I stood there, staring at the eggs in the pan, carefully monitoring the texture and color, making sure they weren’t overcooked, but definitely not undercooked either. The familiar crackle of heat beneath the pan was oddly soothing, giving my hands something to do, giving my mind a reason to focus. Behind me, I could hear the ongoing chatter of the guys, mostly David raving—again—about how excited he was to go out tonight. His voice carried easily over the quiet clatter in the kitchen, full of enthusiasm and zero awareness.
I got it, though. He had every right to be excited. He didn’t have four of his brother’s friends practically circling him like satellites, each one tugging at his attention, his energy. No one was following David around with heated stares or softly spoken suggestions th
