Page 82 of After All

Scott processed all of that. Including the pun. Which was actually pretty funny. “So,” he said to Kyle. “She came to town,yousent people to talk to her to show her what she’s been missing, and now she’s telling them the opposite of what you’ve been telling them,” Scott summarized. “And on top of that, they’re sneaking around and meeting her after hours to avoid you.”

Kyle just lifted his cup, but Derek said, “Pretty much.”

Scott couldn’t help it. He laughed. Everything always went Kyle’s way—except Hannah.

“How long is she back?” Scott asked.

“Her grandma had her hip replaced, so she’s here to help with her rehab. I guess she’ll be here for, what, another six weeks or so, Doc?”

Kyle nodded. “Or so.”

“And Riley’s back too?” Scott asked. “When did that happen?”

Derek shot a look at the gorgeous redhead in the corner, tapping away on her computer. “A few days ago too. She’s staying with her parents while she gets back on her feet.”

“I heard all the charges were dropped,” Scott said. Riley had been in jail. For computer hacking. Always smarter than a whip, Riley had gotten into computers early. She’d been chomping at the bit to get out of tiny Sapphire Falls and had headed straight to California out of high school. But she’d run into some trouble recently. She’ been framed and eventually the cops had cleared her, but she’d been arrested and spent some time in jail before all of that could be proven.

“They were, but it’s hard to get a job in the computer world after something like that,” Derek said.

“But she didn’t do anything wrong,” Scott said.

“Well, she did—it just wasn’t her fault,” Derek said. “She was set up.” He grinned. “But everyone now knows that she’scapableof hacking the biggest, most secure companies. Her skills make potential employers nervous in spite of her intentions.”

“Got it,” Scott said. And he didn’t say anything about how impressed Derek seemed or how his gaze had lingered on Riley. At least, not with Riley’s protective older brother sitting right here. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t say something later.

“So she can’t get a job,” Kyle said flatly. “Which means she can’t pay her rent or buy food or, you know, take care of herself, so she’s back—living with my parents and doing web design until she can find something else.”

“And she hates every minute of it,” Derek added. “Well, except hanging out in here, because her family isn’t here being judgmental and giving her unsolicited advice. Until now, of course.” He gave Kyle a look. “But Dr. Ames just couldn’t stay away. I just haven’t figured out which girl he’s here for.”

“Both,” Kyle muttered, pushing his cup toward Derek for a refill.

“You could leave,” Derek suggested, pouring the coffee.

Kyle didn’t reply.

Scott found Peyton again. She was now focused on her computer. She was biting her bottom lip and staring at the screen. She looked…adorable. That wasn’t a typical word he assigned to Peyton but yeah, her hair up in that messy bun, her leggings, her one foot tucked up underneath her on the chair, no makeup, a gigantic cup of coffee by her elbow—she looked every bit the student. Young and optimistic and on the verge of something fresh and new. And he wanted to take her home, strip her down, and kiss every inch of her body until she was begging him to fuck her.

He cleared his throat and tuned back into his friends. To find that they were both watching him with eyebrows up.

“Shut up,” he told them, lifting his cup.

Derek chuckled. “I don’t know which of you is more entertaining. Calm, cool, to-do-list Kyle being all grumpy and wrinkled and annoyed, or by-the-book, all-his-shit-together Scott being all gaga over a girl.”

Scott and Kyle looked at each other.

“We really do have our shit together,” Scott said.

“Absolutely. You’re as calm and cool as I am,” Kyle said.

“So why are we friends with Derek again?”

They both looked at the bartender.

“Beats the shit out of me,” Kyle said.

But Derek wasn’t bothered. He straightened from the bar and gave them a smile. “Fine. Just remember that I also know how to make younotcalm and cool,” Derek said. “Scott, ask Kyle who the guy is at the computer over in that other corner.”

“You bastard,” Kyle said.

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