Page 38 of 40 and (So Over) Fixing It
“Whatever.” His brain was still half-asleep, so coughing up words wasn’t a priority.
“That’s why it’s such a quick trip,” Linc explained. “Claire has talked about the harvest festival so much I knew it would mean a lot if I could manage to get here.”
“Mm.” Carter turned from the now half-empty coffeepot with his full cup, raising it toward his mouth, when he spotted JD’s plate and did a double take. “Hey, do I get one of those?”
Linc rolled his eyes and grumbled his way over to the stove, something about only being appreciated for what you did for people.
Carter chuckled. “Don’t be an idiot. It’s not you we appreciate; it’s the food.”
Linc raised a middle finger at him with one hand and turned on the stove with the other.
A hum of delight was Carter’s response—to the smooth heat of the coffee as he took his first sip, not Linc’s gesture. That he ignored, walking right by to settle himself at the table with JD.
“Thad still sleeping?” JD asked.
“Yeah.” When his cup was safely on the tabletop, Carter pulled out his phone. No messages. Disappointment thumped in his chest. He and Erin had left a lot unspoken last night. He’d hoped she’d text him after they’d dropped her off, but there’d been nothing when he got home and nothing now.
Carter: Need a ride this morning?
He waited a moment, but no little bubbles appeared to show a text coming in.
Carter: Thad is still snoozing. Thought we might get a chance to talk.
“Hey, do you want bell peppers?”
Carter wrinkled his nose across the kitchen at Linc. “Hell no.”
“Just mushrooms. Come on, Linc, you know that,” JD said.
“I can’t remember y’all’s picky shit.”
Carter raised eyebrow. “‘Y’all’?”
JD leaned close as if sharing a secret. “Too much time with Claire.”
“Ah”—Linc raised his spatula in the air—“there’s no such thing.”
“So says the fancy New York City chef whose vocabulary now includes ‘y’all.’” Carter smirked.
“It also includes ‘kick your ass.’”
JD shook his head. “Don’t mind him, Carter. He’s just testy from a long flight.”
“No, he’s pretty much always like this.”
Linc lifted one edge of the omelet to peek at the underside. “Do you want me to spit in your eggs?”
JD pulled a face. “I’d definitely go with testy, Carter.”
Linc grinned. “Hey, you know how I feel about food; I’m actually more likely to spit on him than the omelet.”
Carter choked on his sip of coffee.
JD made a gagging noise. “Gross.” He slapped Carter on the back a couple of times. Carter was pretty sure the assistance made his coughing worse, not better. “Anyway, Carter has his own woman troubles. He should be paying attention to those instead of how your woman has influenced your vocabulary.”
Omelet plated, Linc headed for the table, brows raised. “Woman troubles? Tell me all about it, bro.”
“How about let’s not,” Carter muttered, accepting his plate.
