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“Okay, children. There are guests around.” Maize grabs one of the muffins from the tray and hands it to Grayson. “Can I personally serve anyone else?” She flashes a condescending grin, unamused with us being here.
“Well, if you’re offering—” I grin, knowing it’ll piss off Riley or Maize.
“Not that kind of serving,” Rowan interrupts, flashing me a glare that could kill. I know she’s not really mad, but she’s damn good at putting on an act.
“Shit.” Riley shakes his head, stabbing his fork into his eggs. “How you two manage to always piss off all the Bishop chicks is beyond me.”
“I’m pretty sure Diesel’s been doing it since I was born.” Rowan rolls her eyes, then stalks away.
“I think she likes you,” Grayson mocks, and I kick him under the table.
“Don’t worry, Diesel. I don’t hate you,” Kenzie says with a cheeky grin, then adds, “as much as Rowan.”
“No, you just act like a spoiled brat,” Grayson mutters.
Before Grayson can react, Kenzie grabs the muffin from his hand and smashes it against the table, digging her palm into it. The thing is nothing but a pile of crumbs.
Riley and I are nearly doubled over at Grayson’s shell-shocked expression.
“What the hell?” He scowls at her.
“Enjoy your breakfast, boys,” she says sweetly before walking away.
“You better clean that up,” Maize tells him before leaving.
Grayson grunts, wiping up the mushy mess.
“You two need to just fuck it out, for Christ’s sake,” I tell him. Their rivalry started months ago, and no one really knows the reason. “Why does she hate you anyway?”
“Good fuckin’ question.”
“Probably calling her a brat doesn’t help your case,” Riley taunts.
“Well, am I wrong? Look at what she just did!” He holds out his hands, motioning to the table.
Laughing, I shake my head and continue eating. I’m almost certain there’s gonna come a time when they finally bang it out. It makes me think about Rowan and how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time. It gives me hope that someday we’ll be able to tell everyone, and they’ll support us being together.
Once the three of us are done eating, Grayson and I go off to work in the cattle barn while Riley does other maintenance shit.
“So, tell me honestly,” Grayson says when we’re knee-deep in cow shit. “You’ve been different the past week or so. What’s goin’ on?”
Fuck my life. He chooses to ask me this now?
“Nothing’s goin’ on,” I lie, shrugging so he doesn’t notice any of my tells. “Can’t a guy just be in a good mood?”
He narrows his eyes as if he’s trying to read my mind. “I don’t know. Something is up with you, and I’m gonna figure it out.”
Laughing, I keep my eyes down and continue shoveling to avoid his hard gaze. “Why don’t you worry about yourself instead of me? Actually, go figure out why Kenzie hates your guts so much.”
“Dude, she’s hated me since the second I got here, I swear. I breathed, and she decided I was the devil.”
I snort at his remark. Kenzie wouldn’t just hate someone for no reason, but honestly, there’s no telling. She’s three years younger than me, and I didn’t talk to her a lot in high school. It wasn’t until I started working here full-time that I did.
“I’m sure there’s a reason you haven’t thought of yet. Did you run over her dog or something? Call her ugly? Fuck her best friend?”
He pinches his lips, shifting them side to side. “Not that I can recall.” Then he shrugs and drops the conversation.
Thank fuck.
After three hours, we’re finally done in the cattle barn and stop at the shop for a quick water break. I check my phone and see a message from Rowan.
Rowan
Sorry about earlier. My cousins are all getting suspicious and keep asking me why I’m so happy lately, so I was trying to keep up appearances. I wish I could tell them, but I keep denying anything’s going on. Well, now they’re certain it’s because of Trace, because they know he’s been texting me. But even though I tell them we’re only friends, they don’t believe it.
Diesel
Don’t worry, baby. I figured as much. In fact, the guys have been on my ass about what’s going on with me all day. Guess it’s been a little obvious how happy you make me ;)
Rowan
Did you just call me baby?
Diesel
Yes?
Rowan
That’s kinda…sexy. I like it.
Diesel
Is that so? I’ll make sure to whisper it in your ear later.
Rowan
Did we have plans for…later?
Diesel
Damn right. I’ll come in tonight around 10. That okay?
Rowan
That’s perfect. Ethan’s shift ends at 9:30, and Kenzie’s off. Claire works with me, and she won’t know any better.
It’s a weekday, so it’ll be slow after ten anyway, which means I might actually get to sneak her into the office and kiss her for more than five seconds. Claire isn’t from around here and doesn’t know our history, so it’s a little easier to talk when we don’t have to worry about prying ears.
