This cracks everyone but me up, and it’s the last straw as I throw a hand up and say, “Fine, I do want her, okay? Can you blame me? She’s hot as fuck and funny as hell. So yeah, I like her. What’s the big fucking deal?”
Beside me, Miles does a slow clap, a huge shit-eating grin on his face. “Finally, he admits it.”
“That’s rich coming from you, bro.”
He laughs. “Whatever.”
The rest of my friends are all grinning too, and I know my admission is going to be an endless source of amusement for them. Fuck it, I don’t care because it’s the truth. I do like Quinn. Like her in ways I’ve never liked any woman before.
And yeah, it might scare the shit out of me—something I’m not about to admit to these shitheads—but that doesn’t mean I’m going to back away from it either. I just need to ride it out, wait for these feelings to go away or whatever. Then I’ll be fine.
“So does this mean I’ve lost my wingman?” Eli asks, taking a sip of beer.
“No, Maverick, it does not mean that,” I say, even though picking up random girls is the last thing I’m thinking about.
“Sure it doesn’t,” he replies sarcastically.
The next day, I surf in the morning before heading into The Pipe Dream to pick up some designs Nate’s been working on.
He’s grinning like an idiot when I walk in, Sage beside him, oblivious, I hope, to what was discussed between the guys last night. Although knowing Nate, I doubt he’s managed to keep his mouth shut.
“Morning,” he says, holding out his fist for a bump.
“Morning,” I reply before turning to Sage. “Hey.”
“Hey, Kai,” she says, a smile on her face that tells me I’m right. Nate didn’t keep his mouth shut. “Good night last night?” she asks.
I roll my eyes as I point a finger at Nate and say, “Like this guy didn’t tell you everything, I’m sure.”
She shrugs, all coy and shit as she says, “I don’t know anything except that you lot were apparently very interested in what we were talking about. Or maybe a certain someone in particular.”
“Nope,” I say, shaking my head. “I just hope Quinn had a good time hanging out with you girls. She needs some friends here.”
“She has you,” Sage says, still smiling.
“Yes, she does,” I confirm. “Now, am I picking up these designs or what?”
Nate laughs, reaching under the counter for a rolled-up tube of paper. “Jesus, not like you to be in such a hurry,” he says, hitting the tube against my arm. “Normally, you love to stand around and gossip.”
“Gossip, pfft, whatever,” I say, grabbing the tube. “So, this is the two new designs for the Brinkley order and the final design that Flynn’s settled on, right?”
“Yep,” Nate replies, crossing his arms over his chest as he grins at me.
Sage is doing the same thing, and even though I know exactly what this is about, I still ask, “What?”
Sage glances at Nate, her smile widening as she turns back to me and says, “You know, today is Quinn’s first day at work. Maybe you should drop by, see how she’s doing?”
“Maybe you should take her out for lunch?” Nate chimes in.
“Or book a massage?” Sage suggests.
“Okay, I love you both, but seriously, you can both fuck off,” I say, hitting them with a look. “Quinn and I are friends. That’s all.”
“Sure you are,” Nate replies, chuckling.
I give him a whack on the top of his head with the tube of his designs. “I’m outta here. Later, you two,” I say before turning and walking out of the shop.
I spend the rest of the day at the workshop, helping Dad with the boards. Thankfully, my brother isn’t working today, which means I’m saved from getting more shit about me and Quinn.
