Page 75 of Shattered Hearts

“I’m not sure, but I do know that every time Cole beats her in their online competitions, Paisley goes all quiet and moody.”

“So, she remains her normal self,” Reid snickers.

I clip him on the back of the head, knocking off his brown suede hat. “Stop picking on Paisley. She’s not that bad.” I say, defensively.

Knox waves his hand. “See. She’s nice.”

“Are we both talking about the Paisley who bartends at Ashwood Afterhours?” Reid teases with a cocked brow.

Knox nods. “Yeah, that one.”

“The girl who barely speaks,” Holden adds.

The corner of my mouth twitches. “You’re one to talk…” I drawl.

Reid laughs. Holden rolls his eyes lazily. Knox shrugs. “She talks with me.”

“Hmm,” Reid hums, crossing his arms over his chest. “Maybe there is another side to her that we are yet to see.”

Knox shakes his head.

Holden puts his hammer down. “She’s friends with Macie and Laynie.”

My throat dries a little at the sound of Laynie’s name, and I turn away, dropping everything in my hands. My cheek still tingles from the kiss she gave me the other night. It made my brain short circuit a little. After seeing her in the bath and washing her hair, I was surprised all I could manage was to peck her temple, which I have done before, but this time it tingled with vitality.

“Speaking of, they should be here shortly,” Reid interjects, making me peer at him.

“Macie and Laynie?”

He nods. “Yeah, it’s almost four, and Laynie is spending the night here.”

I look at my phone. It’s ten to four already. Today has flown by.

“Cole will be coming home tonight, also. He doesn’t have a race this weekend,” I add, recalling his schedule.

Knox whistles and checks his phone. “I hope Paisley comes before Cole does. Otherwise we’ll be in for a—”

“Treat?” Reid finishes with a smirk.

Knox tries smothering his grin.

I snort. “She said she’d be here at four, right?”

Knox nods as Reid and Holden start tidying up our tools.

“Thanks for sticking around and helping out.”

“I was happy to. Besides, I like hanging out here. Don’t get me wrong, my siblings are cool, but half of them are girls.” He pulls a face that makes me laugh. “It’s not the same when all they want to do is their nails and talk about their stupid rom-com movies.”

“Well, we’re always here for you.” I sling my arm around Knox’s shoulders.

“Thanks, man. I appreciate it, especially since Daniel is too busy with studying and his friends, and Wyatt isn’t even in town anymore. He’s studying robotic engineering.”

“Oh, wow,” I let out, a little surprised. “That’s awesome.”

“Yeah, it is. He got a scholarship to study, which is why he moved to Newcastle,” Knox explains. “But it means I don’t really get to see him anymore.”

“Well, you can come here anytime. There’s always at least two of us floating around. Just text me if you want me to pick you up.”