Page 16 of Invincible
“I can give Dex a crash course in being a welder’s helper.He should be able to get the work permits fast-tracked to get on to the docks.If we can gain access to one of the shipping offices, it will give us our best chance at finding where they are.
“Greer, would you be willing to work with Knox to cover the local haunts?You might have a better chance of overhearing something.He could go with you to the club and keep his ears open,” Tyler said.
Knox was positive he could hear Greer’s teeth grind together at the suggestion.Personally, he wouldn’t say no to more time with the saucy minx.
“That sounds like as good a plan as any I’ve heard tonight,” Memphis said.“What do you think, Knox?Dex?I think it’s at least worth a try.”
“It might work,” Dex answered.“I’ll get my contacts working on the permits now, if you think you can give me a crash course on how to be your assistant.”He locked eyes with Tyler for a few minutes before she nodded at him.
“That just leaves you, Memphis,” Greer said, scowling at him.“What do you plan on doing?If I have to waste my time lugging Conan around, you should have something equally repulsive planned for yourself.”
“I’m planning on going home.”When the protest started, he held up his hands.“Sorry, guys.I’ll keep up with Mia and touch base every day but Thayer has been sick lately so I really need to get home.”
“What’s wrong with Thayer?”Knox growled, that niggling worry spiking through his system again.With a sigh, Memphis looked at his older brother.
“We were going to wait to say anything, but she’s pregnant.Between the morning sickness and the mood swings, someone should be there to protect Murphy and Harry.”Memphis sat for a moment as the stunned looks turned into congratulations.
Knox stood up, walking toward the door.“You knew it would happen eventually.Don’t be pissed,” Memphis said to Knox’s back.The big man spun around, staring at him.
“Pissed?I’m so fucking happy for the two of you, I don’t know whether to hug you or tase you.”
“I vote tase, but whatever,” Greer said, watching them from the couch.With a grin, Knox swept Memphis up in a bear hug with a hardy whoop.“Wait, does he tase people a lot?Why do I have to hang out with Shocky McAsshat and you get the golden porn star?”she asked Tyler.
“Shocky McAsshat?What are you, twelve?”Knox said, setting Memphis back on the floor.“How come I didn’t get porn star?I can do porn just as good as pretty boy here.”
“Hey!Don’t bring me into this.I was just sitting here basking in my nickname.Leave me out of it,” Dex said.
Greer settled back into the couch next to Tyler as they watched the men argue.
“It’s like watching rams fighting,” Tyler said, clinking her beer bottle against Greer’s.
“So what time do you want Dex over here tomorrow?”Knox asked Tyler, shaking her out of her reverie.
“He could always stay the night,” Greer mumbled.“I have noise canceling headphones.”Tyler pushed at Greer with her shoulder while Dex shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
“Why don’t you meet me at six for breakfast at the diner.We can head over to the shop from there.”Dex nodded at her as he finished his beer.
“I’ll pick Bambi up around lunch.We can grab a quick bite before she shows me the lay of the land around here,” Knox said with a wicked grin.
“Did you just give me a stripper name?”Greer bit out, plying Knox with her best death stare.“You know what,” she growled when he gave her a wink.“That’s fine, Buttmonkey.Be here around noon.”
With a vague plan agreed on, the men stood to leave.Memphis wrapped Tyler in a surprising hug before promising to talk again soon.Knox and Greer simply growled at each other before he stomped off down the hall, with the others trailing after him.
Closing the door loudly, Greer spun around with a frustrated roar before stomping over to the coffee table.Snatching up the empty food containers, she stormed into the kitchen where she turned throwing them into the trash can into a WWF event.
Tyler tried desperately to not laugh as she gathered up the bottles, following Greer into the kitchen.Rinsing them out, she tossed them into the recycling bin next to the counter.
Tyler had met Greer right after moving to Houston when she had wandered into the diner one morning while searching for an apartment.The stool next to Greer had been open so Tyler slid in to order breakfast.Soon they struck up a conversation which turned into a discussion about the cost of housing.
As it turned out, Greer was looking for a roommate to help share the cost of her two-bedroom apartment.Her last roommate had bailed on her when she moved in with her boyfriend.Tyler moved in the next day and they had been close friends since.
“Problem?”she asked, looking over at a fuming Greer with a smirk.
“I want to gut him every time I see him.How can someone be so infuriating all the time?”
“You know he’s just trying to get a rise out of you, right?As soon as we find the girls, he’ll go back to whatever evil lair he calls home.”
“It won’t be soon enough for me.I can’t believe I’m expected to spend the day with him or that he’s your stupid brother,” she said with a vague wave at Tyler.
