Page 31 of Something New

“My wallet sees the light of day plenty.”

“So are you giving me the money or not?”

“Sure, I’ll give it to you. On one condition.”

“Now you’re talking about conditions.” He runs his hand through his red hair, off his forehead. “How about I pay you back when I say I’m going to? That’s a fair condition we can both be happy with.”

“That is not a condition. It’s a given. I already expected you to when you asked.”

“So what’s the problem?”

I smile. “So glad you asked. I’m going over to the lumberyard and I need some help loading up my truck. It’s not a lot.”

“So what do you need my help for if it’s not a lot?”

“The lumberyard is the first stop. After that, I have a job to do and I’m going to need some help. The deal is you help me and I’ll let you earn the money. You won’t even have to pay me back.”

“I’m a grown-ass man with a job already.”

“You're a grown-ass man asking to borrow money from me. All I’m asking is for a few hours of help. Then money is yours free and clear.”

“It’s not free. I’m being forced to work off a debt I haven’t even incurred yet.” He huffs.

“Don’t think of it that way. It’s you helping me help you. Doesn’t that sound better, brother?” I smile, slapping him on the back.

He rests his hand on his hips, with a long suffering overdone sigh. “What the hell am I helping you with? It better not take all evening. I have places to, be people to do.”

Looking at him my brows pushed together, “You mean things to do?”

“You know me right?” He smirks, getting in on the passenger side as I roll my eyes getting behind the steering wheel. “Where we going anyways?” He adjusts his seat, stretching out his legs which are longer than mine. “Miranda’s or one of your other cop friends? Tell me it’s Miranda’s, I’ve been trying to get her sister's number for a while. I almost got it but Miranda was hating and blocking hard.”

“I wonder why?” I say with as much sarcasm as I can.

“I don’t know. I’m a good guy.”

“With a bad reputation.”

“Hey, I’m reformed and you know it,” he says with a bit of grit and terseness. A sliver of what he used to be like. Hard to live with and difficult.

“Hey.” I look over at him seriously. “I know how much you’ve changed and turned things around for yourself. I’m proud of that. I’ll be the first to tell anyone who says otherwise. But you can’t deny your record, or lack of one, with relationships sucks.”

“There is nothing wrong with sucking. A skill that is underrated but much needed—give and take.” The side of his lips turn up, then runs his tongue over his lower lip, and thrusts it in and out making lewd noises.

“Okay, that’s gross. I don’t need to see that or hear it. It’s uncalled for.”

He laughs. “Come on, man. You know I’m messing with you.”

“I know! Cut that shit out. I don’t need to hear about any of the sucking. I feel icky right now.”

He chuckles. “What are you, twelve? Icky?”

I look at him. “Leave Miranda’s sister alone and let’s end this part of the conversation. We’re going to Lexi’s house. I said I’d help her paint.”

“Seriously, how did that happen and why? Not that I really care,” he says with his usual unaffected, laid back way.

“Aunt Rachel volunteered my services when she told her she was going to try and fix her porch herself by watching YouTube.”

“Like that’s not a disaster waiting to happen.” He shakes his head.

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