Page 34 of These Pucking Boys

“Come on. Back on your feet.” He takes her hands and pulls her up.

Ryan moves closer, staring at June with a serious expression. I only see that look on his face when he’s utterly pissed. “Are you going to tell us what happened, Peaches?”

I frown. Peaches? That’s new. I’ve never heard Ryan give any girl a special nickname. It’s always the generic stuff with him.

“Bill kicked me out of the apartment. I got here and found all my stuff in trash bags and boxes out in the hallway. He even changed the lock.”

“Son of a bitch,” I blurt out. “What’s your apartment number, June? I’d like to have a word with Bill.”

My voice is low and tight, and she probably noticed the menacing tone, because her eyes widen. “He already left for work.”

“He’s lucky then,” Ryan pipes up, glowering at the tall red brick building.

“Where’s your stuff?” Lachy asks.

“I brought it all down to the foyer. But when I went to get my car, it wouldn’t start. I’m beginning to think I’m being punished for...”

She trails off, but it’s not hard to guess where she was going with her train of thought. She must believe having a foursome with us was bad. I might be jumping to conclusions, but knowing she’s from a small town in Texas—Ryan told us—it isn’t a giant leap to imagine she was brought up in a religious household.

“Do you have a place to go?” Ryan asks.

“Not really. I mean, I’m sure I can stay with my friend from work for a few days, but I don’t want to impose longer than that.”

Ryan and Lachlan both look at me, and I can almost read their minds. In any case, the idea also occurred to me. “I may have a solution for that.”

“What? Do you know a place I can rent for cheap in L.A.?”

“Is free cheap enough for you?”

She blinks fast, and then she surprises me by shaking her head. “If you’re suggesting I move in with you, then the answer is no. I’m not a mooch.”

Her indignant answer makes me chuckle. “That’s not my solution.”

“All right. What is it then?”

Ryan throws an arm around my shoulder. “Jakey here looks tough, but he’s a softy at heart. He volunteered to watch our neighbors’ pets while she’s on a three-month trip to Europe.”

June looks at me. “You did?”

“It was her lifelong dream. I couldn’t say no.”

“But aren’t you guys on the road all the time? Who’s going to watch the pets then?”

“There’s where you come in. You can stay in Mrs. Carpenter’s apartment while she’s away. I’m sure she won’t mind.”

June bites her lower lip, drawing my attention to it and bringing memories of last night to the forefront of my mind. I legit want to help her and get out of a bind at the same time. But that’s not the only reason I’d love to live next door to her for a while. She intrigues me with her sweet nature that changes into fierceness when she’s in competing mode, and I wouldn’t mind getting to know her better. Besides, I don’t have the same rule as Ryan of not hooking up with the same girl more than once. Judging by the way Lachy is looking at her, I’d say he’s on the same page as me.

“You said pets. How many and what kind?”

“Two cats, a semi-blind dog, a few fish, and a parrot,” Lachlan replies.

June laughs. “That's all?”

“You forgot Humberto, the turtle,” Ryan pipes up.

“Oh yeah.”

“Are you sure your neighbor won’t mind? She doesn’t know me, and to be fair, neither do you.”

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