Thaddeus looked between us. “Sounds . . . interesting.”
“No, it’s really not,” I answered before Tap could. “My best friend has a habit of exaggerating. I like to cook but I’m no expert.”
“Hear, hear.” Tap grinned. “Especially to that last part.”
I groaned and pushed the bacon his way. “I’m sure you can fit some more in that big mouth of yours,friend.”
Tap smiled and stuffed three rashers of bacon into his gob at one time.
After giving Tap time to chew and swallow, Thaddeus said, “Tap’s an unusual name. Not sure I’ve ever heard it before.”
And I could’ve kissed him. “It certainly is.” I shot my best friend an amused look. “Care to explain?”
Tap’s gaze narrowed, and he groaned. “Not particularly, but I know you will.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely—” I turned to Thaddeus. “—when Tap started working for me, it became abundantly clear in a very short amount of time, that if there’s a water main or any underground piping to be found at a job, Tap will inevitably hit it with his spade, backhoe, pickaxe, rotary hoe, basically whatever he has in his hand that day. You name it, Tap can strike water with it. I swear, the man missed his calling as a diviner.”
Tap’s dark olive skin turned a pretty shade of burnt umber, and he grumbled, “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, arsehole.”
Thaddeus gave a toothy grin. “I think it’s kind of awesome.”
Tap all but preened. “See?” He looked at me as he pointed his fork Thaddeus’s way. “Finally, some appreciation.”
“It’s more that I can somewhat relate,” Thaddeus clarified. “At the risk of being evicted from your property forthwith, I cannot lie. If you give me a plant, I can kill it. It’s my one and only superpower.”
I gasped in mock horror. “And I invited you to my table? What was I thinking? Now who’s the serial killer?”
Thaddeus grinned and raised his hands. “Busted.” Our gazes locked for a little too long, and Tap didn’t miss it.
He considered Thaddeus for a long moment, and I recognised that mischievous look. “Ry said you had a tough day yesterday and that it’s your car in the compost heap.”
Thaddeus looked my way, and I held up my hands. “He saw it as he drove in.”
Thaddeus groaned. “Not my finest moment. And yes, it wasn’t the best of days. It’s not a secret or anything, just embarrassing.” And with that, he continued on to give Tapa summary of his day, including thebest friend fucking his boyfriendpart.
By the end of it, Tap was nodding in sympathy. “Well, that sucks from beginning to end. Yourboyfriend—” He shot me a glance as he emphasised the word. “—sounds like a total jerk. And your so-called best friend isn’t any better, just saying.” He sat back in his chair and studied Thaddeus. “So, you don’t have a joboran apartment to go back to?”
Thaddeus didn’t answer immediately. He flicked me a glance like he was weighing his answer, then shrugged and said, “It is what it is. Things will sort themselves out.”
Tap nodded sagely. “They always do. Gotta pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep going.” His gaze flicked to me. “We’ve all been there, right, Ry?”
A crease formed between Thaddeus’s brows, and his attention switched to me. “What happened to—” He didn’t get to finish, his question lost to the familiarbeep-beep-beepof a truck backing somewhere outside.
“Did you already call for a tow?” I checked with Thaddeus.
“No.” He shook his head. “I was going to ask you for a recommendation.”
I caught Tap’s eye. “Jesus Christ. That better not be?—”
“Oh, hell no.” Tap was on his feet and running down the hall before I’d even pushed my chair back.
Thaddeus’s eyes sprang wide. “What’s happening?”
But I was already on the move, grabbing my coat as I jogged to the front door.
“Ryder!” Thaddeus ran behind. “What’s up?”
I stepped onto the porch and reached for my boots. “There’s Klingons on the starboard bow, that’s what.”
