To the cabin

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There's a long list of auspicious things that came with the cabin his brother has bought for his workaholic wife-to-be. Christian likes staying there more than he can admit. It was a perfect weekend getaway except for when he wants to be a pesky jerk to Kylie, because as of the moment she's nowhere in sight.

"You won't find her." His brother patted his shoulder, nursing a glass of wine.

He doesn't usually play dumb, but it couldn't hurt to start now. "Who?"

"Nice try." Vren chuckles.

Realizing he's busted, he rolled his shoulders. "Where is she?"

"Oh, man. Audrey's going to kill you. She told you to leave Kylie alone." He laughs, more to the sight of his son blabbering at his mother's phone while the latter holds up her phone to take a photo of him.

"I'll pay front row tickets for me and Miles to watch that."

"Your fiancée is going to kill your brother. Shouldn't you be bothered?"

"I'm just showing my son how badass his mother is."

Christian snorted. "Nice parenting. Where's Kylie?"

"Groceries. With Matthew."

"I could've gone with her."

"Or you could've gone out with Matty."

Their heads snapped to the door of the cabin where Miles' nanny just made her way out – probably done from unpacking. She gave them both a smile and headed to the graveled driveway, to the struggling Audrey.

"I have no idea if he's avoiding you or she just likes Matthew." Vren glances briefly at him. "Maybe the latter."

"Or both." He chuckles, all the while wondering to himself why 'the latter' bothered him just a smidge. Sure, it was just a kick in his ego.

Bruised ego.

That's certainly the case.

A car comes into view from the bending road. Sure enough, it was Kylie and Matthew. It eases onto the driveway, Audrey waving at the newcomers. Miles copied his mommy, clapping as he sees his Uncle Matthew coming out of the car. He happily ruffles Miles' hair and turns to Kylie who started collecting grocery bags from the backseat.

She gives Miles a peck on the cheek.

Christian's gaze drags over her. A sigh that's a tad past appreciative breezes through his nose.

Kylie is wearing a bright yellow skirt that matches her the ginormous bow behind her head. He wasn't sure if it was the color of sunshine drawing his eyes on her. Or if Kylie was naturally a ray of radiant sunlight.

She climbs up the doorstep, a couple of grocery bags in hands. Her eyes found his. Lingered for a moment. "I knew you'd be here."

"This is pure coincidence."

"Right. Coincidence." She turns to the door and struggled with the knob, having her hands full.

Christian lifted the bags off her arms and gave her a wink when she gave him a look of surprise. "Thought I could be a gentleman at some points."

"Okay. A solid point." She opens the door for him, about to turn back around for another batch of grocery bags.

His pinky finger managed to link with the long sleeve of her blouse. "Hey, where do you think you're going?"

"Helping with groceries."

"We had it covered." He nudges a chin to the direction of Matthew and Vren carrying grocery bags, on their way to the doorstep.

Kylie smiles wryly. "I can hold the door open."

"Great idea, Buttercup." He grins.

Her mouth opened for a snarky comeback, but his brothers were already making their way in, so she stepped aside.

"Are those groceries ever going to make to the kitchen?" Vren asks with amusement.

"They were about to," Christian plays along.

"Are there anymore groceries?" This came from Kylie.

Matthew shakes his head with a smile. "Let the guys do the lifting. You're adorable for a reason."

Kylie's cheeks flushed.

He doesn't know what to make of it, but it certainly hadn't felt good on his part. His brothers follow close behind as they followed his lead to the kitchen. He set the grocery bags on the counter, the kitchen shrinking a size smaller with him and his brothers huddled together. Space wouldn't have been an issue when they were kids but they're all grownup now.

And they each one had a growth-spurt.

Audrey appears in the doorway. "Is it okay if I borrow Vren?"

"Oh, sweetheart, I would very much love to be borrowed." Their brother had on a tender look only Audrey can spark on him. He scrunched his shoulders as he wedged his way out between him and Matthew. Even with their efforts to shy away from shoulder to shoulder to collisions, they had failed.

"You guys made the kitchen look like a bathroom stall," she remarks with her always-there poker face.

"You're about to marry a man with a hot body. Don't complain." Their brother plants a kiss on his fiancée's forehead and swathed an arm around her waist as they both turn away from the kitchen.

Christian has been around far too often to admit he's seen the gesture more than he could count. He chances a glance over to the quiet Matthew who started putting away the groceries. "Matty."

"Yeah?"

"How long is your vacation?"

Matthew puts an orange juice to the fridge. "Long enough for you to be sick of my face."

There was a sound of heels clicking softly and they both turn to the doorway. "Can I help?"

"Sure. You can reach the top shelves with those heels." Christian peers down to the pointed toes of her shoes.

Kylie casted him a glare.

"So, have you thought about it?" Matthew asks as he takes out a cereal and place them on the top shelf. His brother – always the gentleman – was just saving Kylie from the embarrassment of trying to reach the top shelves.

Wait. Back up. "About what?" His head snapped to his brother.

They ignored him.

"I'm in," Kylie answered, her voice in a strange chirpy tone.

He whirled his head toward a smiling Kylie. "You're in with what?"

She doesn't answer.

"Good." Matthew chuckles.

Damn it. What the hell is going on?

First, he's being ignored, now he's freaking left out. Like an idiot, his head turn side to side – from Matthew to Kylie, then vice versa.

He shot both hands up in the air. "Just want to put this out there – I'm incredibly left out."

Matthew laughed. "Kylie's joining me for a run tomorrow morning."

"She is?" He asks, even when his head was turned to Kylie.

She raises an eyebrow. "She is."

"Can I come?"

"No."

"Sure."

He doesn't have to guess which answer belongs to whom when they answered at the same time. Kylie's delicate brows were drawn into a furrow. That's a giveaway. Matthew has plastered his hallmark benign smile. Another giveaway.

"Great. I'll see you guys tomorrow," he smirks.

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