Page 52 of Knockin' Boats
“I heard that, Shua!” Sawyer called. “I thought you’d have my back.”
“Sorry, Saw. But your mom is the best.”
Sawyer laughed, his whole face lighting up, anddamn,it had been a long time since I’d seen him look like that.
It was a good look on him.
Really damn good.
I crammed another bite of burger in my mouth and focused on chewing and choking it down. Sawyer’s burgers might be as hard as hockey pucks and dry as dust, but he didn’t have to let me have one at all.
“Next time, fucking Ash can grill then,” Sawyer said, cutting a sharp look my way. “Since it seems like I’m not gonna be rid of him anytime soon.”
“Sorry not sorry?” I joked weakly.
“I’m glad you feel that way,” Skylar said, “because Hudson and I just had a little chat and we think you’re the best person to lend Ash some help next week.”
“What?” we both squawked at the same time.
“You’ll have finished training Gray by then,” Hudson said. “We can accommodate easier than the kitchen staff. The restaurant is too busy.”
I’d heard from Vera that they’d been packed their first couple of nights, so I believed it. Swallow Cove had been anticipating their opening for a long time.
“Sawyer knows nothing about cooking though.” I held up my burger. “Case in point.”
“Hey, you’re eating it,” he said.
“Yeah, but I’m notpayingfor it.”
“Aren’t you?” Poppy mumbled under her breath.
She had a point.
“Sawyer won’t be there to cook,” Skylar said. “He can take orders, help haul stuff, clean up.”
“Sounds like a great time for me,” he said flatly.
“You can also drive the boat,” Hudson added. “That will give Ash an opportunity to get more things done in transit.”
“I suppose that would make things easier,” I said tentatively. “But Sawyer didn’t sign up for this.”
“We’re all a team at the resort,” Hudson said.
Sawyer scowled into the trees. “I better get free food out of this deal.”
“Only if you pull your weight,” I shot back. “If you’re going to be an ass the whole time, I’d rather keep going it alone. In fact, I think?—”
“Fuck off,” Sawyer cut in. “I always work hard. You’re the one who has it easy.”
“Whoa,” Shua said. “You really don’t like each other, huh?”
I wished I didn’t like Sawyer. That would make it easier. But no. I had to keep setting myself up to be knocked down by him.
I bit down on my reply, knowing it would help no one.
“I know neither of you are excited about this arrangement,” Skylar said. “But that’s why it’s a good idea.”
“In other words,” Cash added gleefully, “work out your shit and play nice together.”
