Lag (The boys of RDA #2)(57)

“Do you know what time it is, Finnegan?” she asks with a hand on her hip.

The door opens farther and Jake in a pair of jeans and a black fleece jacket walks in. Behind him, Finn in a similar outfit follows and Trey brings up the rear with a full cardboard drink carrier.

“Do you know what time it is?” Finn repeats her question and then stops to look Aspen over.

Trey walks to the middle of the room, his lips stretched across his face in the most joyful expression he’s ever worn. “It’s moving day." He takes a coffee cup from the carrier and passes it to Aspen. “A hot chocolate for the non-coffee drinker.”

“Thanks, Trey. You look happy today.” She smells the top of her drink container. “It’s odd and maybe a little scary.”

I can’t decide if her odd statement is about her hot chocolate or the goofy expression Trey’s had on his scruffy face since he walked in. As if my thoughts have called him, he walks over to me and places a quick kiss on my temple. "Coffee for you.” When he backs away, Aspen, Finn, and even Jake are left staring at us, all of their mouths slightly slack in question.

Their scrutiny racks up my nerves and I shrug. Maybe Trey’s on drugs. I lift the coffee to my lips, but move it back quickly. “One sugar?”

Trey smiles. “Of course.”

My eyes narrow at him. “Poured on the left side of the cup not the right?”

He, Finn, and Jake all laugh as they figure out my Melvin impersonation, but poor Aspen looks at the four of us like I’ve lost my mind.

Jake is the first to get back to business and he walks out to the hallway and comes back in carrying a stack of flattened cardboard boxes.

“Boxes?” I ask.

Trey grabs the stack from Jake. “Yeah, for your stuff.”

My head slants to the side as I process what he’s said. Out of the corner of my eye, Finn pulls Aspen to his lap with a quick head shake as they sit on the edge of the couch together. Even Jake retreats to the side of the kitchen. Everyone’s clearing the space and I worry I'm about to find out why.

“Most of my stuff is already in boxes, Trey.”

He drops the stack of cardboard on the floor. “Even better.”

All the words he’s said since entering the apartment hit me at once and I sputter for a moment. “Wait a second. Why is today moving day?” I have to ask, "Who’s moving?”

I didn’t believe it was possible, but his lips stretch further along his face. “You are.”

Granted it’s been easier between Trey and me since my closet freak out on Wednesday. We’ve eaten lunch together and played Dragons Reborn daily. I’ve even almost won Melvin's trust back since there haven’t been any additional jelly incidents. Of course I think Melvin might have tinfoil stuck to the underside of the baseball hat he refuses to take off, but that’s a problem for another day.

The point is Trey and I haven’t talked about apartments at any point in the last two days. He definitely didn’t mention showing up on Saturday morning with boxes. I’d remember that.

“Why is Simone moving?” Aspen asks from her spot on the couch next to Finn.

Trey sighs, obviously irritated by the lost time in answering questions he feels are redundant. “We have an open apartment on the second floor and she’s next on the list.”

His answer sounds simple, but I don’t believe it. “Aspen said there’s a six-month wait for new employees.”

A throat clears from behind me and Finn stands from the couch. “Let me give you some words of wisdom, Simone, if you don’t mind?” He waits for my nod. "When Trey sets his mind on a task, he’ll work until he gets it. At times like these, it’s best to sit back and enjoy the ride.”

My head flips back to Trey, waiting for his rebuttal, but he only sticks a hand out in defeat.

“I don’t want the other employees to think I’m getting special treatment.” I try one last time.

“Nonsense,” Finn answers again. “We make the rules and there are two open spaces without current employees. We’ve hired less than we planned so there is no waiting. I trust you so I’m waiving the six-month rule.”

“But…” my words stall out when I’m unable to decide what to argue next.

Finn walks next to Trey and crosses his arms over his chest. It reminds me of two linebackers working together. Except these are nerdy linebackers and the most they probably know about football has the name Madden in it.

“Plus I don’t want you two here alone. The crime rate is ridiculous,” Finn finishes with a head nod to Trey.

Aspen smirks from her position still on the couch and picks fuzz from her brand new looking pants. “Crime, huh?”

“Yes, six blocks down Van Ness Street a shop had a brick thrown through their window.”

Aspen stands from the couch and walks to my side making our own little front of woman power. Poor Jake watches the whole show unfold from a seat by the kitchen counter. “Six blocks,” she mocks being horrified. “That’s practically our back door, Simone. Do we have enough teenager repellent around?” She nudges me and then crosses her own arms to mimic Finn’s stance.

“I’m serious, Aspen. It was hundreds of dollars in damage. The whole thing was traumatic for the business owners.”