Page 122 of Dad Next Door

“We got it,” Gray said, nodding for Caleb to follow him into the kitchen with the others.

“You good?” Quinn pecked a kiss against my cheek when we were the only ones left in the entrance.

“Yeah.” I smiled and gave him a hug. The one in the kitchen had been nice, but I wanted a real hug.

“You two are worse than Riv and Hayden,” Zane said, coming into our line of sight. “I swear we need the jaws of life to keep you separated.”

“Awww, you feeling left out, big guy?” Quinn let go of me and turned on Zane, his arms open wide. “C’mere and get some love.”

“I got plenty of that this morning.” He smirked.

Quinn dragged him into a hug. Zane made a big show of pretending to fight him off, but his smile gave away that he was just playing around.

“Um, Quinn?”

He let go of Zane and turned to Jett, who was standing a few feet away, looking unsure.

“What’s up?” Quinn asked.

“I was wondering if you finished that employment letter you were going to write for me?” He clasped his hands in front of him. “It’s okay if you haven’t gotten to it. I just found this really amazing apartment and I’m worried they’ll rent it to someone else if I don’t get that letter to them today.”

“I sent it to you this morning, didn’t I?” Quinn pulled his phone out of his pocket. “At least I thought I did.”

Jett quickly got out his phone and looked down at the screen. “Shit. I mean, shoot. Sorry. I didn’t see it.” He flushed and started to turn away. “I didn’t mean to bother you.”

“Is everything okay?” Quinn asked.

“You’ve been weirder than usual,” Zane added helpfully.

“Yeah. It’s just…nothing. I’m fine.”

“You know you can talk to me about stuff that isn’t work related,” Quinn said, his tone soft. “I might be your boss, but I’m also your friend, and that comes first for me. But I totally get it if you don’t feel comfortable confiding in me anymore.”

“It’s not that.” Jett glanced at Zane.

“Want me to scram?” Zane asked.

“No.” He scrubbed one hand over his face. “I’m fine. It was just a weird week.”

Zane and Quinn exchanged a look. “Okay, if that’s all it is.”

“It is.” He nodded firmly.

“Did you need something?” Quinn asked Zane.

“I was just wondering if the new guys are coming today.”

Jett made a strangled sound, like he was choking on something. “I’m fine,” he croaked preemptively when we all swung our gazes to him.

I didn’t know much about the new hires that had joined Quinn’s crew last week other than they were friends of Jesse’s and Quinn had known them since they were in high school. And that they were a couple and had been together since they were teenagers.

“As far as I know.” Quinn turned his attention back to Zane, giving Jett a moment to compose himself.

“Cool.” Zane glanced at Jett again, who was looking paler than usual. “And Gray told me to tell you to get your butts in the kitchen before all the snacks are gone.”

A knock on the front door broke the weird silence that had fallen over us.

“That’s Evan!” Nick came racing out of the main part of the house and sprinted to the door. “Heya, sexy,” he said, throwing the door open.

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