Page 20 of Mayhem
Cruz slid into his car and texted Paetyn, asking him if he wanted takeout before pulling out of the parking lot. He received a message as he was driving and pressed the button on his steering wheel to have it read to him.
Cruz called in an order for Italian food, knowing it would be ready when he arrived. It was one of his favorite places to get Italian food when he didn't feel like making it himself or asking Paetyn to make it.
Fifty minutes after placing the order, Cruz pulled into the driveway, parking in his spot in the garage. He put his finger on the reader and entered, placing the food on the island in the middle of the kitchen.
Cruz went yelling up the stairs. "Paet!"With that, he turned and headed back towards the kitchen.
A couple of minutes later, Cruz was already making his plate when Paetyn walked into the kitchen.
"You could have sent a text or called me. You didn't have to yell."
Cruz snorted. "You sound like an old man scolding a child. Besides, it's just us in the house. So, I'm not disturbing anyone else."
Cruz listened to Paetyn hum in agreement before grabbing a plate himself."We should add security consoles in the rooms to act as intercoms."
"You want to use consoles worth thousands of dollars for simple intercoms?"Cruz questioned, grabbing a fork and going around to sit on one of the stools. It wasn't that they couldn't. As it stands now, several of his security models used two-way microphones. "We could just have regular ones installed if you want them, and this isn't a whim because I was yelling."
Paetyn finished making his plate, came around, and sat beside him. "We could, but we both know you won't let anyone else wire something into the house."
Cruz shrugged because Paetyn was right. He'd naturally installed and set up the security system in their house the same way he did in all of their businesses, Nik's and Kieran's included. So, if Paetyn brought it up again, without Cruz yelling in the house, he'd look into it.
"I'm going to text Erin tonight and ask her if we can stop by tomorrow,"Paetyn said after swallowing some pasta.
Cruz nodded. If she was free, they would go over to her apartment. It was better if they were on her turf when they told her. She'd feel more comfortable there, and she could put them out if she didn't want to hear what they had to say or if they overstepped. He had the distinct feeling that Erin would try to put them in their place regardless of where they were.
He glanced at his watch and found it was a little after five. Cruz knew tomorrow afternoon wouldn't come around soon enough.
“So, tell me. How was Nik's birthday celebration?"Erin asked as she tucked her leg under her on the sofa.
Chayse smirked at her. "We enjoyed it. It sort of felt like my birthday as well."
Erin laughed. "I'm sure you did."She took a drink from her wine glass. "How's living with Nik?"
"Is it weird that it doesn't feel much different?"Chayse questioned."At some point in our relationship, I was either at his place for days at a time, orthere may have been a day between, and then he was at my place for days at a time. I don't have that day in between, and I couldn't be happier. Granted,it's been barely a week. So, who knows."Chayse finished with a shrug and a smirk.
Erin shook her head at her friend. She didn't see Chayse or Nik getting tired of living with one another. They were sickeningly cute and head over heels for each other. Erin was sure they belonged in some cheesy romance movie, but it was fun to watch her friend be happy—both of her friends, really.
The two fell into silence as Erin refocused her attention on the television. They were watching some game show. It was the first time Erin had ever seen it, but she had a feeling that if it somehow made it past the first, it wouldn't have too many seasons.
"Hey, End,"Chayse called after a while, gaining her attention. Erin playfully rolled her eyes at her. "Thank you."
Erin furrowed her eyebrows. "For what?"
"You know."
"If I did, I wouldn't be asking, though I'm sure there are several things you should thank me for," she joked with a smile.
Chayse sat her glass on the coffee table, turning her body towards her. "For being patient with me all those years ago. For showing me how a relationship was supposed to be. I don't think I'd have what I have now with Nik if youhadn't, and even though I almost screwed up our friendship, I never thanked youfor healing me."
Erin felt her stomach tighten, and she brought her wine glass to her lips. She needed a minute to collect her thoughts, to let what Chayse said sink in because they seldom did this. They didn't talk about their past together without some playful undertone, and for a while, they hadn't spoken about it at all. It had been what Erin needed to get over her, and Chayse understood that.
Honestly, at this point in their lives, it didn't matter because Erin had gotten over those feelings years ago. She loved Chayse,and she had a special place in Erin's heart. But she wasn't in love with her anymore, and because of that, she didn't think either of them would need to bring up their past. She hadn't expected Chayse to thank her because Erin hadn't looked at it like a job or a chore.
Erin smiled softly at her. "I can't take all the credit. You've dated people after me, before Nik."
"Not like this. Nothing after you or before him was like this,"Chayse propped her elbow up on the back of the couch, resting her cheek on her fist. "So, thank you."
Erin took another drink from her glass, changing the subject because she didn't need gratitude for what they once shared. "Have you talked to Alijah?"
