Page 116 of Seal the Deal
Andrew sighs, rubbing his temples. Damn, that nap really fucked up his head. It’s fuzzy, not that he needs anyone else to know that.
“This house is hideous, it looks like a museum,” Eden complains, eying it with displeasure. Given that he actually likes Charlie’s brightly colored, hodgepodge house, it’s no surprise he hates Nicholas’s house with its expansive size, lavish furnishings and white and cream color palette. Andrewlovesit.
“Would you believe Nicholas decorated it himself?” Amanda shares. “I mean he hired a decorator, but he picked it all.”
“Did he?” Andrew says, unsure why that makes him like it more.
“See, money can’t buy taste.” Eden frowns at the couch like it’s offended him.
“Speaking of money, Nicki’s personal chef made us brunch,” Amanda says, probably trying to say something she thinks Eden will like, but it has the opposite effect.
“A personal chef?” Eden groans, turning to walk away. “I’m going to the gas station for food.”
That response gets Andrew off the couch and across the room, no hesitation in pulling Eden into a hug from behind. “Easy, Eden.”
“No,” Eden gripes, but he does, in fact, stop moving.
“Are you mad Nicki’s rich or mad he’s a man?” Andrew questions, careful to keep his tone nonaccusatory and gentle.
“Both,” Eden snaps. “I don’t trust him. I don’t want him dating you.”
“Okay, Eden.”
“You’re pacifying me,” Eden hisses, sagging in Andrew’s hold. “You fucker.”
“Would you prefer I told you to relax?”
“Not on your fucking life.”
“Didn’t think so,” Andrew says, knowing that this is a lot for Eden. Asking him to accept a fake relationship was a reach. Asking him to accept a real one is even more so. Andrew shared the truth of his changing relationship with Nicholas in a text to Eden yesterday, the response brief and noncombative. He’d known he would see the repercussions of his confession in person at this brunch.
“If he hurts you, I’m going to kill him.”
“That won’t be necessary, but the protective instincts are appreciated. You know I love you, right?”
“Shut up, Andrew.”
Shut up. Eden code forI have too many feelings. Andrew lets it drop, both because he can sense it’s not the right time to push Eden and because he genuinely feels like shit. He needs some coffee to wake him up.
“There’s Red Bull in the fridge. The new limited edition flavor you like.”
“Is it Nicholas’s?” Eden questions.
“Yeah, he drinks them sometimes.”
“Good, then I want two,” Eden says, seemingly cheered up by the prospect of drinking Nicki’s energy drinks.
“I want a mimosa,” Amanda says. “Does anyone else want one?”
“I don’t want a mimosa,” Eden pipes up. “Champagne tastes like carbonated piss.”
“I don’t know if I want to know what kind of champagne you’re drinking or why you know what piss tastes like.”
“Not literally,” Eden says with a roll of his eyes. “Oh and uh—” Eden pushes, shoving his hands into his hoodie which is sooversized, it’s covering most of his short, hot pink skirt. “I got you this.”
He removes his hands from his hoodie pocket, holding out a small box towards Amanda.
“Is this that blue eyeliner you used at your birthday?” Amanda asks.
