Leaving Flynn to create his culinary delight, I organize drinks for the girls. The TV is off now, and with the music low in the background, I feel more relaxed than I have in a long time. I can see a future like this, the four of us spending time together. I remember back to when Flynn was in Australia, and I was so wrapped up in work and looking after our parents that it wasn’t until he came home for a holiday that I realized I actually missed him. But it wasn’t until he moved back permanently and we started working together that we really developed a proper adult brotherly relationship.

But this, here, tonight.

This is what I longed for.

I’m in the kitchen stacking the dirty pots and pans from Flynn’s cooking that is now in the oven, and my phone buzzes for the fourteenth time.

“Just in case you were all worried, Mum and Dad are now down to five minutes away.” I look up at the two girls laughing, and Flynn just drops his head into his hands. “Lord, help us,” I mumble to myself.

“Oh, tonight is going to be so much fun,” Harper calls out to me, and she is being sarcastic, but just seeing her enjoying herself and not thinking about her life outside this apartment is comforting.

“I’ll ask you if you feel the same after they have left later, hey, Flynn?” But before he can reply, Felisha is looking at both of us.

“You two boys are terrible. Your mother is so beautiful and kind, and your dad, he’s a sweetheart. I don’t know where you two come from, because you didn’t inherit any of their good qualities, that’s for sure.” She hits Flynn with a cushion off the couch.

“What do you mean, that’s exactly how you would describe me and my brother. I’m beautiful and kind and he’s a sweetheart.”

This brings a huge explosion of laughter from all four of us.

“You can’t be any further from that, Mr. Annoying and Proverbial Pest.” Felisha points to Flynn.

While Harper points to me. “And Mr. Grumpy and Serious over there didn’t get any of the sweetness, that’s for sure.”

“How do you know I don’t taste sweet?” And it’s game on, judging by the look in her eyes at my comment.

Trying to come up with a reply, she is saved by her friend.

“Well, I don’t know about that, but I can confirm my man is annoying and certainly doesn’t taste sweet at all. Have you smelt this man’s gym socks? There’s not a chance in hell that any part of him tastes good.” Felisha kisses Flynn on the cheek as she gets up to walk toward me with the empty glasses from the table.