The Lunchtime Special

Chapter 9 - Illiterate Snakes

"Mia! What the fuck?"

Will's astonished cry jolts me from the lust haze that kissing Jake had engendered; as his lips are ripped from mine and his arms drop from around me, I reluctantly remove mine from his chest and turn to face my friend.

"Will? What...what are you doing here?"

He looks from me to Jake and back again before answering. "Laila said you seemed pre-occupied at training, so I was worried in case there was something wrong..." At a movement behind him, I realise Laila's here as well. Oh shit, and here I am making out with her brother!

"Will. Laila." Jake sounds far more confident and relaxed than I feel, though he's running a hand across his jaw in what could be a nervous gesture; I wish I knew him well enough to know.

"Hey bro." Laila's face cracks into a wide grin as she gives us both a speaking glance; she'd obviously seen us kissing too. I'm sure there's a twinkle in her eyes. I put a hand up to fix my hair.

"So you two are...?" Will's sentence trails off as he looks at us again, an eyebrow quirked inquisitively.

"Having dinner," Jake responds laconically, moving a little closer to me in a gesture that's almost protective.

"Are you cooking?" Laila asks her brother, a look passing between them that I don't understand the significance of. He nods in response and Laila immediately turns to Will. "We should go."

"What? Just like that? But we don't know if anything's wrong..."

"There's nothing wrong." "Everything's fine." "They're fine." Jake, Laila and I all answer at the same time, clearly confusing Will even further.

"What am I missing here?" he murmurs, more towards Laila, but I give a soft reply and tingle inwardly when Jake says the exact same thing at the same time.

"A hint?"

Laila hears us and grins again, grabbing Will's arm and dragging him towards the door; I follow along behind to see them out and Jake follows me – I'm not sure why; perhaps he wants to make absolutely sure they leave the premises. I know I do.

"See you!" Laila winks as she tugs a still confused Will into the driveway. "Next time we'll call first!"

I laugh a little self-consciously and wave them off, liking Laila more and more even as I'm acutely aware of the warm, strong body of her brother right behind me. His breath whispers over my neck and shoulders as we watch them drive away and I close the front door, shivering a little.

"Does this thing have a deadbolt?" His low enquiry sounds half amused, half serious.

"What's a deadbolt?" I tease, turning slowly to face him.

"Oh that's right; you mountains folk need to watch out for 'roos rather than intruders," he teases back, the corners of his mouth turning up.

"Don't be silly," I scoff, suppressing a grin with difficulty. "The 'roos don't come in the house. It's the snakes you have to watch out for."

"Snakes?" His eyes widen and I swear he's trying hard not to look around the room. "You get snakes in your house?"

"Sometimes, if I leave a door open."

"Venomous ones?"

I couldn't resist teasing him further. "Well, yes; apparently they either can't or don't bother reading the sign I have up stating only non-venomous snakes are allowed."

His eyes narrow and he steps a little closer. "Oh, you think you're so funny, small town girl?" The twitch of his lips tells me he's playing along with me.