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And maybe a little bit for her too.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Thatch finished nailing the last sheet of drywall into place and briefly considered collapsing to the ground out of sheer relief. It turned out hanging drywall with bruised ribs was its own special torture.
Silas stuck out a hand to help him off his knees. “Seeing as how you’re injured, you could’ve taken a few days off, you know. We would’ve handled it.”
“I’m good.” He couldn’t take a few days off and leave all the work to these two. He didn’t do that. Pain or no pain, he’d stick it out and help his comrades get the job done.
“At least it’s quittin’ time.” Aiden pulled off his work gloves and tossed them onto the table.
“Really?” Thatch checked his watch. How was it already after six? “Time flies when you’re having fun.” But at least most of the heavy lifting was done. They’d hired out the mudding and texturizing work to a contractor, then they’d be able to get moving on the floors.
“I wouldn’t call hanging drywall fun,” Aiden muttered. “Hey, Kyra’s hanging out with Tess and the girls tonight, so let’s head over to my place and play some pool. It’s been a while.”
Weeks had passed since the three of them had hung out solo. They used to head to Jackson and hit the bars every weekend, but times had changed. “Sure, I could stop in for a quick game.”
“Stop in?” Silas unplugged the reciprocating saw and wound the cord. “You got big plans later or what?”
“Lyric and I have a date.” They were really meeting up for a yoga session at the clinic, but his friends didn’t need to know that.
Aiden started to sweep up the debris around the cutting table. “Man, you’re a goner. Look at that grin on your face.”
Was he grinning? He hadn’t meant to. “You two would know all about being goners.”
“You’ve got us there.” Silas dragged over the trash can, and Aiden dumped the dustpan, shooting him a grin. “Welcome to the club.”
Thatch grabbed his coat off the rack and headed for the door. No matter what they thought about him and Lyric, he wasn’t an official member of their club. Not that he wouldn’t like to be. “See you two over there,” he called on his way down the hall.
When Thatch climbed into his truck, a text buzzed his phone. The sight of Lyric’s name brought a simmer of anticipation, which wasn’t a good sign. When this fake relationship had started, he’d sworn to himself that he wouldn’t get confused about the boundaries. But now Lyric was opening up to him, confiding in him, trustinghim. And damn it if he didn’t feel hope creeping in to stamp out any doubts he’d had. When she’d called him the other night, he’d almost suggested they end their ruse, since she’d be seeing a lot more of Elina, but Lyric had insisted they stay together.Together, she’d said, before correcting herself. So maybe the lines were blurring for her too.
See you at 8!
Looking forward to it.He fired off the response and then started the engine, driving off before Aiden and Silas had even gotten into their trucks.
Aiden and Kyra’s house sat on a picturesque ranch nestled in the hills outside of town. The place had once belonged to Kenny, Kyra’s dad, but after he passed away he’d left the land and half the town to her. That woman was another one who hadn’t anticipated staying in Star Valley when she’d first come. But then she and Aiden had fallen for each other, and everything changed.
Could everything change for him and Lyric? That wasn’t something he could figure out tonight.
Thatch parked in front of the outbuilding the three of them had renovated last year. Aiden had sectioned off enough space for a small bar and a few pool tables, enclosing one side of the barn for a den. It’d be a good spot to hang out regularly if either Aiden or Silas had any time to hang out.
While he waited for his friends, another text arrived. This time a smiling emoji from Lyric.
He’d never been an emoji kind of guy, but he sent Lyric back a wink. Why the hell not? They’d had a moment the other day when she’d been stretching him out in her studio. And then she’d called him when she was crying. Shecould’ve called Tess or Kyra but she’d called him. Maybe they could build something off that.
When Aiden and Silas arrived, they all walked in together.
Aiden went behind the bar. “You want a beer?”
“Nah.” Yoga was hard enough without alcohol. Besides, he needed to accelerate the healing in his ribs as much as possible. According to Lyric, he needed more nutrients and to really pay attention to what he was putting into his body for the next several weeks.
“I’ll take one.” Silas slid onto the stool. “Man, how long’s it been since we’ve hung out here?”
“About two months.” Not that Thatch was counting. He went directly to the pool table. “I know you’re just afraid I’ll kick your ass again.” He and Silas always had a rivalry going with something. Battleship, mostly. But pool had been another point of contention between them back in the day.
“You’ve never kicked my ass.” Silas grabbed a cue off the wall rack.
That was one of the things Thatch loved most about his friend. He was so easy to bait.
