Page 43 of How to Trust a Hellhound
Ah, point for Quinton.
“Of course not, Q. But you know perfectly well that your situation is far different from mine.” Quinton sputtered, but Josh just kept talking. “Besides, not all contributions are monetary. You both contribute in numerous other ways.”
I nodded. Definite point for Josh on that one. It was probably a two-pointer.
Quinton snorted. “What, is snark and assholery now a contribution? Never mind that we both work now, so implying that our tragic backstories would keep us from financially contributing to the pack is frankly insulting. So if you pay rent, then I guess Aiden and I need to pay rent, too, or get the fuck out.”
Hmm. Maybe two points to Quinton on that one, and he’d backed Josh into quite the corner. Josh seemed entirely unruffled, however. I knew Liam would never accept money from Aiden and Quinton, but he remained quiet. He seemed to have given up his place in the fight, even though technically the property belonged to us. His head just volleyed back and forth between the two mortals.
Josh held up his index finger. “First of all, you work with Liam doing all his computer stuff, so you contribute that way to his work. He doesn’t pay you, I’m sure, but he ought to be paying you.”
Liam looked pleased and opened his mouth, as if he was nowgoing to insist on giving Quinton money for his help, but one glare from Quinton had him shutting it quickly before he could utter a word.
Another finger popped up on Josh’s hand. “Second of all, Aiden bakes foreveryone. He cooks dinner, too. Iknowthat you know how much those pastries sell for. We’re all eating your rent payments, and let me tell you, I’m sure that none of the Smith family is complaining about that trade.”
Quinton opened his mouth this time, but Josh wasn’t done, and a third finger popped up.
“Next, you haven’t mentioned Toby, whoownsone of the houses in this family grouping. So he obviously contributes quite a bit financially. And it doesn’t matter that he owned his house first. Dexter lives there, and I’msurehe doesn’t pay rent, does he?” Josh stared at Liam and Quinton, waiting for an answer.
Liam shook his head no, and Quinton shot him a dirty look. Three points for Josh then. I was losing track of the score, but it was still anyone’s guess who was gonna win this argument.
“Finally,” Josh added, putting his hand down, “you and Aiden moved into an existing structure on the land that the guys bought. This is a new structure, and Wilder said a road is being added, and that will be an additional expense. How could I justify them footing the bill for that without contributing anything?”
Quinton opened his mouth, but Josh added, “Never mind the fact that you, Toby, and Aiden are all in relationships with Smith brothers, so that alone gives you rights to live rent free. Plus, I know Aiden takes care of training the guard dog, and probably you both take care of a million other household activities for the Smiths.”
Huh. I turned and stared at Josh. He obviously didn’t realize that Atlas was the “guard dog,” and I supposed I hadn’t really mentioned that when I explained hellhounds. That was something I would need to rectify.
Liam obviously found that funny, because he laughed, adding, “Getting Fluffy housebroken and friendly is something we couldn’t pay enough for.”
“Not helping our argument, Liam,” Quinton muttered.
Liam seemed to realize his mistake, because he added, “But if you use that argument, you’re in a relationship with Wilder, so that means you shouldn’t pay rent either.”
Josh and Quinton both stared at Liam, their mouths slightly agape, and they looked like a united front of outrage. Liam looked at me, but I just shrugged. He wasn’t wrong, so I had no idea why both humans seemed so shocked by his statement.
Quinton smacked Liam’s arm. “What the fuck, Sexy Stalker! I swear to god, if you put fucking cameras in here, I will be extremely pissed.”
Liam was shaking his head no to that, hands held up in supplication.
“Fine, but you’restillnot off the hook, because you’re my boyfriend, and if there is fucking gossip to be shared, I am thefirstone who is supposed to hear it, so the fact that you knew this and didn’t tell me is aproblem.”
“I just found out now, my hellcat,” Liam swore. “Of course I would tell you first. I forgot you couldn’t hear them.”
“Oh. My. God.” Josh enunciated. “You heard us? Liam, what the hell! And you can’t go making assumptions about people and then spewing them out for the whole world to hear!” Josh threw his arms out, like Liam had told the entire world, when really it was just the four of us in the cabin.
Quinton seemed to agree with him, however, because he was nodding his head. “You can’t just say shit like that to people. We don’t even know what their status is, and now you’ve gone and made it fucking awkward and shit.”
I decided not to let Liam flounder through this alone. “Josh and I are in a relationship, but I don’t think Josh is ready for everyone to know.”
Ah, perhaps not the wisest course of action. Now both humans were glaring at me. Luckily, Josh put aside his ire first, sighing.
“I don’t mind if the guys know,” Josh reassured me. He looked at Liam then. “I just… Listen, it’s too soon to move in together. We just decided to start seeing each other today.”
Liam and I both glanced at each other. Too soon? Huh. I didn’t sense any displeasure from Josh at the thought, so I wasn’t sure why it was too soon. Perhaps a human thing. Also, I had been courting Josh for a while, but I knew sometimes humans didn’t count things as actually happening until they spoke about it.
Quinton sighed as well. “Fine, I’ll give you that. But you’re still not paying rent. I’m sure you’ll contribute in other ways, just like Aiden and I do. And Aiden would agree with me,” he said, taking out his phone and typing.
Josh ignored that and snorted. “How else will I contribute? I don’t bake, I don’t do computer shit, and I don’t make a killer cup of coffee, either. I know money, so I’ll pay.”
