Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
I selfishly wanted a piece of it. My jaw ached with the urge to force him to look at me, but he refused. Throughout the entire planning session, he did the bare minimum to engage with me, only asking and answering questions when necessary.
By the time the group broke up, I was exhausted and annoyed. If the stubborn asshole couldn’t treat me like an equal part of the team, then fuck him.
I stood to follow Robyn back to her car when my sister Hazel walked up. “Hey!” I said in surprise.
Her face brightened. “Tommy, what are you doing here? Avery’s working late. I could have met you for dinner.”
Before I had a chance to explain about the staff dinner, Robyn realized I wasn’t with her and turned back to see what had happened. “Oh hi, Hazel. We were just finishing up a staff dinner.”
Hazel smiled at her. “Sounds fun. Hey, do you mind if I borrow my brother for a few? I can run him back to SERA when we’re done.”
Robyn hesitated before pressing her lips together in an understanding smile. “You bet. See you back there, Tommy.”
Hazel watched her walk away before turning and rolling her eyes at me. “She’s obviously into you. The signals are so much clearer for straight guys,” she murmured. It wasn’t the first time she’d made a similar comment, but this time, it annoyed me.
“You jealous that Robyn is more interested in me than you? Because your wife might have feelings about that.”
She laughed. “Easy, tiger. I happen to be picking up pickle-topped pizza because my wife is having pregnancy cravings. I adore Avery and have no interest in bubbly blonde women half my age.”
“Sorry.” I felt like an ass and muttered my apologies. “Long day.”
Just then, Foster walked by without a glance. Chickie, however, stopped and waggled her tail at me, sniffing my leg and nudging my hand. When the leash pulled at Foster’s hand, he turned back to see what had distracted her.
“Who’s this cutie?” Hazel asked, squatting to pet the pup. What happened next proceeded in slow motion. She turned to see who owned the dog and recognized Foster. From Hawaii. I hadn’t even remembered she’d seen him.
Her eyes went wide, lips parting in shock. I tried to smooth over the awkward moment.
“Uh, heh, um, H-hazel, this is Foster Blake. He’s… he’s the search and rescue instructor for SERA this summer. He’s standing in for Desi until Trace can find a permanent replacement. Foster, this is my sister. Well, one of them. Hazel, I mean. My sister. Hazel. She has a twin. There are two of them. Chloe.”
So much for smoothing over the awkward. My sister stared at me as I stumbled over my words. I was known for being cool under pressure, so it was highly unusual to see me off my game. In the history of my life, there seemed to have only been one person who could make me this stammery and weird.
“How did this happen?” she asked, waggling a finger between me and Foster. “Did you tell Trace to hire—”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Foster’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
“No!” I said quickly. “No. I didn’t know he was coming. I had no idea he… well, it doesn’t matter. He’s here, and I’m here, and… we’re all here. For SERA. For the program. Which starts tomorrow. So we should probably head back. To bed. To sleep, I mean. To get sleep. In bed. Not together!”
My face seared with heat as I tried not to think of my bed only a few feet away from Foster’s.
“There are two beds,” I added lamely, as if more words about the sleeping arrangements would help.
Hazel tilted her head at me. The edges of her lips turned up as if this was suddenly incredibly funny. “I see.”
I closed my eyes. “Jesus fucking Christ.”
“Mmhm.” Hazel glanced between me and Foster. “Well, someone’s obviously fucking someone. Foster, it’s nice to meet you. Would you mind driving Nimrod back to SERA for me? Thank you ever so much.”
My face ignited with embarrassment, not only at the implication that Foster and I were sleeping together but also at the old nickname, one I’d gotten before I’d even been born. “Nimrod Nickelback” was only trotted out these days when my sisters or Uncle Teddy wanted to hammer home a moment of my stupidity.
Once Hazel had disappeared into the restaurant without even a glance of apology, I took a deep breath and considered shouting a very bad word at her back.
“Don’t do it,” Foster said softly, tilting his head at the families seated nearby. Several kids eyed Chickie with interest. “You’ll regret it.”
I glanced at him. “Doubt it.”
“C’mon. Truck’s over here,” he said in a gruff voice.
“I can catch a ride with someone else,” I insisted, not wanting him to do me favors. And definitely not wanting him to continue to bear witness to my humiliation.