Page 55 of Ghost

“You sure about that?” I raised an eyebrow and pointed at the bike. “‘Cause from what I can tell, it’s still not running.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Goose shook his head dramatically. “Just like a woman to talk smack when a man’s trying to get things done.”

“I’d call it ‘helpful commentary’.”

“You better get your woman, brother.”

“I’m going. I’m going.” I held up my hands in surrender, then started backing up. “You want me to call and order the pizza, or should I wait until you get this bike thing figured out.”

“Go on and call ‘em.” Sutton tossed his wrench back into the toolbox. “I’m done with this shit for the day.”

“You’re just gonna leave it?” Goose fussed.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.” Sutton started walking up the front steps as he told him, “We’ll figure it out in the morning.”

“What about the pizza?”

“Goodbye, Goose.”

Sutton opened the door and walked into the house, letting the screen door slam behind him. I might’ve felt bad for Goose if I hadn’t known how he and Sutton were with one another. They gave as good as they got, and they were better friends for it.

I ordered the pizza while Sutton took a shower and changed clothes. As soon as he was done, he came into the living room. The dirt and grime was gone from his clothes, and he smelled like soap and cologne. He sat down in his recliner as he asked, “So, what about that movie?”

“We’re game if you are.”

“Absolutely.” He reached for the remote and started flipping through the channels. “I’m guessing the movie I suggested earlier is out?”

“Afraid so.”

“What movie?” Toby piped in.

“Doesn’t matter.” Sutton cocked his brow. “Your mother says it’s a no-go, so it’s a no-go.”

“Aw, man.” Toby fell back into the cushions with a huff. “I bet it was something cool like Deadpool or something.”

Sutton glanced over at me with a smirk, but he didn’t say a word. He kept flipping through until he found the robot movie I’d mentioned. “How about this one?”

“Looks good to me.”

He started the movie, and we hadn’t been watching it for long when the pizza arrived. I grabbed us some paper plates from thekitchen while Sutton got us some drinks, and then we made a makeshift picnic in the living room and ate as we continued the movie.

Once we finished eating, Toby got back up on the sofa with me, and I covered us both with a blanket. It wasn’t long before he started to get still, and his eyes started to grow heavy. I knew it was only a matter of time before he crashed. Glancing over at Sutton, I couldn’t help but smile when I saw that his eyes were glued to the screen. He wasn’t exactly thrilled about watching a cartoon, especially one about a robot, but he was clearly captivated by it.

And just like that, I found myself staring at him again. While I enjoyed looking at him, it was his lips that fascinated me most. I could stare at them for hours, and all the while, I would imagine pressing my lips to his, feeling them on my neck or better yet, that sweet spot on the crook of my inner thigh.

His hands were equally captivating—so strong and calloused. He could solve the world’s problems with those hands, and he could make me come undone while he was doing it. I could feel myself getting worked up, so I turned my attention away from him and back to Toby. He was curled up on one of the sofa pillows and part of my leg, and he was out.

I didn’t want to wake him up, so I carefully shifted to my side, trying to get in a position to move him. I didn’t get far before Sutton was up and standing over us. “Looks like our boy is out.”

Hearing him call Toby ‘our boy’ made my chest tighten. I knew he hadn’t meant it like it sounded, but it got to me just the same. I smiled as I sat up and inched to the edge of the sofa. “Yeah, I better get him to bed.”

“I’ve got him.”

He leaned down and slipped his strong hands underneath him, gently lifting him into his arms. He cradled him against hischest like it was the most natural thing in the world, and it made my chest tighten in a way I didn’t expect.

I followed as Sutton carried him down the hall to his room. He laid Toby down on the bed so gently it almost hurt to watch. It showed a tenderness you wouldn’t expect to see in a man like Sutton. He pulled the blankets up over him and waited for a moment, making sure that he was still asleep.

As usual, Sutton treated Toby like he wasn’t just some kid he was protecting but someone he truly cared about, and it meant the world to me. Once he was certain he was okay, Sutton turned and walked back over to me.

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