Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Josh
We’d been home about a week, all the while tiptoeing around each other. It was unfamiliar, navigating our relationship since our trip and what we’d admitted to each other—friendship, I meant. Our friendship. It wasn’t a relationship.
I hadn’t been to the bar at all, which was unlike me. I usually stopped by just to hang out for a little while or to meet Kell there or something, but I chalked it up to the fact that I’d had a busy week at the gym after being gone for several days. Which was true, but not the full truth. It didn’t take a genius to figure that out, but I was pretty good at pretending I wasn’t as smart as I was. Denial, denial, denial, even if it was only to myself. Just like if I were being honest, I’d admit I let Griff believe something about Doug that wasn’t true.
I’d just gotten off work and was waiting for Kell, Nat, and Callum to come by. The four of us were going to have a workout together. It was ridiculous that I was nervous to see Kellan, as if he’d take one look at me and somehow know I’d kissed his brother, wanted to bone him, but turned him down for a hookup because I was all fucked up after losing the only guy I’d ever loved. It was a sign that Griff and I had made the right decision. If things were awkward now, it would only get worse if we started screwing around. Sex had never made something weird for me before, but then, I’d never considered having sex with my best friend’s brother. The irony of the situation didn’t escape me, considering Kellan, Chase, and Griff had already gone through this when Kell and Chase fell for each other.
I was at the front desk, chatting with Jasmine, when Kell, Nat, and Callum all walked in together. I looked up, my eyes meeting Kell’s before I automatically averted them. Yep. I was making this awkward. What in the hell was wrong with me?
I stood and walked around the counter. “Hey, babe.” I kissed Kellan’s temple.
“Hey, you.”
I hugged Natalie next, then said hi to Callum.
“You guys ready for me to show you up?” I teased, only to get three sets of eyes rolling at me.
Callum patted my shoulder. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
We headed over to the four open treadmills in the back. I got on the first machine, followed by Kellan, Natalie, then Callum. I was just getting mine going to the warm-up speed when my best friend asked, “So…how was your trip with my brother?” My hand somehow slipped from the handle, accidentally coming down on the Emergency Stop button. The belt halted, and I stumbled, which elicited a “What the fuck was that?” from Kellan.
“Nothing. Hand slipped.” Which wasn’t a lie; it had simply happened, though it coincided, strangely, with him asking me about the trip. I needed to get my shit together. Natalie caught my eye from behind Kellan and frowned. Nothing got past her, damn it. “It was fine.” I got the machine going again. “A few relaxing days in the mountains. He needed it.”
“He did,” Kellan agreed. “I still don’t know how you talked him into it.”
“Have you talked to him since we got back?” It wasn’t a weird question, really, but I sure as shit wasn’t going to look at Natalie to see if she was watching me, just in case.
“Yeah, of course. He said it was fine and told me a bit about what you guys did. You know how Griff is. I really appreciate you taking him, ya know? You’re right, he does need it. I owe you one.”
My stomach twisted. I loved Kell, but Griff was my friend too, and I definitely didn’t want it to seem like I only went away with Griffin as a favor to Kellan. “You don’t have to thank me. I had fun too. I needed it. And shh, don’t tell anyone, but Griffin and I are friends as well.”
“I think it’s obvious to anyone with eyes in their heads that you and Griffin are close,” Callum added.
All three of us looked at him, and not gonna lie, my pulse skyrocketed.
“What?” Callum said. “Is that not common knowledge?”
Poor Callum had no clue I was incredibly close to killing him. That would piss Knox off, though, and then I’d have an angry lumberjack on my ass.
“I can’t be the only one who sees it,” he persisted.
Yes, you could, Callum. Shut up, shut up, shut up.
“Griff is straight,” Nat replied.
“Yeah, and so was Knox before I came to town,” he countered.
“True, he has a point there. I’m all out of excuses,” Natalie teased.
“Ew. Gross. Josh isn’t…” Kellan made a circle with one hand and pushed his finger in and out of it with the other. “My brother.” Then he turned to me. “Oh my God! You’re not fucking my brother, are you? Josh, he’s not… You don’t understand… I can’t handle it if…”