Page 24 of Next Level Up
“Shut up,” I mutter, wiping my palms on my leggings and walking to the door. I crack it open to Carter smiling like he’s been counting down the seconds. Tate is leaned against the doorframe.
“Hey,” he says, voice warm and instantly unraveling me. “Missed you.”
I open the door wider and he pulls me into a hug without hesitation, arms wrapping around my waist like I’m the one thing anchoring him to the planet. Tate steps in after him, his eyes raking over me. “You look exhausted.”
I blink. “…Hi to you too.”
“It’s a compliment.”
I roll my eyes, but my face is hot. Behind me, Cassie clears her throat, both of them turn.
Carter’s smile instant. “Hey, Cass.”
“Took you long enough,” she says with a laugh, brushing past me to give him a quick one-armed hug.
Tate watches them both, one brow arched like he’s sizing her up. I know she’ll approve of him just like Carter, but I still feel nervous.
Her eyes slide to him. “And you must be the infamous twin.”
“Infamous?” Tate drawls, lips twitching. “I haven’t even done anything yet.”
“That’s what worries me.”
“Cassie,” I warn jokingly. “Be nice.”
“I am being nice. This is my nice voice.”
Tate grins, and steps inside, dropping his bag by the door. Carter plops onto the couch, his eyes sweeping the living room. “You cleaned,” he says, impressed. “Or buried the mess with cozy throw blankets.”
“Cassie helped,” I admit, nudging her.
“She’s the miracle worker, I simply motivated her.” Cassie says, sinking into the armchair.
Carter grins. “Noted. I owe you a coffee or five.”
Tate meanwhile does a slow glance over of the room, his eyes slide over to where I’m still standing awkwardly, trying to pretend I’m not overly aware of both of them being here.
“You light a candle for us?”
I nod. “Yes, Tate I summoned you with chaos amber and feral musk. Might’ve carved a spell into the carpet, too.”
He drops onto the couch with a grunt, stretching his long legs out.
Cassie watches him, eyes narrowed slightly. “So are you always like this, or is today special?”
Tate shrugs. “Depends on how much caffeine I’ve had.”
Carter shoots me a smile that grounds me immediately. “I’m glad we came Haven.”
“Me too.” I mean it, every word, every second. I already feel the stress at bay and they’ve been here less than ten minutes.
The doorbell goes off a moment later. Cassie hops up to grab it, and I follow her to the door while the twins stay sprawled across the couch.
“You’re blushing,” she whispers as we grab the bags.
“I am not.”
“Yousoare.”
