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I knew sleeping with him would be messy, but I figured it would just be awkward at the shooting classes with Hayden, not seeping into every aspect of my life.
I push away from the wall, knowing I need to find another distraction, someone else to erase him from my memory so I can move on, hating that he’s managed to force my hand, something no one has ever managed in the past.
Next time I see Jude Morris, I may just kick him in the shin for all the trouble.
Chapter 9
Jude
“Why you mad, bro?”
A slow smile works its way across my face.
“Good morning to you, too, Puff.”
I roll my eyes at the silly bird, my smile slipping a little when I glance over and see Wren staring at me with narrowed eyes.
“What?” Guiltily, I look away.
I can’t help the great mood I’ve been in. I’ve tried to keep the smile from my face and walk with heavier steps even though I feel like I’m walking on clouds.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.” I hold my hand out, making kissing noises at Puff Daddy.
The bird tilts his head, staring from my hand to my face over and over.
“Fucking creep!” he screeches. “Where’s your van? I don’t want candy.”
“Something,” Wren argues. “You’re being weird. No one likes my bird.”
I continue to ignore my friend, hoping he’ll just drop it so we can talk about work shit.
“I only look like that after Whitney suc—”
“God, baby. I love the back of your throat.” Puff’s wings spread wide as he prances back and forth. “Swallow for Daddy. Mmm. Good girl.”
“Yeah,” Wren says as he points to the obscene animal. “That.”
I chuckle. “Do you have the information or not?”
“For a price.”
“Deacon pays you very well.”
“Not the price I’m looking for. I want information.”
I point to the extreme setup behind him. “You have the world literally at your fingertips.”
“Are you giving me permission to go digging?” He spins around in his chair, fingers hovering over the keyboard, a threat of epic proportions.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
There’s a glint in his eyes that spells trouble.
“Really? Let’s see.”
His fingers start working the keys, information flashing faster than my brain can keep up with.
“I just need the workup on those masks,” I remind him.
He holds one finger up to silence me.
“There’s nothing to find. You’re wasting both of our time.”
“Oh shit!” Puff says as if he can read the information that’s rolling over Wren’s computer screens.
His fingers stop, shoulders going stiff before he turns around with a sly smile on his face.
I do my best to school my face, trying not to give him any further ammunition.
“Here you go.” He grabs a folder from his desk and passes it to me.
“What’s that look for?” He knows what I did. I can see it in his eyes.
“Nothing.”
“Something,” I argue.
“This feels like déjà vu,” he says, referring back to our conversation moments ago, only now the roles have reversed. “Do you need anything else?”
“Can I count on you to keep your mouth shut?”
He taps a finger on his chin, tilting his head to the side comically.
“Wren!”
“We don’t keep secrets!” the damn bird screams, making me jump.
“Was it good?”
I have to look away from him, but I know he can see the heat beginning to warm my cheeks.
“That’s all I want to know, man.”
“Epic,” I tell him, snapping the folder from his hands and walking out of the room.
If there was ever a man that loved gossip, Wren is that guy. I have no doubt details of my night with Parker will spread across the office like wildfire. Hell, he’s probably already sent a mass email to everyone in the office, but when I walk into the breakroom, causing Quinten and Ignacio to look up from their phones, they both just smile instead of grilling me for information.
“Hey, man!”
I look over to the voice and see Ignacio’s son near the fridge. Maybe they aren’t speaking up because the thirteen-year-old is here, but regardless, I’m just grateful for the reprieve.
“Hey, Alex. How’s it going? No school today?”
“Teacher in-service or something like that. I have practice later though.”
“Still getting ready for the big game?”
“Always. Are you going to make it to the game?”
“If you want me there, then I’m there, bud.” I clap him on the back and make my way to the coffee machine.
“Anything interesting?” Brooks asks, pointing to the folder under my arm.
“I’ve been tasked with finding replacement CBRN masks,” I explain with a smile.
Deacon always makes sure the team has the newest technology in a bid to keep his people the safest he can in such an unpredictable world.
Brooks slow blinks at me.
“Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear masks.”
More blinking. Did his head just nod like he was falling asleep?
“Gas masks,” I mutter. “New gas masks.”
A snore escapes his lips, and if Alex weren’t in the room, I’d tell him to fuck off. After a quick check to make sure the kid is otherwise preoccupied, I shoot Brooks a middle finger, earning me a grin and a soft laugh.
