He frowns as he looks at my plate. “What?”
“Nothing’s changed,” Wyatt says. “I cook on the weekends. What happened to you guys cooking a little during the week, huh?”
Lucas gazes at the waffle machine like it’s a UFO. I’m right there with him. I’d never seen one in use until just now. After watching Wyatt, I think I might be able to make one though.
Wyatt hands me a fork. I cut off a piece, spear it, and put it into my mouth. The chocolate hazelnut flavor mixed with the sweetness of the waffle melts in my mouth. “Mmmmmm,” I moan. “Oh my God.”
Wyatt winks at me. “I knew you’d like it.”
My next bite, I grab one of the blueberries piled in the center and eat it with the waffle and Nutella. My lids flutter closed. I keep going until I realize everything around me has stopped. When I glance up, Wyatt, Lucas, and now Stone are staring at me. I lick the fork, grabbing as much of the chocolate as I can, not wanting any of it to go to waste. They watch my every move, and heat creeps up my neck then blossoms on my cheeks.
They look away, Stone clearing his throat. “Um, waffles then?”
“Have at it,” Wyatt says, nodding toward the waffle maker. He takes another look at me and then retreats from the room, lines wrinkling his forehead as he goes.
“Fuck it. I’m going to try it,” Lucas says. Stone, however, opts for cereal, pouring himself a bowl and sitting two seats away from me at the bar.
We eat in silence while Lucas curses over the waffle maker. The batter doesn’t turn out to be the same consistency as when Wyatt made it, and when he shuts the top on the maker, it spills down the sides. Steam rises all the way to the ceiling and reaches out like tendrils. He cleans up as best he can, but when the machine beeps, announcing it’s done, it’s burnt.
“Seriously?” he growls.
Stone chuckles. “And that’s why I didn’t even attempt it.”
Lucas pries the burnt waffle out of the maker onto a paper plate and then throws the whole thing away. He grabs a bagel instead after Stone remarks about the time.
After I’m finished, I take my plate to the sink, rinsing it off. Once it’s clean, I start to head toward the front door when Stone stops me. “I’m sorry about Saturday, by the way.”
I come to a stop, my brain still two seconds behind trying to make sure I heard Stone correctly. I peer over my shoulder at him.
He clears his throat. “I didn’t know my father was going to hold that press conference, or I would’ve warned you.”
I had a lot of time to think about what happened while I stayed in my room over the weekend. I’m definitely not over it, but what’s done is done. It helps to hear Stone apologize. I want to hold a grudge. My mind tells me I need to. Maybe it’s because I’m satiated and calm that I feel like being the better person though. “If we’re going to be working together, I would appreciate updates on everything,” I tell him. “Everything. Especially things that have to do with my family. I wasn’t aware that by agreeing to help you that it would be widespread news. I’m not used to working like that,” I admit.
Stone drops his spoon into his bowl and lifts his head to meet my gaze. “I’m sorry.”
The contrite look in his blue-gray eyes is sincere. I nod, refusing to say that it’s okay because it’s not.
When I start to walk away again, he says, “I’d prefer it if we all rode to school together. It’s safer that way.” My hands ball to fists, but before I can object, he cuts me off. “I know you don’t like being told what to do, but we’re better off. If you don’t trust me, ask one of the others.”
“Like I trust one of the others,” I snap.
“Ouch,” Lucas says.
“And here I thought we were bonding over food, Tits,” Wyatt says as he breezes past me. “Come on, assholes. I’ve got a date with a nice boo-ty this morning.” He pinches the air in a crude gesture.
Stone shoves away from his place at the bar. “Please make it clear with this one up front that you’re not looking for anything more than a quick fuck. Your last girl was horrendous.”
Wyatt shudders then composes himself. “I assure you,” he says, mocking Stone’s