Page 9 of Shaken and Stirred (Bottle Service Boys #1)

I pulled my plate back to me with too much force, sending the toast sliding onto the white tablecloth. “I didn’t realize you’d changed your major from chemistry to psychology.” Even I heard how defensive that sounded. Scowling, I stuffed a bite into the toast with enough force to crack a tooth.

I should have asked for pancakes. Cora never failed to rock my favorite breakfast. I’d eaten in five-star restaurants across the globe, but nothing beat her homemade family recipe she’d been making me since I was in diapers.

“Har, har.”

We ate in silence for a few moments. I tried to keep from overthinking, but since I’d left school, the entire month before leaving, overthinking had become my default.

There was a solution to it—tell my father why I’d decided to transfer schools.

There’d be a blowup like never before, but it would be done, and my poor, overworked brain could finally have a break.

But I just couldn’t.

Not yet.

Too bad Vera wasn’t a psychology major. Maybe then she’d be able to help me screw my head on right.

“Hey, Ry…” Vera set her coffee mug down as she speared me with an intense look I’d never seen from her.

“I know you think of me as the silly kid sister who always annoys the crap outta you, but I’m more than that.

We’re both adults now, and I want you to know I have your back.

Whatever you’re going through, you don’t have to tell me.

” She held up a hand to stop me from protesting before the words could leave my mouth.

“I just want you to know I’m here if you do want to talk or if you need some moral support.

I’m not our parents, and I won’t react the same way they would, even if it’s something bad. ”

With that, she nodded once, then continued to work on her stack of pancakes. Maybe Cora had made enough for me. My stomach cramped, reminding me why I’d asked for toast.

I blinked and paused with the toast halfway to my lips, frozen in place by the sincerity in her voice. Was she right? Did I still see her as the girl who used to crush on my friends and steal my shit when she’d become my equal?

“Wow, V, thanks.” I lowered the toast to my plate. “That… that really means a lot.”

She shrugged as though her simple words hadn’t shaken my foundation. “You’re my only sibling. We should stick together.”

She’d beaten me out in the maturity department, that was for sure.

We’d never been super close, but we’d never had a contentious relationship either.

It was more of one where she did her thing, and I did mine.

Clearly, she wanted that to change. My insides warmed.

Maybe I wanted our relationship to change as well.

Now that we lived under the same roof again, for however briefly, we had a chance to strengthen our bond.

Sharing with her might be the best way to do that.

“I, uh, I’m thinking of, well, I have changed my field of study for my Master’s.” I kept my eyes cast down, staring at the coffee in my mug.

“Wow, really? Will it be hard to work with Dad’s company without an MBA?” She didn’t sound judgmental or disapproving, only curious.

That lack of judgment had me lifting my gaze to meet hers. “Well, that’s the thing. I, uh, I don’t want to work with Dad’s company, and I definitely don’t want to run it someday. I never have.”

Her mouth opened and closed a few times before a “Really?” squeaked out.

“Really? That’s all you’ve got for me? Really?”

Her sheepish grin and shrug made me roll my eyes.

“Sorry, I’m just surprised. You’ve never expressed interest in anything else.” She frowned. “Actually, you’ve never expressed interest in working with Dad either. It’s always just been assumed you would.”

“Exactly.” Not once had anyone asked what I wanted to do with my future. I was a Calloway, so, of course, I’d be taking over the family business.

“Wow, Ryder, this is big.” She rested her elbows on the table and gave me her undivided attention. “So what is it you want to do?”

My face heated, and I went back to admiring what now looked like a froth heart floating on top of my latte. “Iwannabeateacher.”

“Huh?” Her voice held a hint of laughter. “Didn’t catch that. E-nun-ci-ate,” she said, eyes alight with humor.

I sighed. What the hell? Might as well put it out into the universe. Had to happen sometime. “I want to be a teacher. Um, elementary school.”

A few weeks ago, I read an article online claiming the core of a star could reach twenty-seven million degrees. Those stars had nothing on the temperature of my cheeks, which rose exponentially with each passing second of silence.

