Page 45 of Starfish and Coffee
Holly jumped back and pointed at him triumphantly. “So it does count!”
“No, it doesn’t.” Alex laughed.
“When’s Matt getting here? I want a second opinion!”
“Oh yeah, cause that won’t make an already awkward situation even more painful. Let’s bring my boyfriend into the loop.”
The front door opened, and Alex had never been so glad to hear it. He slipped away from Holly and walked into the living room to find Will pulling off his shirt and kicking off his shoes at the front door.
“What happened?”
Will shuddered. “That sink in unit three basically exploded on me while I was working on the garbage disposal. I told Grover we’re buying a new one today. I’m officially done fucking with it. The shit hit the ceiling when I flipped the switch. Nasty.”
Alex laughed. “It could’ve been worse—like a toilet. You know what happened to me with unit eight.”
Will held up his hand. “Spare me.”
“I would’ve done the garbage disposal.” Alex grinned as Will leaned over and tugged off his socks. “It’s just like washing dishes at the restaurant.”
“I don’t like doing that either. Why do you think I’ve spent the last seven years working on a law degree, so I don’t have to wash other people’s dishes or fix garbage disposals.”
“So ask next time. I’ll fix it.”
“What do you want?” Will straightened up and frowned at Alex. “You’re being too helpful this morning.”
“I’m always helpful.”
“Not like this,” Will said skeptically. “You should be laughing your ass off right now and calling me a freak.”
“Can Matt borrow your gear?” Alex gave Will his most winning little-brother grin. “Please.”
“No.” Will brushed past him, completely unmoved by Alex’s charm.
“Oh, come on,” Alex whined. “You’re not using it today—unless you wanna come fishing with us. Grouper season is almost over.”
“Working today,” Will said dismissively as he walked down the hallway. “I’ll go Sunday with you.”
“I work Sunday.” Alex sulked, because he would like to go fishing with his brother. “I hate that we work different schedules.”
“You get off at two. We’ll go after. I’ll get a boat off Teddy and get it ready. You and Holly can just meet me at the docks after your shifts.” Will pulled at the button to his jeans. “What’s your deal? Are you gonna follow me into the shower?”
“Can Matt please borrow your gear?” Alex folded his arms over his chest. “I’ve already got the boat from Teddy. I can’t take him out without gear.”
“No fucking way,” Will said with a laugh of disbelief. “I do not loan my gear to rich, stuck-up pricks who can afford their own.”
Alex’s back stiffened in defensiveness. “He’s my friend, Will. So stop saying shit about him, or I swear to God I’ll lay you out the next time you do. I don’t cut down all your buddies from school even if I havenothingin common with them.”
Will stood there giving him a look that made it obvious Holly’s undying love conversation had left its mark. That little confession was odd, but Alex refused to back down. He was tired of pretending Matt was anything less than the reason Alex looked forward to waking up in the morning.
“Can he borrow your gear?” Alex repeated once more. “I think you owe it to me considering the circumstances. Not only am I paying for a house I rarely sleep in to give you two space, but you’re fucking my—”
“Take the gear.” Will waved him off, clearly desperate to avoid that particular conversation. “ButnotDad’s fifty-inch Riffe. Take the smaller speargun.”
“We’re heading to the plane wreck on the north end. The Biller gun’s perfect.”
“Fine.” Will’s tone that clearly said it rubbed him the wrong way to loan out his gear to anyone, but especially Matt. “If he breaks it—”
“He won’t. But if he does, I’m sure he’ll replace anything damaged with newer, more expensive gear.”
