Page 397 of Double or Nothing

Jack looks down.

“Was that you, Soul Girl?”

“Yep. It was me.”

Bryce’s stomach answers mine with a quieter growl of his own.

Jack grins.

“Excellent. The mating call of the victorious. How intoxicating.”

“Kitchen!” I order.

Both men look at me.

“You heard me.” I grin. “Move.”

Jack raises his eyebrows.

“Bossy.”

“Yeah, well. I’ve spent weeks doing everything I’m told. Time to swing it back a little.” I point through the apartment towards the kitchen island. Our hub of domesticity. “Sit down. Both of you.”

Jack places one hand against his chest.

“You’re going to boss me about now? In my own home? Cheeky.”

“Especially in your own home.”

The guys do as they’re commanded, and it fills me with joy to have my own say in life again. My yellow is starting to glow again.

Jack takes a stool beside Bryce. They sit shoulder to shoulder, watching as I open cupboards.

I know where everything is. The plates. The glasses. The bread. The ridiculous quantity of cheese Jack keeps in the fridge despite rarely cooking anything.

My body remembers this kitchen.

So does something deeper.

There’s no need to ask permission here. No need to wonder whether I’m allowed to open a cupboard or move an object from the place someone else chose for it.

Jack called this place home before I did. Now the word is everywhere. All three of us using it as one.

I wrap some ice in a tea towel and press it into Bryce’s good hand.

“Hold that over your knuckles. We don’t want to have to zoom over to A&E.”

Bryce pulls a face when he holds it in position, but he does it anyway.

Jack watches him with open admiration.

“Look at you. First punch of your life. Remember this moment, BT.”

“I’m hardly proud of it.”

“You should be. The prick insulted Alice. I wanted to smash his head in myself.”

“He won’t be doing that again,” Bryce says. “Or I’ll give him another one. Even if I do bust my knuckles in the process.”