If Vera didn’t say something soon, I’d be a pile of smoldering, humiliated ash on my mother’s velvet dining chair. Not the way I wanted to go out. Maybe we could turn the air conditioning on. Sure, it was five degrees outside, but in here, it was a damn inferno.

As I opened my mouth to tell Vera it was all a big joke, she finally spoke.

“Hey, Ry, look at me.”

If I groaned out loud, I didn’t mean it. The noise should have stayed in my head. Still, she didn’t sound as though she found what I’d said hilarious and stupid, so I lifted my gaze. Her grin had my heart clenching with hope. Could she be supportive of this idea?

“I think you would be a great teacher. No, not great, incredible.”

“You do?” Later, I’d be mortified by the wavering of my voice.

“I do. You’ve always been good with kids. I recall when you volunteered at the LGBTQ+ youth center downtown during college. Those kids adored you.”

“That’s where I got the idea. I tried to ignore it, thinking it was just the novelty of doing something new, but it’s been years, and I still want to get a teaching degree.”

“Then do it.” She shrugged. “Simple as that.”

I barked out a laugh. “You know that’s a lie.”

“Okay, so Dad’s brain will explode, but I don’t think he’d disown you or anything. Oh, wait… is that why you’re getting a job? Are you worried he’ll stop paying for school?”

“No.” Although now that she’d put the unpleasant thought in my head, it would be one I’d revisit and obsess about later. “That’s not why. It’s really just something to do while I wait to start school again.”

“Okay, but why not try to get a job working with kids somewhere? Wouldn’t that make more sense? Maybe you should…” Her grin changed from supportive to suspicious, and a chill ran down my spine. “Oh, I know what this is.”

“What? There’s nothing to know.” Too bad my scoff sounded like a performance from a D-list actor.

“There’s a guy, isn’t there?”

“A guy? What? You’re nuts.” How did she do that? What the hell was she, an FBI investigator?

“Maybe, but you’re a terrible liar. I wonder what it says about me that I’m more excited about your boyfriend than your career change.”

That one had me laughing so loud that Cora popped her head in.

Seeing us enjoying each other’s company as well as her food, she nodded once, then disappeared back into the kitchen.

“Pfft. I do not have a boyfriend. There isn’t even a guy.

At least not one I’m interested in.” Shit, I could have slapped myself.

“Ah-ha!” She clapped her hands. “So there is a guy.”

“No!”

She snorted, then stuffed a bite of pancake in her mouth. “There’s a guy,” she said with a mouth so full I could barely understand her.

“Cute. That’s real cute, V. With the way you eat, we know no guy is coming after you.”

She flipped me the bird, and I burst out laughing. Shit, when had my sister become so much fun?

“Okay, fine. There’s a guy, but it’s not what you’re thinking.

I can’t stand him. Or he can’t stand me.

” I frowned. “We can’t stand each other.

This is a competition to see who the best bottle service boy will be.

Nothing more, nothing less.” To seal the statement, I took a sip of my lukewarm coffee.

“Ooh.” Her eyes sparkled. “Enemies to lovers. My favorite trope.”

My sip of coffee slid down the wrong way, ending in a coughing fit that had my eyes watering and nose dripping. “Enemies to what?” I asked as I grabbed my linen napkin.

“ Lo-vers . There’s a thin line between love and hate, Ry. And that line is very sexy.”

“Ugh.” I shuddered. “Two things. One, there is nothing sexy going on. He’s an uptight jackass who doesn’t know how to have a good time.” A very hot one with a fine set of abs and biceps anyone would want to lick. “And two, you’re not allowed to know the meaning of the word ‘sexy.’ Gross.”

Snickering, Vera set her fork down on her empty plate and then stood up. “Gotta go, bro. Loved this chat. Tell me when you want me to meet your boyfriend.” Then the little imp darted out of the dining room.

Meet my boyfriend. Insanity. Alex was the last man on earth who’d ever be my boyfriend. But a night rolling around in the sheets? I could sure get on board with that, even though it was hard to imagine him letting go enough to enjoy a good fuck.

“Hey, what the hell is a trope?” I called to her retreating back.