Page 136 of Best Served Cold

“It’s obvious to you, but how is he supposed to know if you don’t tell him that’s what you want?”

“Ugh. Why is this shit so complicated?”

He snickered. “It’s really not. You didn’t have any issues telling him how you felt when you guys were sniping at each other. How is it any different now?”

“I don’t know. It just is.”

I pulled into the lot in front of the jobsite and parked next to Gray’s car. He and Bubbles were standing a few feet away sipping coffee as they waited for the rest of us to arrive.

River and I climbed out of the car and headed over to them.

“Morning.” Bubbles shoved the last bite of something in his mouth.

“Morning,” we said together.

We chatted as the rest of the guys trickled in.

Noah was the last to arrive.

I watched as he pulled his truck into the lot, my chest tight and my stomach flipping with nerves.

I couldn’t explain how I knew it, but something was wrong.

My suspicions were confirmed the moment he stepped out of his truck.

“Riv,” I said, my eyes on Noah as he went to his truck bed and pulled open the gate.

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Go. I’ll handle it.”

“What’s going on?” Gray asked, coming to stand with us.

I ticked my chin at Noah.

“Is he okay?” Gray asked.

I shook my head.

“Do you still have Marlon’s number?” River asked, referring to one of the guys who’d done some under-the-table work with us over the summer, as he scrolled through his contacts. “Or did he find a full-time gig? I can’t remember.”

“He’s got another gig. We could try Quinn,” Gray suggested.

“Quinn?” River and I asked together.

“Yeah. His dad owns a contracting business.” He pulled his phone out. “He said he used to work for him before he went into…his current job.” He flicked his gaze to Bubbles, who was nursing his coffee a few feet away and looking a little worse for the wear.

We didn’t give a shit if Quinn was in porn, but that wasn’t something we needed to advertise to the rest of the guys on our crew.

“Hopefully he’s awake,” River said.

Gray typed something out on his phone.

“You good?” I asked.

River made a shooing motion. “Go. We’ll figure it out.”

“We got this,” Gray said. “Let us know if you need anything.”

“Will do.” I handed River the car keys and took off toward Noah.

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