Head Over Boots

8. Smile

I knocked on the door of the Brooks' household as Jane opened it.

"Morning Avery, go into the kitchen, Nathan is just finishing breakfast, I've got to go, I'm running late," She says breathlessly as she rushes down the driveway, leaving me in the doorway looking after her disappearing form.

I freeze in the doorway of the kitchen, taking in the sight in front of me. Jane had failed to mention that Nate was cooking breakfast shirtless. It was far from an unpleasant sight. I watched with my mouth hung open, it wouldn't surprise me if there was drool too, as his sculpted back muscles moved as he flipped the omelet in the frying pan. I quickly shook myself out of the trance and forced my feet to move into the kitchen, before I was caught staring.

"Morning," I said quietly as I put my bag down beside the island, making Nate jump, spinning around to look at me.  "Sorry." He looked just as good from this way too, I had to stop my eyes from wandering over his defined chest.

"Morning, Jen's still asleep, I've got to leave in half an hour and she was up a lot of the night having nightmares, so she's unlikely to be awake before I leave," I watch Nate's face as he frowns in concern. The care that he shows for his younger sister is admirable, most guys would just ignore her, favoring spending time with their friends.

"I'll let her sleep then." I sit down at the island as Nate brings over two plates of omelets.

"Here, I wasn't sure if you'd have already eaten or what but I made extra," he set one of the plates along with cutlery in front of me.

"Thank you, I hadn't eaten yet, but I feel like your family is feeding me all the time."

"It's no problem, you're doing us a huge favor."

"You do realize your mom is paying me? You don't need to pay me in food too, though I'm not complaining, this is amazing!" I say, the cheese in the omelet melting in my mouth.

"Thanks, but you saved us from having to use Jesse as a baby sitter," We both grimace at the thought.

"We'd probably have better luck with Jen babysitting Jesse. So where are you working? You didn't say yesterday?" I had spoken to Tessa last night and decided to follow her advice and try to make friends with Nate, something I was always hesitant about, but she was right, I needed more friends.

"Greg's Auto Body Shop, I worked there in high school, plus I get a discount on fixing the truck when it inevitably breaks down." He sighs, rolling his eyes.

"My brother works there, he's looking forward to you starting, can't wait to have more time off."

"Ah, he must be the new guy Greg was talkin' about, any tips to get on his good side?"

"Luke's pretty chilled out, he gets along with most people, but if you need topics to talk about football is always a safe one with either of my brothers." I finish off my breakfast, noticing he's finished too, I pick up both our plates, taking them over to the sink to wash up.

"Thanks, but you don't have to do that," as he stands beside me, placing our empty glasses on the side, I am suddenly very aware that he is, indeed, still shirtless.

"You cooked breakfast, which was amazing by the way, its only two dishes," I take the glasses, focusing on washing those too before setting them all on the draining board, every fiber of my being acutely aware of Nate still stood next to me, watching my every move.

"Shit, I better get Jenny up and get to work," Nate appears to snap out of whatever trance he was in, "thank you, I'll bring Jen down when she's dressed." I take a moment to take a deep breath and calm my flushed cheeks as he walks out of the room.