Page 88 of Nave
My mind was still on those dark thoughts as I made my way into the clubhouse.
“Lolly,” Cain greeted me from where he was kneeling on the floor with the coffee table turned upward.
“Did someone dance on the table again?”
“And the table finally had enough,” he agreed, reaching for a screwdriver. “Nave ran out. But I figure he will be back soon if you want to wait for him.”
“I think I will.”
“There’s fresh coffee in the kitchen. And leftover pizza in the fridge.”
“Thank you,” I said, giving him a smile.
It was so easy for them. To settle in. To interact. Not overthinking anything.
“You alright?” he asked, head tipped to the side.
“Yeah.”
“Not buying it.”
“I just… how do you settle in so easily?” I asked. “You just got here, but it feels like you’re fully integrated.”
“They make it easy here,” he said, shrugging. “It’s clear from the jump that it’s a family. And they treat you like it from the beginning. Why? You not feeling welcome?”
“I’m just… I’ve been alone a really long time,” I admitted. “I feel really awkward.”
“If it helps, you don’t come off as awkward.”
“That does help, actually.”
“And Nave seems crazy about you. So, you’ve got nothing to feel weird about here.”
“Thank you.”
To that, he shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
“Do you need any help?” I asked, having a somewhat working knowledge of some tools now, thanks to Kit and Ariah.
“Listen, sweetheart. I know we are in modern times where women can and should be able to do all the shit men can. And I think a chick with a power tool is hot as fuck. So I say this with all that in mind: the day I let a woman do manual labor for me is the day I want to be dragged out back and shot.”
“That’s… kind of sweet, actually.”
To that, his smile went a little boyish.
“My job is to do the hard shit so my girl can live a soft life.”
“That’s definitely sweet. I didn’t think you had a girl.”
“Talking hypothetically. Maybe hopefully. You know, in a few years.”
“When you get sick of strip poker and body shots,” I said, making a big smile stretch across his handsome face.
“Something like that.”
“Well, good luck with the table. Maybe reinforce it. I don’t think the table dancing is going to stop anytime soon.”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” he said, making a laugh escape me.
