Page 3 of Griffin
I dropped my phone in my purse. No response was needed, and he wasn't expecting one. I started the car and drove off toward work.
THREE
GRIFFIN
Theo turned the volume down on the radio. He was miserable from a night of partying, so it was my responsibility to make sure he felt the full brunt of it. I turned the music back up.
"Fuckface," he muttered. He pulled down his sunglasses and slumped against the seat like a sulking kid.
"So, how was it with the long-legged trio?" I asked. "I'm impressed."
"Don't be. I was so drunk, I don't even remember it. No idea who the chick down at the end of the bed wrapped in the sheet was. Honestly, I think Crusoe kicked her out, and she just crawled into my bed. You know how grumpy Cru gets when the alcohol starts to leave his system."
Theo leaned over and reached for the box of scones.
"Just take one. Dad's trying to impress the new office manager."
Theo dropped a big chunk of scone in his mouth and then talked around it. "Hoo did he ire?"
"How the hell should I know? I know he was having a hard time finding someone who wanted to sit in a small trailer on a dusty construction site for the next year."
The scone seemed to revive Theo some. He sat up straighter and gave himself a little shake. "Shit, that's the last time I party before a workday."
I laughed. "Can I get that in writing?"
"Nope. Hey, Mac and I are going to ride after work. Interested in some mountain biking at Devil's Point? I noticed you're getting kind of soft in the middle." He reached over as if he might touch my stomach.
"Touch me and you won't be using that hand to jack off for the next ten years," I said.
Theo laughed. "Boy, someone is touchy about his soft middle."
"Nothing soft about my middle, buddy. How the hell are you going to bike down that rocky path in the dark? You won't get to Devil's Point before sundown. And I thought Mac was helping your dad paint the boat?"
"Gonna try out my new helmet light. Mac is helping Dad. Although Mac's form of helping includes checking his phone every five minutes and stopping to sext with Brianna."
"Is he still seeing Brianna? Hell, what is that? Three straight weeks?"
"Look who's talking, Mr. Love 'em and leave 'em before their panties are even dry."
I looked over at him. "Says the man who woke up surrounded by three naked women. Remember any names?"
Theo nodded. "Think one of them was Hannah or Helen or something with an H. Besides, they won't remember my name either. Cru kept pouring shots, and you know how you get to that point with tequila where you can't remember how many shots you've had? We hit that point halfway through the evening."
"I thought you were competing in the Downhill Masters next month. Is tequila part of your training routine?" Theo was an awesome mountain biker. In fact, he was an all-around athlete, but biking was his passion.
"A little tequila now and then won't hurt."
"You were literally just talking about that point in time when you're so fucking plastered you can't remember how many shots you've had. Not sure if that qualifies as a little tequila." I turned down the road that led to the construction site. A lot of our coworkers were already hard at work. My truck scared pigeons off the road reminding me of the start to the morning. For some reason, the whole incident, and especially the woman, had really stuck with me.
"Shit, is Greg back on the site? I thought he hurt his thumb. Can't stand that blowhard," Theo said.
"Great, then I'll tell Dad to make sure he puts you on his team."
"Fuck you."
Dust kicked up as I pulled over to the parking area. Dad was walking out of the trailer that would be his office for the next year. I grabbed the box of scones, and we got out of the truck. It was a clear day and about ten degrees warmer than it was on the coast. Dad spotted us and turned our direction.
"He's going to lecture us about being late," Theo muttered.
