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“Perfect! Thanks so much, Reid.”
Before I’m even hanging up the phone, Landon is across from me doing a happy dance. I can’t help but laugh at his crazy ass. “Man, the way you’re celebrating, you’d think it was your house that is getting a makeover.”
“Well, other than my own place and the hospital, I spend most of my time here with you. I mean, I do have my own bedroom and kick ass bathroom. I just can’t wait to see the rest of the house once it’s done and to finally get my best friend back. I miss going out with you and tearing up the dance floors.”
“You know you’re more than welcome to move in here with me. It would be way cheaper for both of us, and we could have so many fun nights. Plus, I still go out with you!”
“You know I love you and you would be one of the only people I’d actually consider living with, but I also love loud messy sex with gorgeous men. I really don’t think you want to share a wall, or even a house, with me when I intend to have company.”
I shudder thinking about the one time I went over to his house an hour early before we were going to a football game. Let’s just say I can’t unsee or unhear the things my best friend and his hunky man were doing.
“And I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we haven’t actually gone out in a few months.”
“There’s no way it’s been that long!”
“I’m afraid so. We’ve hung out here, but otherwise, you’ve been a homebody and a workaholic.”
Frowning, I try to remember the last time Landon and I went out and recall that we went to see a band, but that was over two months ago. I usually get dinner or do brunch with my sisters a couple of times a month, but honestly I can’t remember the last time we went out and did that. The last few times they’ve brought food over and helped me work on the house. I can’t help but feel like I’m failing in the friend and sister department.
Thankfully, Landon can see me spiraling and comes to the rescue before the mental beating I’m giving myself for sucking at being a good human being goes any further. Smacking my leg and grabbing his wine in a dramatic fashion, he hops out of his chair.
“I can see you circling, and it needs to stop now. I didn’t say that to make you feel bad, rather just point out that you could use a little fun in your life. I love your drive and how hard you work, but I also love seeing your silly, crazy side and I just want to make sure you’re not neglecting her. Now, I don’t know about you, but my feet are tired and soaking in that glorious hot tub sounds perfect right about now. Grab my wine and some beer for you and let’s go soak!”
I can’t not laugh when he slaps my ass as he sashays toward my back porch. Of course, it’s even funnier when he has to stop mid strut to maneuver around a pile of wood that I bought to redo the trim after I finish the cabinets. He turns and glares at me as he limbers over the wood which just makes me laugh even harder. As I grab our drinks and follow Landon out the back, I can’t be more grateful to have a friend like him who is willing to push me in the right direction and to help make the decisions that will be the best for me.
Chapter Seven
Cash
“Heyman!Whereareyou guys at?”
Giving my best friend, Reid, a key to my house might have been one of my smartest moves. It means I don’t have to get off my stool in the kitchen where I’m nursing a beer and checking my work emails to let him in the house.
“In the kitchen.” Just as I get the words out, he comes walking in carrying our favorite beer from the local brewery. He takes one out and slides it my way.
“Thought you could probably use one of these after today.”
“You’re not wrong there.” Abandoning my laptop and my now luke-warm beer, I open the bottle Reid gave me and enjoy a good pull of even better beer. He pulls a seat out across from and grabs his own.
“How’s my princess doing? It killed me to have to stay behind today instead of coming with you to the hospital. I love that little girl like my own and we both know she has me wrapped around her fingers. I hate seeing her hurt.”
“She’s doing alright. I have her set up in the living room with her coloring stuff, a tablet, and a million stuffies. She’s been impatiently waiting for you to get here so you can watch a movie with her. And I know you love her to death, and it would’ve been nice having you there with me, but I’m also glad you didn’t get to see me make an ass out of myself in front of one of her smoking hot nurses.”
“Damn, what did you do? I am definitely bummed I didn’t get to see that.”
“Well, I may have been a little frustrated about how long it was taking for someone to come see Penny, and like an ass, laid into the first person to walk in the room who just happened to be the most gorgeous redhead I have ever seen. She immediately put me in my place and made me feel like a chastised child getting scolded by the teacher.”
By this point, Reid is openly laughing at the grimace on my face. Thinking about it now. I can definitely find amusement in the situation, but I don’t think it’s nearly as funny as my best friend does.
“So, what happened after she put you in your place? Please tell me you at least tried to apologize and explain why you were being a grumpy ass.”
“Oh, I apologized as soon as I realized she was right. Thankfully, she accepted, and we were cool after that. There was another nurse, Landon, who helped out as well and is her best friend. Penny loved them both and they were so good with her.”
“Well, I’m glad she forgave you, but it would’ve been fun to watch her make you sweat some. So, she was pretty good looking?”
“She is a knockout. She’s pretty tall for a girl and she’s got some killer curves on her. Like I said, she’s a redhead, but she has purple through her hair and a full sleeve on her one arm. Penny fell in love with her even more when she whipped out markers for Penny to color in her tattoo while they went to get an x-ray on her leg. It put Pen completely at ease and made me feel better about having to stay behind.”
“So… is she single?” He smirks at me because he knows my weakness for redheads.
