Page 44 of Reckless

“Because they need help to unpack. You saw the boxes. It’s a lot. They also ordered new furniture.”

Tyler locked the front door and extended a hand in my direction, palm facing up.

“What?” I asked.

“I am driving.”

“I don’t think so.” He cocked a brow and I mimicked his gesture. “You are probably still drunk. I’m not letting you drive me anywhere.”

“Why do you always assume I’m drunk?” He asked and sounded truly baffled.

“I don’t know. It suits your image.”

“My image?” His hand was still waiting for the car keys.

“You know,” I pointed at him.

“I don’t actually. Please, enlighten me.”

“Well,” I started stepping from one foot to the other. “You are…”

He waited for a while. I didn’t finish my sentence. He started laughing.

“You have no problem insulting me when I can’t hear you, but you can’t say it to my face?”

“When have I ins…?” I paused. “She told you?”

“Yes,” he grinned. “You should watch it around my staff. They love me.”

“It’s a good thing I don’t intend on ever going back to that hellhole.”

“You wound me. How will I ever live without your presence there?” He placed his hand over his chest, then extended it again. “Give me the keys,” his tone sounded serious now. “I had one beer like ten hours ago.”

I looked at him trying to figure out if he was lying. His pupils were in their normal size. He wasn’t slurring. I guess I could test his balance by tripping him, but he hadn’t slept enough and even the calmest, most restrained person had its limits. I didn’t want to test his. Not when I wanted him helping today.

“Don’t fall asleep behind the wheel,” I dropped the keys in his hand and turned my back to him strolling over to the car.

“Hold my attention and I won’t.”

I laughed. “Holding your attention is a difficult task, Hartley.”

“It’s not for every woman, I admit. But you are resourceful. I am sure you’ll find a way to do it.”

***

Later that afternoon, Lucas and I moved around a dining table in the kitchen area of their new house. Tyler sat on the floor looking at us, shouting instructions. He refused to carry the damn thing, stating that he was a feminist and didn’t want to insult me, by offering do to something I was perfectly capable of doing myself.

I wasn’t sure who I wanted to curse more in that moment. Him for being an ass, or Lucas for not being able to decide where he wanted the freaking table.

“Your kitchen is not that big, Cole,” I panted.

“Shut up, Spencer.”

“Tyler!” I said a little more sharply than I wanted. “Would you mind moving your ass? Go get Clem.”

Clem was in their bedroom upstairs, arranging their clothes in their walk-in closet. That was the only thing Lucas agreed to delegate her.

“I’m wiped,” Tyler stretched his legs in front of him. “Maybe you should take a break and go get her yourself.”

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