Page 12 of Wrong Number, Right Lion

ARLO

Stephen was an asshat!

Not all the time, but today he’d taken on the role of the Number One Asshat of all possible asshats! If I was being generous, I guessed he was trying to protect me, but he was going about it in the wrong way. What the right way would be, I wasn’t sure.

He could have parked outside the gate and glowered at Kalen or eaten his lunch with me while keeping an eye on my sexy handyman.

Instead, he lit into the guy, and Kalen had every right to down tools and piss off. If I’d been him, that was what I would have done.

I was also annoyed at myself for cowering in the house when I should have told Stephen to shut up. But every second that passed when I wanted to butt in, I stayed where I was, needing to hear Kalen’s reply. If Stephen was an asshat, I was a junior one for not putting my cousin in his place and defending Kalen.

Now after eavesdropping on their conversation, I discovered Kalen didn’t give a damn about me. I guessed he just got off on doing good deeds for strangers in need.

Since the day of the storm when he answered my call, I’d looked forward to every morning when he arrived, coffee in hand, and I’d have a yummy treat waiting. Now I wouldn’t be able to look the guy in the face. I’d been a fool.

Ahhh!

And Kalen thought Stephen and I were together and in a relationship. I loved my cousin, but yikes!

Stephen stomped into the house as Kalen got back to work.

“What the fuck?” I had muffins left over from breakfast, but he wasn’t getting any.

“That’s how you thank me!” He slammed onto a chair, and it groaned under the sudden weight.

“Thank you?” I shouted, but on realizing my loud voice would be heard outside, I lowered my voice. “Why would I thank you when you’ve berated a nice guy, one who is fixing my roof? If he takes off, leaving the job half done, you’re getting up there and finishing it.”

“Don’t I get a coffee or something?”

Way to change the subject, but I needed more caffeine, so I added water to the coffee machine. I had my back to Stephen, partly because I was fussing with the coffee and partly because I was too angry to look at him, and I was keeping my gaze on Kalen, hoping he didn’t down tools.

My cousin peered at the dark liquid in the mug when I passed it to him. “It looks strong.” He got up and took milk from the fridge.

“Be thankful I didn’t poison it.” I sipped mine and ewww, it was strong, but I refused to admit that to Stephen. I’d have to suffer and drink the lot.

“If you wanted a date, you could have used an app.”

I kicked him under the table. “Keep your voice down. And did I say anything about dating the guy?” I did, but I wasn’t telling Stephen what was in my heart.

“I know you.” He made a face as he sipped the coffee.

That was the problem with family and good friends. They were aware of your history and flung it in your face when appropriate.

“Not as well as you think,” I snarked.

His hand clasping the mug froze halfway to his mouth. “No! You slept with the dude already? Messy.” He put the cup down and poured in more milk. “This needs sugar.”

“You know where it’s kept.” I should have tipped my coffee and his down the sink and made more, but I was peeved and upset, not only at him but also at Kalen. The poor guy had done nothing wrong, but I was irrationally angry at him for not liking me, and so I punished myself by drinking coffee that tasted like motor oil? Ugh, make it make sense.

“And no, I haven’t slept with him or seen him naked. We haven’t kissed. We have a professional relationship.”

“Right.” Stephen rolled his eyes. “I saw you checking him out through the window.”

“Just doing my job as a project manager.”

“He’s conning you.” Stephen got up and took my mug and his and tossed the coffee into the sink. “Also you can’t make coffee for shit. I’m buying you a new machine, one with those pod thingies.”

“They’re terrible for the environment, which you would know if you read anything but comics and gaming instructions!”

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