Page 27 of Scoring Grey

“What?” Iverson’s voice cuts through the line. “You think Cal has cameras watching you?”

“No, I was joking…” Well, maybe. I’m not one hundred percent convinced my breakfast was a perfectly timed coincidence, but I don’t tell my brother that. “What couldn’t wait until I called you back after my morning coffee?”

“Well, I need a favor, and you’re running out of time.”

I spread the honey cream cheese on my cinnamon bagel. “What do you mean by running out of time?”

“Easy, I need you to pick up Dash at the airport and let him stay with you for a little while.”

“You can’t be serious.” I chew my first delicious bite of sugary goodness, unworried about his response. Dash is one of my friends from Copper Falls, and for whatever reason, Iverson has never been a huge fan. My brother merely tolerates the man since his wife and I are friends with him. I don’t believe for one second he arranged a flight for my friend to come and visit me.

“Why would I joke about that? Look…” He sighs through the phone. “I can’t say too much because, honestly, I’m grasping at straws here, Lou, but my gut tells me I’m onto something.”

“Okay…” I draw out, hearing the gravity in his tone. “You’re going to have to give me a little more. I’m not following. What does Dash have to do with anything?”

“You asked me to do some digging. This is me digging. Don’t ask me to say anything more. I won’t, not on this.”

“Fine.” I don’t press him for more. We’ve always been close, and I trust my brother, but my curiosity is definitely piqued. However, if he won’t talk, I know Dash will, so I don’t ask about his digging. “Is Dash in trouble or something? Why is he coming here?”

“He was offered a deal he couldn’t turn down.”

“What do you mean?”

“High Tower just acquiredThe Wild.”

“No shit?” I practically spit my coffee. The Wild is one of Canada’s most prominent imprints. They’re a vast outdoor magazine known for putting sporting goods brands on the map, making them household names. “Why would they sell?”

“Why does anyone sell? Money. Their new CEO was terrible at his job. We’re honestly saving the legacy.”

I stepped away from the family business, and so did Iverson. Well, technically, he was working for the family business, but no one knew it. Neither of us cared to be thrust back into the public eye. As kids, we didn’t have a choice, but as adults, we do, and neither of us wanted it. However, over the summer, Iverson changed his tune, and now he’s sitting on the board, and our mother and grandfather are all too happy that he’s there at all, which means he’s been able to dabble in whatever he wants, his reach extending beyond a typical board position in some cases. My mother and grandfather can be ruthless, so I’m certain their allowances are calculated, but they’d be short-sighted not to see that Iverson is equally measured in his choices. Regardless, I don’t understand how Dash fits into any of this. Dash Westin runs the town call-a-ride service back home. He’s the Uber of Copper Falls.

“Just get to the part I need to know about Dash.”

“Dash just landed a traveling journalist position working atThe Wild.”

Hmm, it wouldn’t sound so outlandish if this were anyone else delivering the news. Anyone who knows Dash knows he’s an adrenaline junkie and loves the outdoors. Honestly, he’d make the perfect outdoor journalist. He would hands down find the best places and get the unrivaled shots wearing a GoPro, and if he managed to get his face into a few of the pictures, he’d probably sell more magazines. But Iverson having his hands in this is throwing me.

“I’ll explain more when I can, but I need you to get to the airport. His flight arrives in twenty minutes.”

I pull my phone away from my ear to check the time. “Ives, the airport is forty-five minutes from here,” I screech.

“Hey, I called you two times. You didn’t answer.”

“Shit, I have to go. I’m not even dressed. You owe me. Cal’s not going to be happy about this.” I hang up the phone without waiting for a response. I’m excited I have someone to keep me company. I’m not used to being alone.

“This place is hella nice.” Dash gawks as he walks into the condo and heads straight for the windows to check out the view.

“Ehh, it ain’t bad. You should see Cal’s view. He’s got the water and the city.”

He turns to look at me, hands on his hips. “Why are you guys staying in separate places again? I thought you were here to work things out.”

“It’s a long story, but I’m staying separately, probably for the same reason you’re single again. I already know I’m attracted to Cal, and it’s been a while, but we never had issues in the bedroom. I mean, come on, we were teen parents. It wasn’t because we were able to keep our hands to ourselves.”

Dash runs his fingers through his semi-short blond hair, looking around the living room before bringing his brown eyes back to mine. “That’s not why things ended. We’re just going in different directions.” He shrugs and heads toward the kitchen area. “Maybe had we met three or four years from now, things could have played out differently.”

“Dash—” I start before the doorbell ringing steals my attention.

“Are you expecting someone?”

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