Keeping Casey (Keeping Him #1) - Amy Aislin Page 0,33

least I have numbers and a special character,” Ethan mumbled, getting back to the task at hand.

Once he’d set up the laptop, he brought it into the kitchen as April announced that brunch was ready. They took their seats, laptop on one end of the table, strategically placed to get them all in the video feed, and Ethan called Laura.

“These are vegan pancakes, by the way,” April said as it rang back home in Lighthouse Bay.

Ethan stared at the stack in the middle of the table that Casey had already ripped into. “You can do that?”

“And the omelet is made with chickpea flour. Also vegan.”

“Wow.” He turned his stare on his sister. “You didn’t have to do that.” He’d been prepared to indulge and suffer the consequences.

“Who didn’t have to do what?” came Laura’s voice from the computer.

“Did you know you can make omelets with chickpea flour?”

Laura wrinkled her nose, twelve years old of opinions and picky tastes. “I’ll stick with my waffles covered in whipped cream and blueberries, thanks. Hi, Casey.”

Casey waved, mouth stuffed to bulging.

“Where’s Dad?” April asked.

The image on the screen tilted for a second, and when it righted itself, Laura was in one corner of the screen. Over her shoulder, Dad looked to be stirring something at the stove.

“Hi, Dad,” Ethan and April said together.

“Hey, Mr. Rain.”

Dad toasted them with his mug. “You’re missing out on my famous hot chocolate.” He turned back to the stove and Laura moved the laptop closer again.

“How are things, Laura?” Ethan asked, serving himself pancakes and omelet.

“Math is kicking my ass again.”

“Don’t say ass,” Ethan, Casey, and Dad said at the same time.

The look Laura gave him was hysterical, one eyebrow raised, the other lowered, in an expression that said are you for real? “As I was saying. Math is kicking my ass, and the two people who usually help me aren’t here. And they’re word problems, ugh.”

“Here, here, sister,” Casey said, saluting her with his fork.

“Why don’t we work through them together tomorrow afternoon?” Ethan suggested. Seventh-grade math? He was all over it.

Dad finally sat next to Laura, two mugs of hot chocolate in hand. “All right, my children.” He lumped Casey into that category just like he had since the first time Ethan brought him home. “Tell me what’s been going on over there. Ethan, Casey, how are you enjoying college?”

Half an hour later, bellies stuffed and lives updated, they signed off, Ethan with a promise to call Laura tomorrow.

“Is there anything I can help clean up before I head to work?” Casey asked, bringing his plate to the sink.

Ethan waved a hand. “April and I’ve got this. Although, if you wait ten minutes, I can drive you.” He wanted to help April clean up first seeing as she’d done everything else already.

“I’ll walk. It’s a nice day out. Don’t know how many more of them we’ll get.” Wiping his hands on a dishtowel, Casey turned to lean back against the counter, eyeing Ethan. “Did you bring your lunchtime meds?”

Secretly pleased, Ethan rolled his eyes for show. “Of course.”

“And take some pain relievers for your wrist if you need to.”

Ethan frowned at his wrists. Had he said something about being in pain? He couldn’t remember. They were a little sorer than usual after last night’s game against their archnemesis, the University of Vermont, which had been rougher and faster than expected. But it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. How had Casey known?

Rolling his eyes as though he’d heard Ethan’s question, Casey pointed a finger at him. “You’re all I see, Ethan. You think I don’t notice when you’re in pain?”

Silence descended over the room.

April gaped.

Ethan froze, heart expanding in his chest, wondering if he’d heard right.

Casey went red from his neck to his hairline. “I mean I’m . . . Because you’re my best friend. Of course I’d . . .” Trailing off, he blinked once at Ethan, surveyed his surroundings as if he didn’t know how he’d gotten there, then grabbed his backpack off the floor. “I gotta go now,” he squeaked out. “Bye.”

He was gone a second later, the door slamming closed behind him.

Turning slowly to Ethan, April asked, “Is there something you want to tell me?”

Casey was pure nervous energy for his shift at Ansel’s Antiques. Thank god the sunny day had brought out the crowds. He was kept busy enough with customers that he didn’t think about what he’d said to Ethan until he arrived back at his dorm and flopped face-first onto his