Hardwood - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,14

anything tonight?” I ask, more than ready to change the subject.

“Beer and soda if you don’t mind.”

“You got it.” I nod. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have an estimate to work on.” I make a shooing motion, and he rolls his eyes but gets up out of the chair.

“And a friend to text,” he adds on for me, giving me an exaggerated wink.

As soon as he’s gone, I pick my phone back up to respond to Watson’s text.

Everett: Fine, if you want to adopt a middle-aged gay virgin as your new best friend, I guess that’s up to you

Watson: Whoa, who said BEST friend? Let’s see how it goes ;)

Everett: haha. Ok. Wait, are you even allowed to fraternize with parents? Or is this going to be an illicit friendship?

Watson: It’s not technically against the rules, but it IS frowned upon. So, we’ll have to keep it on the DL a bit.

Everett: I feel so cheap.

Watson: And dirty?

Everett: A little bit

Watson: Mmmm…please tell me you’re shirtless at a job site right now.

I bark out a laugh, my insides heating all at once at his flirting.

Everett: Are you an undercover OSHA agent? Is this some kind of sting operation where as soon as you catch me breaking OSHA regulations, the feds are going to descend and take me away?

Watson: What kind of undercover agent would I be if I fessed up that easily?

Everett: Good point. Well, for the record I am currently in my office, wearing clothing appropriate for work.

Watson: What a shame.

We chat back and forth for a few more minutes before he tells me he has a class about to start, and I realize I’ve been at work over an hour now and have not done a single thing except think about or text Watson. Jesus, if I was a thirteen-year-old I’d be doodling his name in my notebook. I need to get a grip.

I shove my phone inside my top desk drawer to force myself to focus and finally get down to getting some work done.

Hours later, when the workday is drawing to a close, Stone stops by my office again to remind me about dinner at his place. I wrap things up and swing by the store to pick up drinks before heading to Stone’s.

I get there around the same time as the rest of the guys. It seems that Cole stopped home to pick up his fiancé, Ren, who brought some homemade honey barbeque sauce that he makes with honey from his own bees. Ollie arrives alone with a tray of vegetables in tow. We go around the back of the house and through the fence we helped Stone build after his boyfriend’s dog got out and had a bit of an accident.

Stone is already on the deck getting the grill going while West and Stone’s boyfriend, Dare lean against the railing. Their two dogs, Nards and Rudy come bounding over to greet us.

“Perfect timing,” Stone says. “Can one of you please tell these two that the expression is ‘you have another thing’ coming.”

“Actually, it’s think,” Ren offers.

“No fucking way,” Stone says. “That makes no sense.”

“It makes perfect sense, it means you need to re-think what you thought,” Dare explains.

“No, it means the thing you thought was coming is not coming, it’s another thing coming,” Stone argues.

“Sorry, Stoney, gotta go with Dare on this one,” Ollie says.

“I’m team thing,” I offer.

“Me too,” Cole agrees.

“Yes, okay, you two are allowed food. The rest of you are on your own because no way am I rewarding your insanity with my delicious meat.”

Dare cracks a smile at the innuendo, and Stone looks victorious. I hate to admit it, but the two of them are perfect for each other. I didn’t think Stone would ever find someone to put up with his antics, but they certainly seem to be making it work.

“Stop eye fucking your boyfriend and focus on our food, please,” Ollie complains. It sounds good-natured, but I swear there’s the slightest hint of bitterness underneath the jibe.

“Don’t be jealous, Ol,” he teases.

“I’m not jealous,” Ollie says.

“You know with two of us paired off now, there are only two to go,” Stone points out, and out of habit, we all look to Ollie, expecting him to tell us about whatever latest boyfriend he’s sure is The One. He’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever known, he just happens to have shit taste in men and a lead foot when it comes to relationships. He’s zero to sixty