Page 81 of Unbossly Manners

While Selena chattered about the course and rules for the ride, I sent a text to Jackson. I was dying to know what was on his mind. Was he thinking about her? Our kiss?

I didn’t want to bring up anything personal, so I found something else to start the conversation.

Do you want to put our heads together about the work stuff and make that list?

Just write down everything you can think of and email it to me. He immediately responded.

It might be easier to work together. I pressed.

Can’t. Kat will be here soon.

I stared at the phone for ten minutes, but that was it. He’d dismissed me.

* * *

Nellie and Bee arrived two hours later.

“We brought an ice luge for shots, cornhole, and some IVs.” Nellie, a giant of a man with a scruffy beard, lifted a large cardboard box. His wife, Bee, who matched his energy and size, raised a cornhole board in each hand.

They were loud and gregarious and I liked them immediately.

“IVs?” I asked, meeting them in the kitchen.

“Look at us.” Nellie put his arms out. “We’re gonna need them after the race. And the drinking.”

Nellie was a paramedic and firefighter. His real name was Howard Nelson, but I liked Nellie. It was fun and playful like him.

“Who wants to do a shot?” He pulled out a liter of Fireball, from the cardboard box.

“I’m game.” Selena climbed the wrung and plunked down on one of the bar stools at the island.

Bee filled several shot glasses to the brim and we slammed them back. Selena and I passed on the second round but Nellie and Bee did two more.

“Right.” Nellie wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I heard Jackie’s ex is on her way. What the fuck is that about? That bitch has got to remove those handcuffs from him.”

Bee slid into the chair next to me. “Do you know Kat?”

“A little. I’m staying at her apartment while she’s away.”

“Nellie doesn’t dislike her. In fact, we all love Kat. She’s just not right for our Jackie boy.”

I smiled blandly, even though I agreed with them. If I let them know how I agreed, I worried they’d see straight through to the ache in my heart.

“How do you know them?” Bee asked.

“Peyton’s using him for sex,” Selena chimed in, banging my shoulder with hers.

Bee’s eyebrows went up. “Good for you, girl.”

I rolled my eyes at Selena. “I’m not. We work at the same company.”

“Jackie loves that fucking place,” Bee said.

“How do you guys know Jackson?” I pulled a bottle of white wine from the fridge and poured Selena and me a glass.

“He consulted with my station when he was at his last job, Nellie said.

“Jackie was all business when he’d meet with Nellie, but Nellie broke him down. Firemen are a lot more relaxed than lawyers.”

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