Page 54 of Tinsel & Tools
After we got a bite to eat and Allie caught me up on everything going on in New York City, I dropped her off at Ryan’s with a promise to hang out the next day while the guys were working.
Once I got back to Cole’s, I took a shower, then slipped into a fresh T-shirt and a pair of pajama pants. Not even thirty minutes later, Cole walked through the door and kicked off his boots.
“Hey.” He smiled when he saw me.
“Hey,” I replied. “How was dinner?”
“Hectic.” He chuckled, dropping onto the couch beside me. “My sister, her husband, and my niece were there. Then my cousin stopped by for dessert with his wife and kids. I wish I had half their energy.”
I snorted. “Sounds … fun?”
He nodded. “It was. I also told them you’re staying with me while the plumbing is being redone. Since Dad already knew what was going on, nobody acted as though it was strange. So that’s good.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, although I wasn’t sure how I felt about being treated like a dirty little secret. On one hand, sneaking around sounded hot, but on the other, it didn’t exactly feel like it had the potential to grow into something more.
Maybe this is all it’s meant to be.
“What’d you do while I was gone?” he asked, resting his sock-covered feet on the coffee table.
“Got a lot of writing done. Then Allie surprised me by showing up in town.”
He whipped his head around to look at me. “She’s in Brookhaven?”
“Yep. I guess Ryan went to see her in New York and then she came back with him.”
Cole let out a slow whistle. “Can’t believe Ryan actually went through with it.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You knew about him going to New York?”
He shrugged. “He mentioned in passing wanting to see her the other day.”
“Well, she was super happy about it. From what she told me, she’s pretty serious about him.”
“I’m not surprised. He’s not the player everyone thinks he is. I think he’s just been waiting for the right person to come around.”
His leg bumped mine, and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “But enough talk about our best friends. There are other things I’d rather do.”
21
Cole
The Tap was packed when Gavin and I entered. Ryan spotted us and motioned for us to sit at the booth where he and Allie were. She slid over so Gavin could take the inside, and I sat beside him, our legs pressed together where people couldn’t see.
“Look who finally showed.” Ryan leaned back with a grin. “I figured you’d bail again.”
“We were finding a spot to park, not bailing.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were getting some. You’ve got that look.”
Allie swatted his arm. “Don’t be gross.”
“I’m serious. Who is it?”
“No one.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes. “Uh-huh. You’re grinning at the room for a reason.”
Allie nudged him. “Drop it.”
