Page 6 of Room for Three

At the time, when the drug dealer I’d busted during a truck stop pulled a weapon on me, I’d been extremely pissed. I was able to subdue him before anyone was hurt, but all I felt at that time was anger.

Now that the adrenaline has left my system, I’m feeling off.

Shaken. Upset, perhaps. Tired.

Reid swivels around to fetch me another Sady Gala. I’m a fan of the brand, that’s for sure. Gladly, I gulp down half the beer to chase away the heavy emotions weighing on me.

“Try not to overthink the Savvy situation,” he starts but then pauses when his phone buzzes on his desk. He picks it up and frowns. “Dammit. Wanna go for a run early in the morning to continue this conversation? I have to pick up Amara. Her car won’t start.”

Reid’s newest girlfriend has the worst luck. Where Jony comes from money, exudes style, and left Reid long ago to chase dreams much bigger than him, Amara is the polar opposite. She cleans houses for people like Jony, can barely afford to pay her bills, and desperately needs Reid for assistance with everything. As much as I like Amara on a personal level, she’s too extreme for Reid. I wish he’d find someone in between.

“Let me know if I need to send Travis out,” I say as we both stand. “Five AM. Don’t be late or I’ll sic Maggie on you.”

He flips me off and I grin.

Surprisingly, I feel much lighter.

Maybe this thing with Savvy will be fine after all.

Travis

“Stay away from those two,” I tell Savvy as I apply a layer of crazy glue to the bottom of my Dr. Pepper can. “They’ll turn you into a teenaged alcoholic.”

She stares at the beer bros’ back patio which is littered with weird shit. “Is that an inflatable hot tub?”

“That hasn’t been cleaned since last summer. Probably why we have so many damn mosquitos around here.”

“What’s in the refrigerator?”

I snort out a laugh. “I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count.”

She scrunches her nose and thinks for a moment while I place another can on my Dr. Pepper wall.

“Beer?” she finally says.

“Bingo, little S.”

“What’s up with the half-inflated T-Rex?”

“Kevin likes to put it to entertain people. It was only a few months ago that I learned it was possible for someone to receive a blowjob while wearing a T-Rex costume. Been disturbed ever since.”

“Gross.” She giggles and then shakes her head. “The sound wild.”

“They drive Cole up a wall. He’s gone over there a time or two in asshole police officer mode. I thought Kevin was going to piss his pants one day when he threatened to arrest him for public intoxication.”

Savvy points at the townhome next to the beer bros’ home. “Who lives there?”

“Troy,” I grunt. “He really is someone to avoid. The guy is a dick to everyone.”

She nods and then waits for me to continue around the complex. I point at unit seven next.

“Clara is tricky. She’s hot and sweet. But she’s also manipulative as fuck. If there’s drama around here, Clara is no doubt at the source of it. Don’t ever tell her your secrets unless you want everyone here to know what they are.”

I leave out the part where I’d had stupid, drunk one-night stand with Clara last year. I’ve been trying to shake that woman off my dick ever since.

“Next to Clara is Linda. Single mom. Two cute as hell kids, Topher and Eloise. She’ll try and buddy up to you, but don’t be dazzled by her charm or you’ll be stuck babysitting those two monsters for free. Ask me how I know.”

Savvy giggles again and I decide I like the sound. Cole’s laughter is a rarity. It’ll be nice to have someone who enjoys my humor around here.

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