no fighting for one night.” I flash a small smile, shrugging nonchalantly. The oven timer goes off, and I walk back to the kitchen, leaving Viola alone with Drew.
I can hear her talking to him about the puppy and trying to get him to warm up to the idea of having him at the house. By the time I bring the food in, he’s smiling and holding Gryff.
“Well if Mia and I don’t work out, at least Gryff will be around to keep me company,” he says as he gets licked by the dog.
I walk back out and bring in some drinks before sitting down. Viola grabs the spoon and starts scooping dinner onto her plate. After Drew sets Gryff down, he grabs the dish next.
“So, King, first a puppy and now dinner? You trying to get into my sister’s pants?”
Before I can answer, Viola chokes on her drink and nearly spews it all over the table.
“You all right?” Drew turns and asks.
She coughs a few more times before rubbing a hand over her throat. “Yeah, uh, just went down the wrong pipe.”
My heart is beating out of my chest at the tension in the air, and a part of me just wants to tell him right now and get it over with, but I know Viola would kill me if I did. I promised we’d tell him when she was ready.
“So? Someone want to tell me what’s going on?”
“I’m seeing a guy at school, Drew, so just calm down,” she says before I can even get in a word. She says it so genuinely that I would almost believe her if I didn’t know any better.
“Who?”
“You don’t know him. Just some guy in my chem class.” She stabs her fork into the pasta and takes a bite.
“I thought you took chem last year?” he asks, narrowing his eyes at her.