Kiss and Don't Tell(27)

“Anyway, how do you take your steak? The guys all like it medium rare.”

“Me too. That would be perfect.”

“Cool. I’ll let Stephan know.”

I turn to leave when she calls out, “Hey, I was thinking—what if I pay you guys for the food I eat? I can tally it up or something like that.”

“You know Taters isn’t going to take your money. I already told you that.”

“But can’t he take something from me?”

I shrug. “I mean, I can ask him, but I’m pretty sure I know what the answer is going to be. He doesn’t even let us pay for anything.”

“Okay.” Her lips twist to the side and then her eyes light up. “What if I did the dishes? That would help Stephan, right?”

“Why don’t you get dressed and we can talk about it later?” With that, I leave her to get dressed and head back into the main living space, where the boys are gathering.

“Finish your book?” I ask Holmes as he pulls a beer from the fridge.

“Yeah.”

“That was fast.”

“It wasn’t too long and I read fast.”

“Does that mean you’re going to hang out with us now?”

“No, he started another one,” Posey says, grabbing a couple beers from the fridge. He tosses one my way and pops open the other for himself. The crack of beers opening signals Taters to come inside, as well.

“Stephan said steaks are almost done. He made one for Winnie. Know how she takes it?”

Know how she takes it?

“Shit, yeah. Sorry, I was meant to pass that one. Medium rare,” I say. “Can you apologize to Stephan?”

Oddly caring, he nods his head and goes back outside to tell Stephan.

“He’s in a mood,” Posey says. “I was playing chess with him earlier and he acted like a little bitch every time I took one of his pieces. The game ended with him flipping the board over and stomping away.”

“Wish I’d seen that bitch fit,” Hornsby says as he grabs a beer for himself. We all gather around the kitchen island.

“Right.” Posey picks up a chunk of roasted potato and pops it into his mouth. “Took me ten minutes to find all the pieces. I ended up playing a game against myself after that just to settle my nerves.”

I take a pull from my beer and say, “The breakup is really getting to him. Anyone know why Sarah broke up with him?”

All the guys shake their heads.

“No fucking clue,” Hornsby says. “That’s something he’d normally confide in me but he’s said nothing, just that they broke up and it’s over.”

“Did he do something?” I ask. “Something stupid?”

“Maybe,” Holmes says, leaning against the counter.

We all turn toward him. “What do you mean?” Posey asks.

“Just that he could’ve done something stupid. The fame was getting to him.”

Whispering, I ask, “You think he cheated?”

Holmes shrugs just as Taters comes back in the house.

Unfortunately, as a collective group, we’re no good at being coy, so we all turn to look at him at the same time.

“What?” he asks, stopping right in front of the sliding glass door.

“Uhh, just wondering if you cheated on Sarah,” Hornsby says, not even pretending to hide the conversation.

“Dude.” I push at his shoulder.

“What? No use in hiding it. He either did or he didn’t.”

Taters’s eyes narrow as he says, “I would never fucking cheat on her and you four should know that.”

Stephan walks up behind Taters and says, “Steaks are ready.”

Irritated, Taters storms off, leaving us—well, at least me—feeling like an asshole.

“Why the hell did you have to say that?” Posey asks. “Now he’s going to be in an even worse mood.”

“Got to break him at some point,” Hornsby says while taking a sip of his beer. “Where’s—ah, there she is. I wasn’t sure you were actually still here because we didn’t see you all day.”

I glance over my shoulder to catch Winnie wearing a simple white tank top and a pair of sweatpants with the legs pushed up to her calves.

“Oh, I didn’t want to bother anyone.”

“You’re not bothering us,” Hornsby says. “You don’t have to stay in your room. There’s plenty to do around here. There’s a movie theater and golf simulator in the basement. Ping-pong. Arcade games. We have some outdoor games in the backyard. Any good at horseshoes?”

She shakes her head.

“Well, we can teach you. There’s also a library in the loft with tons of books. Holmes has been taking advantage of that. Uh, there are trails that you can hike as well if you’re looking to check out some nature, but I would take one of us with you; we know these woods better. No need to stay in your room.”

“Well, thank you, I appreciate it.”

“Dinner’s ready, boys,” Stephan says.

Hornsby gestures to the plates. “Ladies first.”

Winnie holds up her hands. “Oh no, you guys go. I don’t feel right going first. And don’t press the point. No one is going to eat if you wait for me to go first.”