Page 18 of Blizzards and Brews
“I’m sorry I can’t bring back that fringe of yours for this moment, but I know we can both channel our former emo kiddays,” he said, toying with his lip piercing. “I’ll crank the heat, but it’s freezing outside, I can only let them down a smidge.”
Excitement filled me as the play button sat temptingly on the dash. “Let’s do this.”
The heavy rapid rhythm of drums filled the car as Dustin cranked the volume, both of us singing at the top of our lungs with nothing before us but road. The cool air bit into our skin as our feet stayed toasty warm and my heart lightened.
With each screamed lyric, another bit of worry lifted. When it got to the chorus, Dustin and I did the syncopated hand motions we knew like the back of our hearts. We sang and sang, going through the song on repeat more than once until my body was relaxed and a big smile sat on my face.
“For Hollow’s sake, I needed that,” I said, between a laugh. “Thanks, Dustin.”
“Always, babe. No matter what, I have your back. Now are you ready to stuff our faces and talk to my brothers and I?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I said, knowing it was inevitable.
Dustin turned the car around, switching the song to a playlist that had similar songs from our youth. It was one of the things Dustin and I bonded over, and why we convinced the others that we needed to make room for live music at the bar.
Sometimes, when all your words ran out, a song could help you say what you couldn’t.
Adam was sitting on the patio steps, bundled up in his coat, waiting for us when we arrived.
I half expected him to go off, but he simply pulled the two of us in for a hug.
“You two alright?”
“Better now,” I told him, letting myself indulge in his caramel-latte scent. The sweet-coffee scent always perked me up a bit.
“Let’s get you fed,” Adam said, ushering us into the house. “Ollie went all out, we might even have leftovers this time.”
I shook my head. “There’s a first time for everything.”
Music was playing in the kitchen, though a lot less intense than the tracks we listened to in the car.
Ollie had covered the kitchen island in takeout containers. I shot a quick text off to Spencer letting him know I’d made it so he didn’t worry.
“Ladies first,” he offered as he handed me a plate. I didn’t argue, the smell alone had my stomach rumbling in anticipation. I loaded up my plate with spicy chicken, fried rice, and a heaping stack of crab rangoons.
“Where’s the veggies?” Adam teased as he gave me a playful side eye. He was still tense but I appreciated his attempts at lightening the mood.
It was such an alpha thing to say, but he was clearly still offering an olive branch with his tone.
“Waiting for you,” I shot back as I took a bite of crunchy, fried goodness. Ollie had even ordered from my favorite restaurant so they were extra delicious, a hint of spice mixed with the sweet.
My groans were met by silence and I cracked open my eyes and shrugged. “They’re good, don’t judge me.”
I tried my best to ignore the heated looks.
“No, please, continue,” Dustin teased as he dropped down on the couch next to me and dug into his own plate.
Ollie turned on our favorite reality show. It was a hot mess of trash TV perfection. Two packs competed for ten thousand dollars. The competition varied. Sometimes it was running a pop-up cafe and advertising, other times it was obstacle course or gladiator style. Whoever won the most got the prize.
“What’s this one about?” I questioned before taking another bite.
“They’re doing an elaborate escape room. They converted an entire warehouse,” Ollie said with a grin. “I saw the commercial weeks ago and saved it for us.”
We watched the dramatics as we emptied our plates. Adam, however, was on top of it. The moment Ollie sat his empty plate on the table he was moving, clearing the trash and putting away leftovers. Usually, I’d help, but this time I stayed where I was and tried to cling to the calm Dustin had brought me earlier.
Adam finished and walked back to us, sitting on the coffee table so his knees were touching mine, boxing me in.
I could feel the heat from his touch, the tension between us growing each second. Time was up, there was no way I could run now.