Page 52 of Finding Their Place

Haley came back into the living room, but I watched Garrett.

His head swiveled the second she showed up in his periphery, and his eyes stayed on her as she bypassed him, the wine he’d poured for her, and the couch.

For me.

Way more than longing rested in his gaze. He gave off major adrift vibes, ones I recently gained personal knowledge of—the type of neediness that drew me in like a moth to flame.

Haley curled up on my lap, and the look on Garrett’s face said it all.

He was jealous of me—and not because he only saw her as a friend.

Gay, my ass.

Haley had told me a few times that he was only into guys. Lamented it, even, when saying how perfect of a man he was in all ways except not wanting pussy.

He’d bullshitted her, and he had to know he’d fucked up in doing so. Being aware of her hatred for lies, I expected confessing to his feelings for her would tear apart their friendship.

But why hadn’t he told her the truth from the start?

I didn’t know his story, Haley had said it wasn’t hers to share, but I couldn’t keep from wondering, even when she slid her hand beneath my shirt to caress my abs.

Maybe I could poke the bear and learn some answers. “My Haley here tells me you’re a dishwasher,” I said, placing emphasis on the my to see if I could get a rise out of him.

That muscle ticked in Garrett’s jaw again, and he tore his attention off her hand for the TV.

Bingo.

“Yeah,” he muttered.

“Do you enjoy it?”

“Fuck no.”

I took my time checking out his broad shoulders and the obvious muscles beneath. Clearly the guy was in great shape and needed some help gaining direction in his life. “I’m hiring and could use someone like you.”

He shifted his focus my way, his dark eyes hardened, more closed off than I’d seen since arriving. “Someone like me.”

“She says you’re a hard worker, and I can see for myself you’re fit as fuck.”

A hint of heat flashed in his eyes and disappeared just as quickly. “What kind of work?”

“Landscaping. One of my foremen over at Sunrise Condos just had a guy quit, and I need—”

“Wait.” Haley sat up, staring at me wide-eyed. “You’re the owner of Lionel’s Landscaping?”

I didn’t remember giving her the name of my company before and nodded.

“No fucking way.” She let out a huff of laughter and glanced over at Garrett. “He’s Blaine’s boss! You’re Blaine’s boss!” She repeated, turning toward me again. “Lily’s Blaine.”

The dots connected in my head.

“What are the chances?” I said with a laugh. She’d told me briefly about her other best friend—but not that she was in a triad. On the rare occasion I labored alongside Blaine, he sometimes talked about his Lily and Grey. I’d just never put two and two together.

“She is going to die!” Haley hopped off my lap and grabbed up her phone again, giggling. “Oh my God! I can’t even right now!”

The yearning on Garrett’s face as he watched her, that lost puppy impression I’d felt from him, hit me like a punch to my gut.

I barely heard the conversation Haley had with her girlfriend while standing there in front of her roommate, oblivious to how he looked at her.

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