Page 36 of Nitro

The ex. “What’s he doing there?”

“He’s stocking. I forgot he did that in the evenings sometimes.”

Daniel just moved himself to the top of his long-ass intel to-do list. “What are you there to get?”

“Extra supplies in case that damn hurricane does what they say,” she huffed and grunted.

8-Bit turned the boat in her direction. “I’m coming to help.”

“What?” she cried. “Why? I’m already here, Daniel’s capable of protecting me.”

“I doubt that, but I’m just coming to help you get supplies,” he said, not wanting to seem like a jealous husband so soon. He was exactly that but didn’t want…wait. Maybe he did. “I need to check him out personally,” he decided.

“Who?Daniel?”

“Every man you spend more than one minute a day with I will surely check out,” he clarified, letting his true colors loose.

“Ethan, that’s a little ridiculous, he’s a co-worker.”

“He doesn’t need to know.” But then again. “Unless Iseehe needs to know, then I’ll let him know.”

“Let him know what?”

“That you’re off limits.”

“I thought we weren’t blabbing that all over?” she suddenly strained.

“Where’d you get that idea? I said I wouldn’t say anything to Jason till you gave an answer. But all of the swamp will surely know. Did you think I intended to have a secret wife?”

“No!” she shrilled even quieter. “Hey Daniel,” she called. “I’m just here for some supplies. Be right in.”

“What are you worried about?” 8-Bit asked. “Is he the jealous type?”

“I’m not worried about him at all, you are, and I’m trying to tell you there’s nothing and I meannothingto worry about.”

“Women tend to miss things that other men see. And being as uninterested as you are in him, you wouldn’t notice the signs, I’m sure.”

She carried on with every manner of spitter-sputtering as he opened up his engine more.

“I’m five minutes away. Wait inside for me.”

She gave a huge huff and, “Fine,bossman.”

She hung up and he looked at his phone for two seconds and dialed her back.

“Now what?” she answered.

“You hung up.”

“Because we were done, I thought.”

“You thought wrong. I want you on the phone till I get there.”

“Are you…” More huffy noises. “If you plan to be up my ass like this, I’ll need a head piece for the phone so I can actually get a damn thing done.”

He grinned at that one. He didn’t like pushing these particular boundaries and yet kind of did. “Are you inside yet?”

“No, I’m outside, talking to you still.”

---