Justine noted Auggie’s glare and smothered a laugh.

“Subtle is sexy,” Xavier continued. “But a good kiss shares feelings and intent.”

“Oh my God, Xav. Sometimes sex is just sex. You can get down with a body and not care one fuck about feelings.”

“Nice mouth.”

“Yeah? Well, I know how to get what I want without all the babble that goes constantly through your mind.”

“Please. You’d need to have a few thoughts to share before macking it with any beef-bod in sight.”

Justine worried the two might get into a serious argument, their tones more aggressive. But Auggie burst into laughter.

“‘Beef-bod?’ What the hell is that?”

He gave a sheepish grin. “I don’t know. It just popped out.” He said to Justine, “See, this is how we communicate. Auggie drives me nuts, then I spout nonsense. It’s sad.”

“It’s actually pretty funny.” Justine snickered. “My sisters aren’t that great at arguing. Angela steamrolls over you while Mallory cajoles like a whipped puppy. I end up sitting there until one of them shuts up. Then I act like I missed everything and ask them to repeat it. Never fails to annoy the heck out of them.”

“Hmm. Not a bad strategy,” Auggie said. “You’re not as dumb as you look.”

“Thanks so much for that,” Justine deadpanned, which had Auggie laughing.

Then Xavier cut in with his idea of a good date, information he planned on imparting to his candidate for his mother’s next outing.

Justine liked his take and added her two cents, not realizing how interesting she’d become to his sister.

Auggie watched her brother and Justine interact, sensing a lot more bubbling under the surface than just friendly banter.

Xavier’s gaze seemed glued to the pretty brunette. And though Justine tried to include Auggie in on the conversation, which was a decent thing to do, the woman had a tendency to study Xavier with more interest than she was probably aware of.

Just a neighbor? Please. Xavier had I Want This One plastered all over his face. That he acted super casual and not at all interested said volumes to Auggie. She’d have to keep an eye on Justine.

“I know, right? Who goes to a movie on a first date?” Xavier was saying.

“You can’t talk during a movie. I think it’s a lot more fun to do something together. Like going to a museum or the arboretum. Maybe on date three or four you see a movie or a play. A concert even. But you need time and space to talk.”

“Exactly.” Xavier nodded, a sparkle in his eyes. “Communication,” he emphasized with a sharp look at Auggie, “improves the more you use it. Plus, you and your date are new, so you need to feel each other out.”

“What I was saying,” Auggie muttered.

“Verbally,” he stressed, “to see what you both like, what you have in common.”

“So when do you get to the favorite color, favorite number conversations?” Justine asked, nursing her coffee.