Page 76 of These Pucking Boys

“All right, peach pie. You drive safely.”

“Okay. Bye, Mom.”

I end the call and turn to Jake. “Sorry about that.”

He grins. “Don’t apologize. I enjoyed learning more about you. So, I take it May and April are your sisters?”

“Yeah, how did you know?”

His grin becomes broader. “Wild guess.”

“Oh.” I chuckle. “Yeah. My parents were into naming their kids after months. My older brother is August.”

“So August, June, May, and April?”

“Yep.”

“What happened to July?” he asks in an amused tone.

My smile wilts a fraction. “He was my brother. Stillborn.”

“June, I’m so sorry.”

I shake my head. “It’s fine. It was a fair question. I get that a lot here in LA. Naturally, everyone in my hometown knows about him.”

“You’re close to your family, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am. They can be a pain in the butt and stubborn as mules, but I love them.”

“I’d love to meet them one day.”

My heart skips a beat. “Really?”

“Yeah. I’d like to know what it’s like to have what you have.”

Sadness rushes into my heart. I can’t begin to imagine what his childhood was like. “Maybe we can visit my folks one day.”

He smiles, but I see a hint of sadness in his eyes. “I’d like that.”

God. What are we doing? I thought we were keeping things casual, but here we are, making plans as if we’re a couple. And what about Lachy? There’s a strong connection there too. I’d thought the same about Ryan, but after seeing him with that woman last night, I’m not so sure. Regardless, I can’t show up in Baron, Texas, with two boyfriends in tow. I might give Mom a heart attack.

CHAPTER 32

RYAN

Idrank way too fucking much last night, and I’m now regretting my life choices, especially when my alarm buzzes. It’s not early. I’m not that much of a lunatic. It’s already nine, but after drinking all that fucking booze, I could sleep until noon. A normal person would simply shut the alarm off and go back to sleep, but I’m not like other people. I have to get in a workout sesh now, as planned, or my brain will tell me the world is going to end.

Grunting, I get out of bed and go straight into the shower. It’s counterintuitive to shower before heading to the gym, but I need a blast of cold water to wake up. I prefer to fast before lifting weights, and I can’t stand black coffee, so I make a pre-workout drink and head out.

I don’t hear a sound from behind Lachy’s closed bedroom door, and Jake didn’t come home last night. Not sure if he’s back yet. He must have taken June to his condo in Hermosa Beach. I’d have done that, too, if it were me. So far, both my friends have had alone time with the sexy teacher, and that usually wouldn’t bother me; I’d have moved on to the next woman already. But now, there’s a burning need inside me to create an opportunity to spend quality time with June, too. If only my life weren’t on the verge of imploding. Mackenzie’s ambush at the party last night was an unwelcome surprise. What the hell was she thinking? I was clear that I wanted nothing to do with her.

Hell. Thinking about that girl puts me in a foul mood again. In the elevator, I shove my AirPods into my ears, pick one of my favorite songs by Bad Omens, and let the loud music drown out my thoughts. My eyes are closed when the elevator stops again. That was fast. Or not. It stopped one floor down.

June walks in, looking like a vision. She’s wearing the most basic clothes and no makeup, but I’m drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Maybe I’m already too into her. I smile, fucking happy about this pleasant surprise.

Her pretty eyes widen. “Ryan, hi.”

I pause the song to reply, “Good morning, Peaches. When did you get back from Hermosa Beach?”

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