We Never Kissed

Chapter 17

Ava

“You are such a little liar.” Gunnar pulled a box off the counter and moved it to the kitchen table before hopping up on top of it to sit.

“Come on, we need to keep working,” I said with a whine to my voice that I regretted. I did not want to become the mom of our apartment. Plus, whenever I’d gone to his place, it was always well-decorated, neat, and clean. “We’re never going to get this shit done if we don’t keep at it.”

“We have forever to unpack, and those fine young men out there are still unloading the truck, so spill it before they come back.”

I pulled some dish towels from a box and shoved them into a drawer. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We were watching a movie.” I shrugged.

“You cannot tell me that man of yours didn’t give you the massive O when you guys were on the couch under that blanket. I heard…noises.”

I opened another box that wasn’t labeled for some reason and found it was filled with what looked like designer shoes. “This isn’t kitchen stuff,” I said, annoyed.

Gunnar leaned over and peeked inside. “Yeah, those are mine.”

“Why do you have a box of designer shoes? Some of these are women’s shoes.”

He stared at me with a smirk on his face. “I’ll tell if you tell.”

I threw a look over my shoulder to check we were safe. “Fine, be that way. But, I’m not gonna say anything because I don’t want to get in the habit of kissing and telling, especially when I’m trying to get you and Alex to get along.” Then, I gave him a single nod, holding back a grin.

“Holy shit! I knew it. But you guys still haven’t done it yet, right?”

I threw a hand on my hip and glared at him.

“Fine…respecting privacy and all that crap.” His shoulders slumped like he was twelve and I’d told him no video games .

I scoffed. “First of all, now you have to tell me where you got all these. And second, you’re going to get your ass off the counter and take this box into your room.”

Reversing the order, Gunnar hopped off the counter. “Before we left, I stopped by my parents’ house, told them I was collecting for charity, got some stuff from their closet and my little sister’s.”

“And they just gave you all these shoes that look brand new?” My tone told him I was more than skeptical.

Lifting the box, he said, “ Gave is a tricky word…”

I smacked him on the shoulder and then followed him out of the kitchen. “I can’t believe you stole all these.”

“My family doesn’t need them and probably won’t even know they’re gone. Besides, I thought we could bring them with us to that homeless shelter we were going to visit when we were settled.”

“Oh, good idea…I think?”

“Hey, just because they’re homeless doesn’t mean they don’t want to look dazzling in a pair of Louboutins.”

“You’re right,” I said as he moved into the hallway while I stopped in the living room, noticing Alex walking up with a box. “And that’s why I love you…and why I put up with your crap. Now go put that box away.” I rushed to pull the door open farther and then hold it for Alex.

“Did you just say you loved Gunnar?” He passed me with a glare I could tell was forced. “While I’m over here killing myself carrying all these boxes?”

“You’re fine…” I pointed to the living room. “And I’m pretty sure those are pillows so…” Then I tapped him on the ass before I realized how dumb that was.

Because a second later, my brother, Sammy, was coming through the door, carrying an artificial plant in a basket. “All that’s left are those two floor lamps.”

“Thank you both so much.” I glanced around the room at all the boxes, the thought of all the work ahead not as terrible as I’d anticipated. I was just happy to be out of my parents’ house. They were awesome about all this, but now I could have time with Alex and not stress over it.

“I’ll grab those lamps,” Alex said.

But just as he rounded the couch, Gunnar came from the hallway. “Wings and beers on me.” He held up his phone. “There’s a place not far from here that’s supposed to be amazing. Nice bar. Great food.”

“I could eat,” Sammy said. “Thanks.”

“Um, hello? Don’t you have a wife and child to get to?” I chimed in.

“Yeah, Alex, don’t-cha?” Sammy chuckled.

“Hey!” I said in defense of my sister-in-law and nephew.

“Come on, I’m kidding. They’re at Sadie’s place, so I would have been on my own for dinner anyway. ”

Gunnar moved farther into the living room. “How about you, big guy?” he said to Alex, gripping his shoulder.

I caught a wince from Alex, but he still said, “Sure, why not?”

We took a few minutes to make sure everything was in and secure, locked up our new apartment, and then headed over to Ted’s Tavern, arriving in the thick of happy hour.

I sat between Alex and Gunnar at the table, across from Sammy, which was good and bad. I didn’t have to worry about avoiding weird eye contact with Alex, but Sammy had the perfect view to catch anything suspect between Alex and me.

As it turned out, we were all starved, and the wings were amazing. Most of the conversation was around Gunnar and his family. Alex and Sammy were giving him the third degree like they would if he were a date or boyfriend, and I pretty much let it happen. I knew Gunnar could hold his own. But then the guys turned up the heat.

“So, you just gonna live off your trust fund, or you’re actually going to work?” Alex said.

My mouth flew open. “Alex!”

“It’s totally fine,” Gunnar said, putting a hand on my arm.

Sammy leaned in, elbows on the table as if he were dying to know the answer too.

“I do have some skills,” Gunnar said, passing his gaze around the table.

“That’s right. He’s an incredible dancer, extremely smart, and has better people skills than either of you.”

“Thanks, baby… And actually it’s those people skills I’ll tap into. I have a lot of experience working in my family’s hotels in Vegas. I’ll probably use some of my hookups and try to get a concierge job. If there’s one thing I’m the freaking best at, it’s planning fun shit to do and spreading joy.”

“I gotta hand it to you, man,” Sammy said. “You’re using what you learned from your family but not so much their money.”

“Thank you, sir,” Gunnar said like he was talking to his prom date’s dad.

I elbowed Alex in the side, and he flinched.

“Yeah, yeah, respectable.”

Gunnar gave him the side-eye before he continued, “Full disclosure, though, I’ve enjoyed the benefits of their wealth for a long-ass time.”

“But you do a lot of giving back and charity work, and that counts too.” I nodded emphatically.

“And don’t you two worry… I’m going to take real good ca re of your little girl.” Gunnar draped an arm around me, and I couldn’t help but bust out laughing.

I didn’t care that they were all talking about me like I wasn’t there. I knew I could stand on my own two feet, but I was grateful I had three amazing men who looked out for me.

Alex pushed out his chair. “Well, I’m going to the bar to get drinks. Our server is MIA.”

“I’ll help!” Gunnar said excitedly, jumping up to follow Alex. He threw a grin at me over his shoulder. Gunnar might put up this silly front, but I knew he sought their approval.

I watched them make their way up there and noticed it was pretty crowded at the bar area too. As they were waiting for a space to open up, a gorgeous and tall blond ran up to Alex and threw her arms around him. They were almost the same height, and I wondered if she was some model he’d dated. My pulse quickened as I waited for him to give her the brush off, but instead his arms went to her back. And then, she kissed him on his fucking mouth!