Love In Secrets (Love Distilled #3) - Scarlett Cole Page 0,64

He’s got like a million followers on his Instagram and has only posted four times since he came to Denver.”

“He’d get a few more million if he shared shirtless workout videos.”

All three of them burst into laughter.

Connor slid the door open. “What are you three cackling about out here?”

“Organic social media growth opportunities,” Em said with a grin that only made Cassie laugh even harder.

Connor raised an eyebrow in Emerson’s direction. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s exactly what you're talking about. Food’s close to ready, and I wondered if you could give me a hand serving everything up.”

“Be right in.”

Cassie and Olivia followed Emerson and Connor back into the apartment. “You have a beautiful home,” Cassie said.

“It’s all Connor. I’ve barely done anything to the place since I moved in. Just a few more plants and appliances.”

Cassie took in the spacious kitchen. “My whole apartment is the size of your kitchen. I have baker’s envy.”

Emerson began to pull things out of the fridge. A large bowl of delicious-looking guacamole, a smaller bowl of pico de gallo. Sour cream and tangy grated Monterey Jack cheese. “Yeah, New York real estate is bananas. Do you mind me asking what your rent is?”

Cassie stole a taco chip from the bowlful that Connor had poured and scooped up some guacamole. “I pay nineteen-fifty for a six-hundred-square-foot apartment on Seventh Avenue in Brooklyn. It’s a glorified studio with a separate kitchen, but it’s a nice old building—only four stories with nine units, so I know my neighbors. And it’s a five-minute walk to Prospect Park. It’s a great neighborhood. I’d rather have a small place in a nice spot than a larger place somewhere without the same amenities.” She popped the chip in her mouth and groaned at how good it tasted.

Em stole a chip too, and grinned when Connor tried to playfully push her hand away. “You know, I watch those tiny home shows, and I love all those space-saving gadgets and creative ways to make the houses feel bigger than they are, but I couldn’t live in one. Doesn’t it drive you mad?”

“I’ve lived in New York for a decade, even had roommates for most of it. I’m used to it.”

“Used to what?” Jake slid his hands around her waist and kissed the side of her cheek before helping himself to a chip.

“New York living. Small places, high rent, eating out because your kitchen is too small to really make anything.”

“Sounds awful,” Jake shuddered, making her laugh.

“It’s not so bad.”

Connor placed a huge skillet down on cork coasters on the kitchen island, and everyone helped themselves, chatting and munching happily. Anders piled food on his plate, especially the rice and black beans, but didn’t take a tortilla wrap.

“Hungry, much?” Cassie asked.

Anders grinned. “Depending on where I’m at in the season, I’ll eat anywhere from five to six thousand calories a day.”

“Holy crap. That’s a lot of food.”

“Tell me about it,” Liv said, placing her hand on Anders’s back. “He’s like a juggernaut when he opens the fridge and ploughs straight through the darn thing. I feel like I should open a salmon farm given the amount he eats.”

Cassie couldn’t help but laugh at Liv’s exasperated tone.

“It’s a good thing you love me,” Anders mumbled over a mouth full of food before kissing the top of her head.

“You should be grateful he’s even speaking to you right now,” Jake said, wrapping his burrito up. “He’s all chatty in the off-season, but the closer he gets to the play-offs, the more focused he gets. He gets these tapes of his plays to review, and honestly, a herd of cows could walk through his house and he wouldn’t even look up.”

Anders winked at her.

It was a bit weird thinking of Anders as a sports celebrity. Not being a huge sports fan, she had only a passing knowledge of baseball and basketball. But she’d seen his face plastered on the side of the arena as she drove by.

Now it was Olivia’s life.

“So, Liv works out with Anders. What about you and Connor, Em?”

Connor laughed and Emerson slapped his stomach with the back of her hand. “Nope. Not even a little bit.”

Connor waved a spoon at her. “Shortly after Em and I met, I went to this breakfast place to pick up something to eat after my workout before I went to the office, and I found Em and Ali there. They’d driven to the gym, bailed on the idea of working out, and were scarfing down a plate