Page 139 of Crew
"Got it."
"Okay. Love you."
I repeated the phrase back to him, hung up, and considered my surroundings.
I could be lazy. I could read, watch a movie, go back to sleep. Or I could go to Jordan's, knowing the guys would be there. But I must've really embraced the responsible side of me, because I found myself heading back to my room. I showered, dressed in ripped jeans and a black tank top, and grabbed the keys to one of Channing's extra trucks. He had a few, but all of them were here. He must've taken a Harley to work today.
Before driving to Cross and Taz's house, I stopped at the gas station for coffee and a couple energy drinks. It wasn't long after the before I was pulling into their driveway.
Hearing laughter from the backyard, I walked in the front door without knocking. "Taz?"
It was cool inside. The patio doors were open and a breeze wafted in, mixing with the smell of tanning oil and chlorine from the pool. I heard a door slide open, then Taz called, "Yeah! I'll get rum."
The door shut again, and she grumbled, "You'd think the world was dying if they lost their buzz."
I started for the kitchen until I heard the door open behind her.
"That was a little louder than you might've meant," a male voice told her.
"What?" She sounded alarmed.
A low chuckle.
I recognized Race.
"I heard you," he said. "No one else."
Taz groaned. "Sunday would've chewed my head off." She laughed. "I must be more buzzed than I realized."
They couldn't see me, but I heard hands sliding on clothes, a soft sigh...aaaaannd they were making out. She moaned.
I shifted back on my heel. This was awkward.
To move and deal with this now? Or not move and still deal with this now? Okay. There was my answer. I was going to deal.
I coughed, my first signal to them.
Race heard. "What the--"
I walked around the last doorframe. "Hey there." I held up a hand and offered a stiff smile.
He seemed frozen, his hands on Taz's waist. His dark hair had grown a little. It was wet and sticking up. He wore red swimming trunks and nothing else. Taz had on a white wrap that was translucent enough for me to see her red bikini underneath. Her sunglasses were pushed up over her forehead, and her hair was pulled back into a French braid.
If I hadn't known them, I would've assumed they were a perfect couple like you see on Instagram. The matching bathing suits did the trick. Taz was always pretty, but her hair was longer now, or she had extensions in, and she seemed to have upped her sophistication level. She could compete against the likes of Sunday--or hell, even the bitches from Fallen Crest.
I stopped and took them in for a moment. "Wow, Taz. You look incredible." I meant what I said. Her makeup was on point. Her nails looked manicured, the red matching her bikini. I checked her feet. Pedicured. Same red color.
I'd never felt drab before--no, I wasn't going there. I still didn't, but I felt like maybe I should have. She was dressed to be taken seriously.
"Bren."
That's all she could say. Her hands fell slowly from Race's shoulders, but his remained cemented on her waist. He seemed more startled than she did.
I grinned at them, crossing to hoist myself up on the counter. "Close your mouth, Race."
His mouth clamped shut, but his eyes were still wide.
Taz's shoulders lifted as she drew in some air. She turned around and leaned against the kitchen counter, across from where I'd sat. She folded her arms over her chest, pulling her wrap closed with the motion.
