I nod, wrapping his arm around me. “It is. Maybe you need to figure out how to get the heat on higher in this place.”
“Yeah.” He spoons into me. “I like it when I wake up and you’re here.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, mentally banishing the gushy warmth swirling inside of me from his sweet words. “It’s nice.”
“So nice,” Luca says, opening his eyes slightly. “It’s Sunday, right?”
I nod. “It is.”
“I need pancakes. Should we go out?”
“No,” Cairo moans. “It’s cold.”
“We gotta get up,” Luca says. “We can take a hot shower and go get food.”
“I can make pancakes,” I offer. “I’m really good at them, actually.”
Cairo grins. “Mmm perfect. I’ll go find the damn thermostat.”
“I’ll make coffee,” Luca says before kissing my forehead, then lifting Cairo’s hand and kissing the back of it.
The three of us climb out of bed, throwing on shorts and T-shirts we keep at Cairo’s so we have comfortable clothes to lounge in. It doesn't mean anything. It’s not like we practically live here on the weekend. It’s just for convenience.
I follow Luca to the kitchen and dig into the pantry while he starts the coffee. It’s so domestic it startles me for a second. Sex. Friends with benefits. I remind myself of this for the tenth time since we’ve started hanging out.
While I work, Luca and his sexy ass lean against the counter, watching me with that hungry, lustful gaze he often has.
When the coffee is done brewing, he grabs three mugs and fills them, putting cream and sugar in them exactly how I like. Cairo comes into the room, smiling.
“Found the thermostat. Should warm up soon.”
Luca hands Cairo a mug of coffee. “This will help.”
“Thank you.” He sips his coffee. “Good.”
I finish the pancakes while the boys stand behind me chatting. The three of us share funny customer stories like we do every week. I carry a platter to the dining room, while Luca grabs the syrup, and Cairo brings plates and utensils.
When Luca takes a bite, his face lights up. “Oh my god. These are so fluffy.”
“I mean, I am a baker.”
“I seriously don’t think I’ve had pancakes this good.”
“Thank you, Luca.”
After we finish eating, and cleaning up the kitchen, the three of us gather on the couch, cuddled together while Cairo finds a movie for us to watch. Luca leans close and kisses my cheek. I smile, ignoring the warning flares shooting off in my head. We’re just friends.
I’ll keep telling myself that as much as I have to.
Two
Green-eyed Monsters and Cocktails
Also known as wooing the diva
Luca
“Hello?” I answer my phone in between clients.
“Is this Luca Taylor?
“It is. Who’s this?”
“My name is Amy. I work with your apartment property manager. There’s been a flood in your building. We’re advising residents to come check out any potential damage to their unit.”
“A flood. Is it bad?”
“It’s more extensive in some units.”
“Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I hang up, walking over to Jude. “I gotta get home. There’s a flood, apparently.”
“A flood. Damn. Do you need help?”
“Not sure. I gotta check it out.”
“Let me know.”
“Thanks.”
When I arrive at my complex, I can't believe my eyes. A lot of my neighbors are hauling their things out of their apartments and putting it in the grass. Building maintenance is there along with a fire truck. I hurry to my apartment, and when I open the front door, a gush of water flows out.
“Shit.”
“It’s bad, man.”
I turn to see my neighbor standing behind me with a box. “All the bottom units got hit hard.”
“Great.”
I pull my phone out and dial Jude.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Jude. It’s Luca. It’s bad. I need to get my stuff out.”
“Shit. Do you need help?”
I sigh, dragging my fingers through my hair. “I’ll figure it out. Can Elizabeth or Jerica call my client who was coming in?”
“Yeah, we’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks, Jude.”
I hang up and enter my apartment, surveying the damage. There’s currently about an inch of standing water, but it’s obvious there was more. I walk to my kitchen, and that’s when I see the water seeping from the ceiling. Snapping into action, I start gathering things. All I can do at this point is get out of here. I’ll figure out where I’m going later.
After working for a while, I hear a knock on my still open front door. I turn around to see Cairo, Gen, Jude, Briar, and Saint.
“Hey, guys.”
“Oh shit, boo,” Gen says, looking around. “This is not good.”
“No. I’m just trying to get the important shit together.”
“Where are you staying tonight?” Saint asks. “Or until this is better.”
“Um…”
“You’re coming home with me,” Cairo says before I can answer. “It’s already decided. I have plenty of room.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
My eyes flicker to Gen, whose face flashes with something fiery under the surface, but it’s gone so fast, I almost wonder if I imagined it.
“I won’t accept no,” Cairo says.
I nod, feeling emotion clog my throat. “Thank you.”
“Not needed. You’d do the same for me.” He rubs my shoulder. “Saint brought our van from the bakery, so we can load up your things.”
“Thanks.”
Cairo squeezes my hand and Gen smiles sweetly.
“We’ve got you, boo,“ Gen says.
I turn to Jude. “Thanks for calling in backup.”
He smiles. “No problem. Let’s get this stuff out of here.”
The six of us make pretty quick work of my things that aren’t sitting in water. Fortunately for me, I keep my clothes off the floor. We fill trash bags with clothes and other personal effects I don’t want to leave behind until they come to do the insurance estimate. Soon enough, we’ve got the van filled and my apartment cleared of anything important.
“Do you think they can save the couch?” Briar asks, studying the bottom of it.
I shrug. “Don’t know. It was cheap. I picked it up at the thrift store. No big loss.”
“And you’ll get some kind of reimbursement for the damage, right?” Jude asks.
“Probably, yeah.” I smile. “Well, I guess we can go, and then if y’all want, I can order pizza. It’s on me.”
“Jude and I are buying dinner,” Saint says.
My heart flutters in my chest. I exhale, forcing a smile to my lips.
“What’s wrong?” Cairo asks, rubbing my arm.