Ah, Christ . . .
“Easy, man,” Luke mumbles behind his bottle, speaking low enough I’m the only one hearing him.
I shoot him a look, then realize the expression I had watching my new partner hit on my girl is the exact same expression I’m hitting Luke with. Didn’t even realize I was wearing one, but I am.
Arms across my chest. Mouth tight. Brow furrowed. Jaw clenching hard. And hand threatening to smash this beer bottle if I don’t ease up with my grip.
Luke and Ben don’t know shit about Riley and me except that we’re living together. And that we had sex at the wedding—that information coming from their women, which they wasted no time busting my balls about when they both saw me on the Fourth. They don’t know any more than that. I haven’t said a word, and Riley hasn’t either. But I’d be shocked if Luke wasn’t at least suspicious now. And if he’s suspicious . . .
I cut my eyes to Reed, meeting his narrowed ones.
Fuck.
Inhaling a deep breath, I try and relax, putting my attention back on Grayson as he keeps at it.
“I saw them live last year when I was living in Huntsville. They were awesome,” he says. “They put on a real good show.”
“Yeah, I heard that. I heard they were really good live.”
“They might be coming to that South Will Rise festival in August,” he shares. “I’m trying to get tickets. I could—”
I know exactly where this conversation is going. And over my dead body is it going there.
His too.
“Maybe you should hold up buying tickets to something like that,” I interrupt, my suggestion sounding more like a fucking command he needs to follow.
Grayson quickly looks over at me, blinking like a deer in headlights.
I glance at Riley before I say any more and watch the blush warm her cheeks and her lips press together. “I’m just saying,” I continue on a shrug, voice firm and eyes slicing back to Grayson. “We work a lot of weekends. I don’t want you wasting your money.”
Or your fucking time, which is exactly what you’re doing here.
He nods slowly, thinking it over. “Yeah, that’s true. Good idea. I’ll probably wait,” he agrees, seeming to genuinely appreciate the heads up I’m giving him. Grayson turns back to Riley.
I do the same.
Her eyes jump from him to me.
“Don’t you gotta be helping with the boys?” I ask before Grayson opens his mouth first and suggests they go to fucking prom together. “Food’s ready.”
Riley’s eyes widen and briefly land on the back of Ben, then she spins around and hurries to the stairs like she’s worried he’ll say something to her about not helping out yet.
Luke laughs under his breath, the all-knowing bastard. I’m sure his dumb ass is enjoying this.
I chug half of my beer and wonder what Jacobs—my old partner—is up to.
“Hats off to whoever built this deck,” Reed says, grinning proudly. He leans his elbow against the rail and surveys his work, looking across the length of it. “Fine quality craftsmanship. I don’t think I’ve seen better.”
“Thanks,” Ben smugly replies. “I remember doing most of the work myself.”
Reed glares at him. “You did most of the work yourself? You helped, Ben. And I use that word lightly. The only real thing you did was bust my balls about Beth.”
“`Cause you were fucked.” Ben takes the last burger off the grill and slides it onto the plate. He laughs at Reed. “Don’t try and deny it, man. We all remember how pathetic you were.”
“Yep,” Luke throws out, grinning.
Reed scowls, looking between the two of them. “Oh, like you two didn’t act like a bunch of pussies when it came to your women. Fuck you,” he says. His head turns just as Beth emerges from the stairs, then he straightens up, watching her smile at him. “Yeah, I’m pathetic. For her? I’ll be pathetic all damn day,” he mumbles, stepping away to get to his wife.
Luke and Ben laugh while walking over to the table. Grayson moves around me to get to the cooler, freeing up my line of sight.
I watch Riley step up onto the deck. She’s carrying Chase, smiling at him and poking his stomach, making him giggle. My chest expands as I stare at her sweet dimples and the way the sun reflects off her hair.
“Hey, CJ.”
I look down at Nolan after he speaks. He’s got dirt smeared on his forehead and sand in his hair. “What’s up, man? How you doing?”
“I’m okay.” He stuffs his hands into his front pockets, keeping his head lowered. “Ms. Riley said she had to carry Chasey and couldn’t carry me,” he shares, looking disappointed.
“Well, he is a lot smaller than you.”
“He can walk up the stairs. He does it all the time.” Nolan sighs and kicks at the deck. “Did my dad tell you I got a girl now?” he asks, peering up at me.
My mouth twitches. “Oh yeah? What’s her name?”
“Ryan. She’s my age. I send her pictures I draw.”
“Sounds serious.”
Nolan nods, a heavy breath leaving him. “Yeah. I’m a wreck.”
I chuckle, head turning. “I feel ya, man,” I say, watching Riley take a wipe out of the pack on the table and clean off Chase’s hands.
“Nolan, come get washed up,” Mia calls from inside the house. The little guy walks around me. “Luke, CJ, can you grab some of this stuff so we can eat?”
I set my beer down on the corner of the table and step through the slider.
Mia hands me a bowl of potato salad and a plate of cut up tomatoes, gives Luke two things to carry, and then grabs some serving spoons. “Here.” She sets them on top of the cellophane. “Tell everyone to start eating. I’ll be out in a second,” she informs us before ushering Nolan down the hallway and into the bathroom below the stairs.
Tessa moves around the counter carrying a serving tray of mac and cheese, grinning at me like she’s in on some big secret.
My eyes narrow.
Yep. I fucking knew it. Riley has definitely been talking. And the fact that Tessa knows means I’m about to get all kinds of shit right now.
That’s how she operates, especially if she’s happy for you.
“How’s it going?” Tessa asks me, stopping close.
“Fine,” I grunt.
“Ha! Yeah, okay.” She glances outside. “The new guy seems nice. Very friendly . . .”
My mouth hardens.
“Babe,” Luke warns.
Tessa ignores him and gives me a wink. “Good luck out there, Tully,” she says. “We’re all rooting for you. Well, maybe not Reed.” She smiles big before moving away and stepping through the slider.
“Unbelievable,” I mumble. The new guy seems nice? So much for friends. I look to Luke.
“She ain’t wrong,” he offers. “He seems like a good kid. And you two should get along good, considering what all you got in common.” A grin slowly spreads across his mouth.
I glare at him. Luke’s grin keeps spreading.
“Shut the fuck up,” I growl. “And move your ass already. I’m starving.”
Throwing his head back with a laugh, Luke follows his wife outside.