Isn't It Bromantic (Bromance Book Club #4) - Lyssa Kay Adams Page 0,40
As soon as he was gone, Elena leaned against the counter and sucked in a deep breath. She needed to get her shit together, to use an American phrase she’d grown especially fond of. Lusting over him? Shuddering over the touch of his hand? Flushing with jealousy over a woman sharing her pie? She had no right to feel any of it. She was here to help him heal, nothing more, because there could be nothing more. And if she was going to survive the time with him, she needed to remind herself as often as necessary that this was temporary. Once Vlad was healed, only one thing was in her future.
Elena dug her phone from her pocket. Before she could talk herself out of it, she hammered out a text.
You said to call if I ever needed anything. Can we talk?
CHAPTER EIGHT
Elena awoke early the next morning because she wanted to make syrniki for breakfast. The Russian pancakes were another one of Vlad’s favorites and one more of many dishes she learned to make in his mother’s kitchen.
She showered and twisted her wet hair atop her head before throwing on the only thing left that was clean—a pair of jogging shorts and a plain white T-shirt. Before heading downstairs, she peeked in at Vlad. He was asleep under only the sheet. Neighbor Cat was curled against his side.
“Hussy,” Elena whispered.
The cat blinked and stretched out her paws before burrowing closer into Vlad’s chest.
Elena had just set out all the ingredients for breakfast when someone rang the doorbell. She apparently wasn’t the only person who’d gotten up early. Colton and Noah stood on the other side of the front door, both of them grinning.
“Vlad is still asleep,” she said, letting them in. “But I was just about to start breakfast.”
Colton rubbed his hands together. “I was hoping you’d say that. What’re you making?”
“Syrniki. They’re like pancakes with cheese in the batter.”
“Cheese pancakes?” Colton said. “I’m going to eat the shit out of those.”
Noah handed over a pastry bag that matched the one from yesterday. “A present from Alexis, my fiancée.”
Elena peeked inside to find a variety of pastries. “Wow, please tell Alexis I said thank you.”
“You got any coffee going?” Colton asked, holding his fist to a yawn.
“Um, no.”
“I’ll do it,” Colton said.
Another car pulled into the driveway. Elena peeked through the window.
“That’ll be Mack and Malcolm,” Noah said, following Colton toward the kitchen.
Elena opened the door again, and sure enough, Mack and Malcolm strolled up the sidewalk. “You guys are here to bathe my husband too?”
“It’s the highlight of our day,” Mack said. “Bro’s got an ass that won’t quit.”
“Um—” Elena shut the door.
“Ignore him,” Malcolm said. Then he bent and kissed Elena’s cheek. She had no response other than stunned disbelief as he followed Mack to the kitchen. Yesterday, Elena had been convinced Vlad’s friends hated her, and now a kiss on the cheek and pastry gifts? Elena wanted to pound the heel of her hand against her head, because once again she felt like cobwebs were growing in her mind. Like she’d been dropped into the second act of a play.
She returned to the kitchen to find Colton filling the coffee maker with water. Mack sat on the floor with Neighbor Cat in his lap. He looked up. “I didn’t know you guys had a cat.”
“We don’t. Er, I mean, Vlad doesn’t. It’s not his cat.”
Mack’s hands paused in the act of petting the cat’s fur. “Whose cat is it?”
“I don’t know. Animals just show up here a lot.”
Noah snorted. “Of course they do.”
Elena began to work on the pancake dough—syrniki was not made with the kind of liquid batter Americans were used to—but another knock at the door brought a quick interruption. She looked at the guys. Mack shrugged. “We’re all here. Gavin, Del, and Yan have an early game today, so they aren’t coming.”
Elena gulped. That could only mean one thing. She returned to the front door slowly, as if she’d filled her house slippers with pebbles. This time, the face on the other side of the door greeted her with what Elena assumed was a permanent scowl. Elena fought the urge to cross herself as she opened the door. “Good morn—”
Claud pushed her way inside. “Where is he?”
“It is lovely to see you, too, Claud. Vlad is still asleep.”
“Go wake him up,” Claud demanded.
Linda let out a long, weary sigh. “I’m sorry about her. Truly. She’s grumpy in the morning.”