I Want You Back (Want You #1)(51)

No surprise she didn’t return my key.

Jax walked past us, snatched a cup from the mug tree. He filled the cup and slammed it before facing us. “Much better.” He gave my sister a once-over. “Lindsey. You’re looking good.”

“Thanks, Jax. You’re looking mighty fine too, not getting chubby around the edges like most former pro athletes.”

He patted his super flat stomach. “My body is a temple and all that jazz.” He flashed her a grin when she rolled her eyes. “You want a cup of coffee?”

What was up with him acting like the host in my house?

“Right after I pour one for Lucy, of course,” he added, seeing my scowl.

“Sure. I’ll grab the selection of creamers, since Lucy can’t ever stick with just one kind.”

I scowled at my sister’s back. “I like a variety, okay?”

“I’m the same way with cheese,” Jax offered as he filled my “World’s Best Mom!” mug. “Some days I want sharp. Some days I want spicy. Some days I want creamy. Being indecisive . . . it’s easier to have a selection right at your fingertips.”

“You’re talking about snacking cheese?” Lindsey asked, continuing the bizarre conversation about dairy products.

Jax shrugged and grabbed the coconut and almond creamer. “I use it in cooking too.”

I said, “You cook?” and it slipped out like an accusation.

“Now I do.” He studied me as he stirred his coffee. “Meems hasn’t said anything about us eating at home for most meals?”

“I don’t expect a full report on everything you two do. I assumed when she said you ate at home that you’d had takeout or delivery.”

“Really? You have so little faith in me, Luce?”

“Oh, don’t act indignant,” I retorted. “You barely knew how to use the microwave when we were together, say nothing of knowing how to cook a full meal.”

“True. But it’s different now. I took cooking classes in Chicago after I sobered up. I needed a productive hobby to fill my hours off the ice.” He sent me a sheepish smile.

Don’t smile back. Lindsey will think something is going on between you.

But that sweet grin did it for me every time and I smiled back.

Then I noticed Lindsey rooting around in the fridge.

She piled a carton of eggs, a bag of sharp cheddar cheese, a green onion, a package of crumbled bacon and a gallon of milk on the counter. “Prove it, Jax. Fix us breakfast.”

To him, I said, “Ignore her.”

To Lindsey, I said, “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What? He said he can cook.”

“That doesn’t mean he wants to cook for you on command, dumbass.”

Jax set his hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, Luce. I’ll make omelets if everyone is cool with that.”

“Fine by me,” Lindsey piped up.

I sighed. “Some days I envy Mimi being an only child.”

“Hey!”

But Jax was looking at me oddly. Probably because he didn’t know where anything was in my kitchen. While I stacked a cutting board, knife, mixing bowl, whisk and pan on the counter, Lindsey started another pot of coffee.

And I still felt Jax watching me intently. Rather than snapping, “What?” I ignored him. Or tried to. But the man took up a lot of space. After the third time I smacked into him, I opted to sit at the breakfast bar, out of the way.

Lindsey hopped up next to me. “I’m beat.”

“Then why did you show up here so early?”

“I was hoping Damon had spent the night so I could force him into a walk of shame. We both know you’re too nice to tell someone when they’ve overstayed their welcome.”

Thwak sounded against the cutting board.

“Sorry,” Jax said smoothly. “My knife slipped.”

“As soon as you’re done stuffing your face, take off. You’ve overstayed your welcome, sis.” I nudged Lindsey with my shoulder. “See? I’m not that nice.”

Jax might’ve mumbled something too low for me to hear.

“Yay! Go you, showing that bossy side.” She nudged me back. “I’m so damn proud.”

Proud. I snorted. At least drama girl hadn’t knuckled away a fake tear.

“So do you guys have plans today?” she asked Jax.

“We’re having brunch with my family,” Jax said as he cracked eggs one handed.

One handed! Even I couldn’t do that, and I had much smaller hands than he did.

Wait a second . . . I glanced up at him. “I thought we were meeting Nolan, and then you and Mimi were having brunch with your whole family, not me.”

“If I don’t get to skip out on it, neither do you.”

I watched him whip the eggs and milk and deftly pour the lemon-colored froth into the pan.

Without any shame whatsoever, Lindsey said, “I like brunch.”

“You’re welcome to come too,” Jax said, never taking his focus off his omelet.

“Is Nolan going to be there?”

That got Jax’s attention. “Yeah. Why?”

“Uh, have you seen your brother? That man is hawt. Like rawr. There’s a tiger beneath those fancy-ass clothes he wears. I wouldn’t mind rattling his cage a little.”