Page 8 of Kyle

“I’m just sayin’.” Kyle looks at the box. “Let’s get this damn thing moved, if we’re movin’ it.”

They go to lift it, and Rafe gives Kyle the heavy bottom side.

“Fucking hell, Rafe. What’s this thing made of?”

“Wrought iron.”

“You couldn’t buy an aluminum one, motherfucker?” Kyle strains to lift it and shoves the big, unwieldy box around the corner.

His biceps bulge with the effort, drawing my eyes.

“Aluminum ones are crap,” Rafe snaps.

They set it down, and Kyle straightens. “That it? Or you want me to come in and fix your plumbing, too?”

“Shut up, wiseass.”

“You’re welcome, dickhead.”

I elbow Rafe. “Say thank you.”

“Thanks, bro. I appreciate it.”

Kyle huffs a laugh. “You owe me one. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say, you owe me fifty.”

“Ha ha.”

Kyle heads down the drive.

I look at Rafe. “You could be nicer to him, you know. Sounds like he does a lot of favors for you.”

“Guess he does. You gonna be on my case, too, like Mrs. Alvarez? You tryin’ to save my soul, baby girl?” He walks backward, following his brother.

“That’s up to you, Rafe. Some things you have to do for yourself.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Kyle—

Rafe catches up to me at my bike.

“Hey, man. Wait up. I wanted to talk to you about something else.”

Apprehension fills me, wondering what he wants now. I drag in a slow breath and exhale, then turn to face him. “What’s that?”

“It’s about Sutton.”

My gaze strays to the house. “What about her?”

“She needs a job. I wanted to ask if you could give her one.”

“Me?” Just the thought of being with her for hours every day sends terror through me. How in the hell would I stand it?

“Now that you’ve got that food truck, you’re your own boss, so you could hire her. Besides, you’re always sayin’ it’s hard to keep a good employee.”

“Rafe, I don’t know. I’m just getting the business off the ground. Money’s tight, and it’s not like I can pay her much.” My brain scrambles for any excuse I can think of, but even to my ears, it sounds like I’m clutching at straws.

“I think she’s just looking for something to occupy her day. Being new to town, she’s spending a lot of time sitting around the place, waiting for me to get back.”

---