Page 23 of Run for Us

Kasen laughs. “I can only imagine. I think you’ll really like it here, Kinsley.”

Why the heck am I nervous? It’s a simple birthday dinner a lovely woman has invited me to attend. I even went shopping today and found a cute floral-printed chiffon dress. It’s off-white with pale-pink flowers, and the second I saw it, I knew mymom would hate the design. She would tell me it looks like her grandmother’s tablecloth, so that’s part of the reason I bought it.

I knock on the door, and Tyde pulls it open and beams at me. “Hey, new girl, you look amazing.”

“Thank you.”

He reaches out and grabs my hand, dragging me through the house so fast that I barely get to take in my surroundings. The house is older, but it’s massive. No wonder they have room for everyone to live here.

“Mom!” Tyde shouts. “The birthday girl is here.”

He pulls me into the kitchen where Shore’s mom, Beth, is standing, stirring something on the stove. She turns, placing the wooden spoon over the pan, and wipes her hands on her apron.

“Happy birthday. Dinner will be ready shortly. Tyde, find your brothers and set the table.”

Tyde lets go of my hand and leaves the kitchen.

“Is there anything you need help with?” I immediately offer.

“Don’t be silly, it’s your birthday. If you go up those stairs, the second door on the left is Shore’s room. I forced him to put on clothes for dinner.”

Beth shoos me out of the kitchen, and I head upstairs. I find Shore’s door, and when I knock, the door drifts open ajar. I blink a few times after getting an unexpected eyeful of Shore and Rip kissing. Rip has his hand fastened tight around Shore’s throat, and my knees almost go weak. They pull apart quickly, and Shore smiles widely at me.

“Sorry for interrupting, but your mom sent me upstairs—well, she practically forced me up here. I think I may have offended her by asking if she needed help.”

“You’re not interrupting. Rip was helping me choose clothes, but I look fantastic half naked and he couldn’t keep his mouth off me.”

Rip scoffs. “His ego is huge and distracting him helps get his clothes on. He is like an unruly toddler.”

Rip throws Shore a button-up shirt, which he catches in one hand, then pulls it on. I swallow the lump in my throat as I watch and remind myself that he is way too young for me.

“Kasen tells us you’re going to rent his place once he moves out.”

I move my gaze to Ripley, who looks like sin in his dark jeans that are torn at the knees. His button-up shirt has the top couple of buttons left undone, and a silver chain fills the open space.

“I am. I finally decided to live my life for myself, though I’m dreading the call with my mother. But there is no reason I can’t work remotely, since I can do video calls with clients and send my mom my sketches for approval.”

“I’m so fucking happy for you,” Shore says. “And now you can go on that date with me.”

I look at Rip, and he smiles. “You can go on a date with him. He doesn’t need my approval. Not that I understand why you would want to date this man-child. Be warned, he’s a lot of work.”

“Who’s dating who?” Kasen asks, walking into the room and standing beside me. The man smells good enough to eat.

“Why do you have to come in here looking and smelling like that?” Shore says. “Any chance I had with Kinsley has gone out the window.”

Kasen chuckles. “You snooze, you lose, because I would love to take Kinsley on a date.”

“What about a group date?” Rip suggests. “That way, she can decide which one of us she likes the most.”

I smile like an idiot. “Fine, I agree to one group date, with no promises of a second date for anyone.”

“Excellent! We will get back to you with the details, because we are going to date the fuck out of you, and you won’t be able to say no to round two,” Shore announces with a grin.

I laugh as his mom calls out that dinner is ready. Shore moves in front of me, turns around, and bends his knees. I stare in utter confusion for a moment, then look at Kasen and Ripley for help. They both just smirk.

“Get on, birthday girl, you don’t walk to the Easton table on your birthday.”

“He’s telling the truth, new girl. I made him carry me bridal style on my birthday,” Tyde says as he momentarily pauses at Shore’s door, then continues without waiting for a reply.

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