Pregnant By My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 6

MARYANN'S POV:

"Get it together, Maryann," I scold myself, standing in the kitchen and preparing a plate of hot custard after frying four eggs for breakfast.

My trembling hands hold the turning spoon as I stir Mike's custard too. My mind keeps picturing the awkward moment Sunny caught me on the stairs.

How could I have foolishly lost my balance? I gently knock my head to warn myself to keep away from Sunny, to act normal around him. But it's impossible seeing how much more charming he's grown.

My heart races, wondering if Sunny will join my brother and me for breakfast. Will I be able to sit comfortably around him?

I blush just as I turn off the gas cooker, and the sound of the kitchen door opening gently catches my attention.

I turn around to see who it is. My brother enters, and I feel a little disappointed it's not Sunny.

How could Sunny sneak into the kitchen with me? What if Mike catches us together?

My face reddens as I look away from my brother and focus on turning his custard. My trembling hands reach for the liquid milk, and I open it and pour it into the custard.

Mike walks up to meet me standing near the kitchen island in our parents' modern kitchen. The kitchen is painted white and full of cooking utensils.

"Maryann, what are you up to?" Mike asks with a bright smile. He's wearing a yellow top that hugs his chest like a bodybuilder, paired with black jeans and black slippers, and he smells fresh like cinnamon.

"I'm making custard with fried eggs for the two of us," I inform him with a smile, looking up at his face.

My eyes meet his large blue ones, and he says, "Wow, sis. I don't think I should have hired a chef—your food is aromatic and smells delicious." He chuckles, making my lips curl up too.

"Yeah, I know," I reply, smiling. I shift his plate of custard and milk into view as I pass him his plate of fried eggs.

"It's just simple frying of eggs. What's so hard about it?" I ask, staring at his face as he towers above me.

"Hmm. It's not easy to fry eggs as delicious as yours. The last time I tried frying eggs, they got burnt, and I ended up throwing them away," Mike says, his face darkening at the memory of his inability to cook.

"You don't like cooking. Besides, cooking is for girls," I reply, grinning at his incompetence.

"It's fine. Men don't have to worry about cooking. Your wife will take care of that," I add as I finish pouring fresh liquid milk into my custard and peer at his face.

"You're right. So, that reminds me. Sunny told me he skipped breakfast with Jessica at his house because he didn't want her following him here. You'll have to make his portion," Mike says apologetically.

"Oh!" I pout, not wanting to cook for anyone.

"I can't cook for your friend," I complain, even as my heart swells at the prospect of cooking for Sunny.

Will he like my cooking? What if he rates me badly?

I don't want to hear Sunny badmouth my cooking. I remember catching him smiling and chatting with someone, so I frown and look away. I don't want to waste my energy on him since he has a girlfriend.

"Please…" Mike begs, and I roll my eyes at him. How can he ask me to cook for his best friend?

"Fine. I hope Sunny is the only one I have to make breakfast for today. If another of your friends shows up here to eat, then you'll be the one to cook for them," I mutter, dropping my hands from my chest as I glare at my brother's smiling face.

He grins and carries the two plates of custard I prepared for myself and him.

"None of them will be here until 6 p.m. Sunny and I have some work to do on my laptop. That's why I called him over. One more thing—my two girlfriends will be here at noon, so get ready to welcome them. I'll take these meals for Sunny and me," Mike says, stepping away from the island with the two plates before I can stop him.

"Wait, that's my food," I call after him, but he rushes out the kitchen door.

Mike bobs his head back through the door and says with a wink, "Make another breakfast. Please."

I pout in disagreement, but he shuts the door, leaving me alone.

"Fine." I grumble and reach for the frying pan to make another plate of eggs, then prepare another hot custard for myself.

After I finish cooking my breakfast, I place everything on a tray and want to step out to the dining room that connects to the living room, but I think against it.

Mike and Sunny are sitting there, and I don't want to hear any teasing.

I don't think my heart can stand it if Sunny doesn't like the food. It's just custard—it's not a heavy meal.

I shake my head and move to the kitchen's small dining table with four plastic chairs to sit and have my breakfast alone.

My mind replays the moment I crashed into Sunny at the stairs. Did he tell Mike about it? There's no way I'll join them at the dining table, I mutter to myself as I sit and eat.

The rich taste of the fried eggs soothes my racing heart as I eat them with bread and scoop warm custard into my mouth.

I lick my lips, hearing Mike and Sunny discussing their last soccer match loudly in the living room.

I hear Mike complaining about the referee who cheated during their last match. Their argument gets so heated you'd think they're quarreling.

My parents didn't allow me to attend the game and watch Mike play football, so I shake my head, finish my breakfast, and clean up the kitchen.

As I step out of the kitchen, Mike and Sunny are still eating the bread and eggs. They're done with their custard, and they pause their conversation to stare at me.

Sunny's gaze locks on mine, and my cheeks flush, but I try to stay calm and act like I'm not affected.

"Maryann, where's your breakfast?" Mike calls out when he sees me striding toward the stairs.

I'm conscious of Sunny's gaze on me, but I don't want to turn and meet it. However when I hear Mike's question, I know I can't avoid him.

"I'm done. I'll be in my room."

"Are you sure?" Mike asks, standing to meet me.

I take a step back as I reply, "Yeah. I ate in the kitchen."

"Are you avoiding Sunny? He won't do anything to you. You should see him as your brother and not let what Mom says affect your reasoning, alright?" Mike says with a smile, and I can't believe he's bringing that up.

"Sure," I reply, casting a glance at Sunny and seeing him frown.

Why is Sunny frowning? Does he think my brother is wrong?

I don't ask. I climb the stairs and rush back up to my room.

Once I enter my room, I hear my phone ringing on the shelf.

When I pick it up, I see it's Ruth Clement calling.

Taking a seat on my bed, I answer.

"Hello, Ruth. What's up?"

"I'm at your house. Since you invited me early, I'm bored and have nothing to do. Can you come down and ask the security man to let me in? He says it's your mom's order—no one is allowed into the house until six in the evening."

I roll my eyes at her words. I can't believe my mother has banned females from coming to our home too.

"Fine. I'll be there. Just give me a moment," I reply. I wasn't expecting Ruth to show up early.

The thought of meeting Sunny again in the living room makes me uncomfortable.

"Fine. I'm waiting," Ruth says patiently. I rush to the door to exit the room.

But as I step out, I meet Sunny and Mike ascending the stairs to the top floor.