Page 76 of When The Mountains Held Us

“Oakley?! Come help me pick a movie! Levi is more than capable of jerking himself off without your help.” Jessie’s voice calls up to me from the living room, and mortification washes over me.

“Oh my God,” I mutter as I dump my dirty clothes in my room and make my way down the hall to the stairs.

“Tell Jessie it’s way more fun when you help me,” Levi says, and I can practically hear the Cheshire grin taking over his face.

“Yeah, I’m not telling her that,” I laugh. “Talk to you tomorrow?”

“Talk to you then,” he agrees. “Have a good night, love.”

The line goes dead as he ends our call, his newest term of endearment hitting me right in the feels. Love. There’s something gentle yet possessive about the way he uses it, and it makes my heart swell.

I round the corner into the living room to see Jessie sitting cross-legged on the couch, Bandit at her side, and Netflix already loaded up on the TV. The pizza boxes are set up on the coffee table, complete with a six-pack of a hard apple cider I’ve never heard of. Jessie gives me a knowing smirk as I sit down next to her and scratch the top of Bandit’s head.

“Now that you’re nice and relaxed,” she waggles her eyebrows suggestively at me and motions to the screen, “Bridesmaids or Bad Moms?”

Thirty-Eight

Levi

Five o’clock comes far too quickly the following morning. Between the long day on the job once we arrived, the after-work drinks at the local watering hole with the guys, and the lumpy motel mattress, my body feels like it’s been put through the wringer.

I found myself tossing and turning all night, stuck in that half-awake, half-asleep place, haunted by blue-gray eyes and the echoes of her moans. Those two things alone would have been enough to lull me to sleep, but the stray spring that kept stabbing me in the lower back every time I rolled over kept me up for longer than I actually slept.

I drag myself out of the truck and make my way over to where the rest of the guys stand to the side of the construction site. They look like a group of old gossiping church ladies, standing in a circle and muttering over their steaming cups of coffee.

We’re all up earlier than normal, but with only a limited amount of time on this job, Isaac wanted us available to lend a hand as much as possible. I suppose we’re all somewhat spoiled back in North Creek. What other construction crews do you know who start their day at eight?

When I reach the group, the guys greet me with their own individual grumbles, all of them nursing extra-large coffees from Stewart’s. How is it that I got here right on time, yet I’m the last on the site? I’m used to being one of the first ones at work in the morning, so I guess that little bout of phone sex with Oakley took it out of me.

I’m staring longingly at Brandon’s coffee, wishing I had thought to stop and grab myself a cup, when Justin nudges me with his elbow. Still in a daze from lack of sleep and caffeine, I drag my eyes over to him and nearly cry in relief when he hands me a cup.

“You’re a lifesaver,” I say as I gratefully take the cup from him and take a sip. The hot liquid slinks down my throat in the most delicious way, warming me from the inside out.

“No worries. I figured you’d oversleep today,” Justin replies, a hint of mischief shining in his eyes.

“What makes you say that?” I ask, not actually caring to hear the answer as I take another gulp of the coffee.

“My room shares a wall with yours. Sounds like Oakley wore you out.”

I choke on a mouthful of coffee, the drink burning my throat as it gets stuck and threatens to reappear through my nose. I cough, pounding a hand on my chest.

I should be embarrassed, but when you go through most of your life with the same friend by your side, there’s little room for shame.

I am, however, not thrilled at the thought of Justin laying witness to the sounds Oakley makes when she comes.

Justin must see on my face the second that thought crosses my mind, because his eyes go wide in momentary panic, and he throws his hands up in front of him in surrender. “I swear to God, I didn’t hear anything but the beginning! I’ve never thrown earbuds in so fast. I think my ears are still ringing from the death metal I played to drown it out.”

“Good,” I say, relief flooding through me at knowing he didn’t hear anything too crazy. Oakley’s breathy little moans and gasps are all mine.

“Though, I think there’s something wrong with my one earbud. I might need you to talk me through how to fix it.” There’s no hiding the self-satisfied smile that splits Justin’s face.

“You motherfucker.”

He backs away, hands up, and I take a step towards him. He backs away again, a nervous laugh bubbling up. Our antics have caught the attention of the rest of the guys, and they watch on in quiet amusement.

“I promise I’ll be a good boy and listen to your instructions.” He says it loud enough that every single member of the crew hears it, and all of them, Justin included, break out in a fit of laughter.

Alright, even I can admit that was pretty funny. Besides, he’s not laughing at Oakley; he’s laughing at me. A smirk tugs at my mouth.