Page 60 of Hungry Hearts

“Oh, Ryder,” Ella’s sweet voice echoes through the cab of the truck. “Don’t be embarrassed. We’re so proud of you for finally falling in love. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? I mean, look how happy Trey is now.”

I glare at my former friend who is shit happy with smiles. He’s fucking glowing. But not from love, it’s at my expense.

“He’s so fucking happy he’s pushing out rainbow farts.”

“Tell me about your girlfriend. What’s her name?” Ella asks.

I let out a heavy sigh. I’d rather have Ella relay the story through our group texts than read how Trey spins it.

“Her name is Maia. She owns a salon. She has a daughter. Ruby’s sixth birthday is on Saturday. I’m building her a princess dollhouse. The end. It’s not love. It’s a gesture because the kid is cute.”

AVERY:Ella. Any news from Trey?

SEALY:He’s ghosting us.

“You’re the sweetest guy, Ryder. Maia and Ruby are lucky to have you in their lives.” Leave it to Ella to make me feel warm and cozy. “Can I tell the others? They’re blowing up my phone right now.

“Thanks for actually asking my permission, Ella.” I side-eye Trey, who hasn’t lost his stupid grin. “Sure. Tell them. Trey’s pulling into Home Depot now. We’re both turning off our phones so tell everyone to shut the fuck up.”

Two seconds later, my phone lights up with Ella’s message. She kept it short and sweet and almost verbatim to how I told her.

DOC:Had to show us up by bringing the first kid into the group.

NORA:It’s not a competition, Dr. Love. Our little Ryder is growing up and found himself a real woman with a child. I’m so proud.

DOC:Great. You made my woman cry. Thanks, Ry.

NORA:I cry all the time anyway. These damn pregnancy hormones. Ryder, I need Maia’s number. I don’t have any friends who’ve had a baby before and need to talk woman to woman. No offense, Aves and Ella. You’re my people. Always will be.

AVERY:No offense taken. You and Maia have your chat and then the four of us will do lunch.

I turn off my phone and would leave it in the truck, but I need the list of supplies. I don’t turn it back on until Trey and I are in the wood section, and when I power it back up, there are twenty-six more messages. I keep them unread and go to my notes.

It doesn’t take long for Trey to read through my list and throw a bunch of shit on my cart. Thirty minutes later, we’re back at his house unloading the wood. The Range Rover is gone, which means I’ve avoided the third inquisition from Ella.

Trey doesn’t say much throughout the morning. We follow the directions I found online and he instructs me with as few words as possible. I can see why he loves working with wood; the smell after it goes through the table saw, seeing a stack of random pieces of wood come together to make something special, knowing that you made it with your own hands. It’s a pride thing, in a good way.

I order us subs for lunch and we take a quick break to eat and wash them down with a cold beer. I have no idea what Trey had planned for the day, I’m sure he had his own list of projects, but he doesn’t complain about helping me and doesn’t ask about Maia or Ruby.

He did his damage in the group chat, and I’m sure he’s glowing on the inside at how much he pissed me off. Not that I’m pissed. Annoyed. But if the shoe were on the other foot, I totally would have outed Trey in a similar manner. If anything, I’m proud of the quiet, grumpy thug for showing me up.

I taught him something and now he taught me. Good times.

After we’ve sanded and filled the nail holes, I step back and study our masterpiece. “Came out pretty good. Thanks, man.”

“You staining or painting it?”

“I don’t know what color Rubes wants so I figured she and I could pick out colors later.”

“Well, shit.” Trey pops open a bottle of beer and hands it to me, then opens one for himself. “You really like this woman.”

I take a few sips of beer before responding. “I do, but this castle is not for her. It’s for her daughter.”

“You sure about that?”

I stand up straighter, ready to take on whatever bullshit he’s about to dish out. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You sure this castle thing isn’t more to impress the mom than the kid?”

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