Page 21 of Mayhem
Chayse was quiet for a minute. "No, I haven't. I want her to enjoy her time with Kieran. Besides, their two weeks are up soon, and they'll be back Friday morning."
"I thought their honeymoon was three weeks."
"It is.They'rereturning, but I don't think they're returning to work. It works out, though, since Nik insists we have a "we live together now"housewarming."
"I like his style,"Erin responded with a laugh. Over the past couple of years, she'd noticed that they had similar personality traits, and that was definitely something she would do. “You know what? I think I need to have my own little housewarming in a few weeks," Erin tacked on with a smirk.
Her phone vibrated on the table, and she picked it up and looked at it. Seeing that it was a text message from Paetyn.
Paetyn:Hey, I hope you had a good day and you're settling in well. Are you free tomorrow at around one?
Erin:It was pretty uneventful. I'm sure yours was more exciting. I should be free. What's up?
Erin returned her phone to the table, returning her attention to Chayse. "My bad, that was Paetyn."
Chayse smirked at her. "Oh, was it now?"Erin lifted an eyebrow at her. "Speaking of Paetyn and pulling in Cruz, what's going on there?" Chayse inquired.
"What about them?"
"Seriously?"Chayse asked. "I'm talking about you flirting with them at Nik's birthday dinner, and yes. I know your usual aura says flirting, but I know you, and this was…something else. Not to mention the pool incident when we were at their house, the fact that Paetyn did not have to run his hands down your arms like that when he was helping you at the gun range, and I'm pretty sure I heard Cruz say he'd be your daddy when we played the men in basketball. And then there was Thanksgiving."
Erin stared at Chayse because sometimes, her friend was far too observant. Yes, Erin had noticed all those things, and she'd ignored them because she figured they were just being flirts like Nik had been before he started dating Chayse. She ignored them because what would any of them gain from the two of them flirting with her except for someone being the odd person out. Erin knew it would be her. Because while she didn't back down from too many things, coming between friends was one of them.
She'dbeen very content with brushing those actions off. That is, until Alijah's wedding. Cruz made it very hard for her to try to brush that aside. Then, all the little things that happened when they were helping her move. Even though she did not want to speak up first, his not bringing it up didn't bother her. But she still could not forget it and decided to say something in the long run.
Before she could respond to Chayse, her phone vibrated against the table again.
Paetyn:Are you okay with Cruz and I stopping by?
Erin:Sure. That's fine. I'll see you both tomorrow.
When Erin returned her attention to Chayse, she found the other woman smirking at her. But she didn't say anything. Shepicked up her wine glass and tipped it in Erin's direction before focusing on the television.
Paetyn:See you tomorrow, Angel.
Erin looked at the message for a few seconds longer before putting her phone back down. She didn't mind them coming over tomorrow. She considered them both friends at this point, so their wanting to visit wasn't all that odd. However, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious about why.
6
Cruz looked over the software in front of him. It was performing well, but there was something about it that he couldn’t put his finger on. Something that kept it from being at his standard, and until he could get it worked out, he wouldn’t be able to implement it into the new system they were working on. He had time, but Cruz liked to have the software completed and tested before the systems placed on the client’s property were complete.
He looked at his watch and saw it was a little after noon. He’d gone in at seven that morning and spent the past five hours working with his software team. He pulled his phone from his pocket, deciding to text Erin. They would take lunch since he and Paetyn would see her at one.
Cruz:Paetyn and I are bringing lunch with us. Do you have a craving for anything?
After saying goodbye to his team, Cruz exited his development facility and headed towards his car. He and Paetyn had driven into the city together that morning, and he’d dropped him off atAefinityto do more training with the chef he’d hired. Cruz had just slid into his car when his phone notified him of a text.
Erin:You can choose. I’m not picky.
Cruz placed his phone on the dock in his car and started it before calling a Chinese restaurant near Erin’s apartment, placing the order, and continuing to Paetyn.
He placed his key in the restaurant’s front door twenty-five minutes later, locking it behind himself. The restaurant was empty, but he’d known that it would be. Most employees wouldn’t show up to start prepping for dinner service until three.
Cruz entered the kitchen and found Paetyn watching a young man as he plated and garnished a dish. Cruz leaned against the wall by the door, watching them. He noticed Paetyn’s left eyebrow twitch slightly as the young man placed a garnish on the plate, and Cruz knew it was either placed incorrectly or the incorrect garnish.
The garnish wasn’t meant to be eaten, and people just moved it to the side, so he’d never seen it as necessary. However, Cruz knew that for Paetyn, it gave the plate a presentation and made it look pretty, and people paid high dollars for pretty.
“Okay, Jonathan. That was good, but be mindful of how you place the garnish,” Paetyn spoke when the other man stood up and looked at him after finishing. “Each dish is an experience our customers come for, regardless of the restaurant or cuisine served.”
