Gathered Up. Annabeth Albert

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СКАЧАТЬ quite to the sweater gifting stage, though.” He said the last bit like the punch line to a joke I should know.

      “Knitting humor?” I asked.

      “Something like that.” He winked at me as he collected the drinks and headed back to the table.

      As the evening wound to a close, I came out from behind the counter to help put the tables back.

      “So, what’s the verdict? Is Ev a good teacher?” I asked Jonas.

      “The best. See what I made?” Jonas held out a scrap of lumpy knitted fabric. “It’s going to be a blanket for my guinea pig.”

      “You’re not getting a guinea pig.” All three kids were desperate for a pet, but with my hours and their schedules, it so wasn’t happening. Jonas looked at me like I stole the last chocolate bar and I sighed. “Sorry, buddy. Maybe someday.”

      “It would make a lovely coaster for a pot of tea,” Mira said faintly.

      “Can I at least have a teapot? One that plugs in?” Jonas asked. Kid didn’t even drink tea, but that was how his brain worked—an errant comment from Mira and he was off to the races. All that boiling water and the kid with no impulse control? My insides went all wobbly at the thought. “How about a water pitcher?”

      “I think I’ll take Mira home, get her settled while you close up,” Ev said, touching my shoulder. Even that small contact had me wanting to sink into him. “But then I can come and give you a ride home?”

      “You don’t have to.” It would be a long trudge without a skateboard for Jonas, but we’d done it before.

      “I want to.” Ev looked right at my mouth as he said the words. “And you do not work Sunday night right? I want to cook for you again.”

      My whole body went hot at the memory of the last time Ev had cooked for me. When I’d finally eaten the food on my break, each bite had been laced with the memory of his kisses. I wasn’t sure whether he meant cook or cook, but I had to shake my head.

      “It’s Brady’s birthday!” Jonas fairly trembled with excitement. “And we’re going to the zoo in the morning. Like last year. And then we’ll help him make the cake!”

      “It’s your birthday?” Ev made a tsking sound, like I should have told him sooner.

      “Yeah.” Truth was, I didn’t need a big fuss. Last year, Mom’s death had been fresher, and my birthday had been more about giving the kids something to get excited over and feel connected as a family about than something for me. But as I’d found out, kids love making traditions out of things. So zoo and a cake it was.

      “Jonas? Do you think your plans could include dinner at my house?” Ev spoke directly to Jonas. Manipulative, brilliant bastard. “If you want help making the cake, you could come early. Or you can bring the cake and I will do dinner.”

      Jonas considered his options with a very adultlike furrowed brow. “We’ll bring the cake. Do you know how to make whipped cream?”

      “I do indeed,” Ev said solemnly. “Now, what is Brady’s favorite food?”

      “Brady loves all the Turkish stuff you’ve made me,” I interjected before Jonas could request pizza or spaghetti, both of which were his favorites.

      Jonas thought for a minute. “Nothing too weird. And lots of bread. The floppy kind you had with the soup.”

      “Consider it done. Lots of bread. Maybe kebab? That’s meat on sticks?”

      Jonas nodded. “We’ll bring him to you at dinnertime. He doesn’t want presents unless we make them ourselves.”

      “That I can most certainly do.” Ev’s eyes sparkled.

      Later, as he drove us home, I said quietly, “You don’t have to make me something. And the kids are going to exhaust Mira. And it’s not like we’ll be able to—”

      “One more and and I’m going to make you barley water and knit you something unmentionable out of fake fur,” Ev grumbled. “It’s your birthday. People want to do nice things for you. Your job is to let them.”

      “All right. Although I’m intrigued by the fake fur—”

      “Hush. We do not speak of such atrocities.” Ev did an exaggerated shudder as he pulled up by the apartment building.

      “Thanks for the ride,” I said, checking my phone to see a message that the twins were on their way home as well.

      “Any time.” Ev spent a long moment looking right at my mouth, his eyes furrowed, like he was doing some complicated calculus about whether or not to kiss me good night.

      I solved the issue for him by leaning in to brush a quick kiss across his lips. Damn. Even the briefest contact with Ev’s mouth had all the sizzle.

      “Call me later.” I gave him a heated look promising all the whispered dirty talk he could stand. And yes, that was totally what my game was reduced to these days.

      “Is Ev like your boyfriend?” Jonas asked as I grabbed my skateboard from the back of the car.

      I waited until we were on the path to the apartment to answer. “Not exactly.”

      “But you both like kissing boys right?” Jonas pressed.

      “Yes. We both like kissing boys.” Oh, if only Ev saw it as simply as a ten-year-old.

      “I don’t want to kiss a boy.” Jonas made a sour face as he considered the prospect.

      “When you’re older, you can kiss whomever you’d like, as long as they want to kiss you back,” I said carefully, ruffling his hair.

      “Ev kissed you back.” Jonas gave me a sly smile. “I think you guys should be boyfriends. I like him.”

      “I like him too.” I sighed as I opened the door to the apartment. I like him far, far too much.

      Chapter 9

      Because we have spent so much time on gift knits the last few months, dear friends, I wanted to share my latest design with you. And I know I’m going to have a hundred comments, all asking me about the recipient, and all I can say is: no comment. Not yet at least…—Evren’s Yarnings

      The day of my birthday was the sort of perfect Portland spring day that makes all the rainy months worth it—gorgeous blue skies, mild temperatures, and green everywhere we looked. People too. The buses and sidewalks were crammed with people soaking up the change in seasons. The zoo was packed, but the kids had a great time. We didn’t have the money to do many outings like this, so it was nice to indulge them a bit. The girls wore the flowers Ev had knit them, and I posed them by a statue and sent him the picture. He replied back quickly.

      Happy birthday, tatlim. I am looking forward to later ;)

      Ha. I sincerely doubted there would be anything to wink over tonight, not with the kids and Mira around and Renee glued to her phone like it was a needy infant, responding to the slightest beep with a little excited “oh!” Yeah, no way was СКАЧАТЬ