Page 34 of Absolutely Pucked
“Knock knock.”
I sat up and stared at the door before I realized Ford was actually going to wait for an invite to come in. “Yeah. I’m decent.”
“Pity,” Ford said as he opened the door. He hopped, and I was confused for only long enough to realize he was not wearing his prosthetic. I hadn’t expected it. I’d seen him with it off, obviously. I’d felt the weight of his residual limb in my palm and against my hip when my dick had been buried in his ass, but…
No. Nope.
Nuh-uh. I was not going to go down that road.
Clearing my throat, I sat up and made sure the blankets were in a thick pile on my lap so he couldn’t see even a hint of my half chub. He glanced down at me anyway, and my ears burned as I shifted and cleared my throat.
“Coffee.”
I blinked at him.
Ford rolled his eyes, then waved a mug in front of my face, and I realized he was offering it to me. That was…new. And different. Even something as small as this wasn’t familiar. Delia would have rather taken a hot poker to the eye than do me any favors.
God, I’d been such a fucking fool.
“Thanks,” I rasped. My voice was still a little off from sitting out in the freezing rain all afternoon.
Ford carefully hopped toward the bed, not spilling a drop as he offered the mug to me. It was warm against my palms, soothing in ways I didn’t expect. I watched him watch me take a sip, and for a moment, I wondered if it was a prank.
Maybe he’d dipped his balls in it or put a big glob of spit in the foam. A little fuck-you for the sake of my brother.
I drank it anyway.
Instead of looking pleased, he looked relieved and sighed before dropping to the edge of my bed. “Sorry to get all up in your shit,” he said.
“No, it’s fine. I—” My words were cut off when the fluffy cat came bolting in, leapt onto the covers, and made a little nest for herself in my lap. It was startling but sweet, and I gave her a quick pet, which set off her jackhammer-level purrs.
“God, she loves you. She normally has great taste in people.”
I nodded, scratching between her ears. “I’m not all bad, you know.”
Ford was quiet for a beat, then said, “I do.”
My chest warmed at the memory. “Um. Anyway, so…”
“Interview.”
I looked up at him, confused.
He rolled his eyes again. “You have an interview at one o’clock. And if my boss likes you, he’ll probably start you tonight.”
“Oh. Um.” That was unexpected, but not unwelcome. “Thanks.”
He nodded. “I’ll drop you off on my way to the rink.I have practice, then the closing shift, so I’ll be in around six. Think you can find your own way home? I really don’t want to be up at ass o’clock.”
“I can handle it,” I told him. I’d walk. It was no big deal.
Ford drummed his fingers on the bed for a second. “Look, we should try to find your car.”
I shook my head so hard I nearly spilled the coffee. “I don’t want to involve cops, okay?”
“I’m not a fan of them, but like, that’s kind of what they’re there for. To find your missing shit. And dude, it’s a fuckingcar. It’s not like you misplaced a watch.”
My throat felt thick as I swallowed. He was right. Someone had stolen my car, and it was going to look weird if I just let it go. Also, my insurance would be super confused if the VIN popped up somewhere this far away from California. Christ, what a mess.
