Page 54 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 2

I throw a look her way. “Yeah.No.Not my idea of a good time.”

“There’s a great farmers' market on Saturday mornings. Maybe people are in a hurry to get their fresh veggies.”

“Like rhubarb.” Hitting another red light, I look her way.

“They’re great in pies,” she replies offhandedly, turning her gaze out the side window.

In the quiet, I take the time to digest the underlying current running between us. This feels natural, almost to the point of normal, which is a quick turnabout to how we used to be in each other’s company. I glance over at her, liking the way she looks in my car and enjoying having her in my life. “You’re right.”

“About the pies?”

I chuckle. “About racing to Brooklyn. It’s not so bad driving a little slower.”

Poking me in the arm, she says, “And the company’s good.”

I angle my head toward her, leaning a little closer. “And the company isdefinitelygood.”

When we arrive at Tealey’s apartment, Jackson and Cade are loading the futon into the back of the truck. I park in a delivery zone. Tealey and I get out and walk closer.

“Nice of you to join us,” Cade says, wiping the sweat from his brow.

“I’m sorry we’re late,” Tealey starts. “Rad insisted on driving.”

“He never was one for the subway,” Jackson adds, stepping onto the metal ramp and walking backward into the truck.

Apparently, I need to add my two cents into this conversation. “Why take the subway when I can have the love of my life drive me?”

“You let Tealey drive?” My jaw hangs open.Wow.I fire Cade a look of warning to tread lightly. I didn’t expect to be put in the hot seat by my best friend.

“No, I drove?—”

“Good morning.” Cammie breaks the ice that had frozen me to the spot. My gaze darts to Tealey, who appears genuinely interested in my answer, then to Jackson, who’s chuckling. Cammie asks, “What’d I miss?”

“Nothing,” I reply curtly, stalking toward the truck to kick Cade’s ass.

She claps her hands twice. “Then let’s get it done, team. We have lots to do. Hop to it. Cade, I need you upstairs after you load the futon.” Turning to Tealey, she adds, “I have a few questions about the boxes in the corner by the bed.”

I dare to look Tealey’s way again, unsure of what she thinks about Cade spouting shit into the universe like it’s a fact. But her gaze is now trained on the building, and she replies, “On my way.”

They head to the apartment, and I detour to the truck to walk off my aggravation. “You’re an ass, Cade, you know that?”

“It was a joke,” he replies, lifting one side of the futon. “She knows that. You know that. Hell, we all know that. No one thinks you and Tealey would ever hook up.” He laughs. “The odds of that are the same as you letting her drive your car.”

“I …”Wait. What?They all know that Tealey and I would never hook up? Why would they think that? Why is it so outrageous to consider that she and I might be a match?

Something about that rubs me the wrong way and adds to my irritation.

“Guess I must be ignorant when it comes to my own fucking sex life,” I tell Cade.

He quirks a brow. “I didn’t say shit about your sex life. I assume you have that handled.” He groans as he moves the end of the futon around to get a better grip. “I will say that after our little chat the other day and your admission about feelings . . .” He grins. “I’m wondering if you didn’t trip into love. The question is with who?”

“Whom.”

“Whatever,” he replies, setting the futon down.

Jackson carries on by dragging the large piece of furniture to the back of the truck. I don’t think he’s heard a thing Cade and I were talking about, and I’d like to keep it that way. Lowering my voice, I give him my in-court glare, the one that levels my opponents into oblivion. It’s my legal superpower. “I’m not interested in revisiting the conversation from the other day.”

Jackson comes toward me and jumps off the truck. “What’s wrong with you?”

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