Page 39 of Winning You

“Sorry, I’m holding her,” Frankie said.

“I’nna hug,” Elodie said. “I haff to ask. Daddy said always ask.”

“Always asking is a good idea,” Lucas said. He straightened and held his hands out, and a moment later, Elodie was in his arms. She was very light and very small, the heaviest part of her the braces she had on her calves. He traced a touch over them to get some idea of how her legs could fit around his waist, and then he adjusted her and stepped aside. “Breakfast is almost ready. Is your brother with you?”

“I’m here,” the younger man said quietly. Fallon, Lucas was pretty sure. He wasn’t going to forget a name like that.

They breezed past him, and Lucas shut the door before turning to face his kitchen. He held Elodie with one hand and kept his free forearm in front of him to make sure he didn’t tumble into anyone or anything. He wouldn’t forgive himself if he fell with a toddler in his arms.

“So,” he set her on the counter, “who likes pancakes?”

“I like dogs,” Elodie said.

Lucas burst into laughter. “Yeah? Not me.”

“No?” That was Fallon. His voice was very soft, but it was also rough and a little different than Lucas was expecting. A bit nasal. “You don’t have a guide dog?”

Lucas wrinkled his nose. “Absolutely fucking not. Dogs require so much attention and energy, and god, I cannot with the smell of dog. There were so many guide dogs at my school when I was growing up, and the smell almost sent me through the roof on rainy days. I’m way too autistic for that.”

He heard Fallon make a noise of surprise. “You’re…oh. Me too.”

Lucas grinned and tapped his hands on Elodie’s thighs. “You ready for pancakes?”

“I want cimmanon.”

“Coming right up. Someone want to take the baby so I can serve?”

“Ooh, what are we—oh.” Lucas heard Gage’s voice dry up as he stepped into the room. He caught a whiff of Gage’s soap, which he swore was not Old Spice, but Lucas’s nose rarely lied to him. He heard Gage walk a few steps, then stop. “Hi. Uh. You’re here. Oh, you have a bruise.”

Lucas turned his head to where he’d last heard Fallon speak. “How bad is it?”

“It’s not as bad as I thought it would be,” Fallon said quietly.

Gage cleared his throat. “Want me to take a look? I’m a certified EMT.”

“O-oh. Okay. Um…yeah. Yes. Thank you.”

“Come with me to the bathroom, where the lighting is better,” Gage said.

Lucas had no frame of reference, but he was pretty sure that was a lie. He smiled, though, as he heard Fallon’s footsteps trail after his best friend.

Frankie snorted under his breath, and Lucas felt the heat of his presence as he moved to Lucas’s side and reached for Elodie. “Cute.”

“Are they flirting?” Lucas asked.

“I think so. My brother should absolutely not be dating anyone at all right now after the shitshow with Charlie. But Gage makes him stutter, and that’s always a clue.”

Lucas leaned in and took a big whiff of Frankie. “You smell nice.”

“Thanks. I showered again.”

Lucas chuckled. “I did not. I smell kind of boozy from Gage’s sweat. We had a cuddle pile on the living room floor last night, and I swear to god he’s like a little space heater.”

Frankie hummed low in his chest, the sound rumbly and rich. “Elodie keeps looking at it. I think she wants to go roll around in the pillows.”

“She’s welcome to. And I didn’t realize she can see them,” Lucas said as he began to divide the pancakes and fruit between all the plates.

“They’re very contrasted against the dark couch.”