Real Men Knit(46)

“You took the time to make them,” Val said. “I don’t know why you’re making that face. They’re perfect for summer and a waste just taking up space here. Let them do their job by highlighting your assets.” At that Val grabbed her own assets and gave them a quick lift.

Assets. Yeah, right. Kerry sighed but let Val continue to roll. She knew arguing over this would be a waste of time she didn’t have. Instead, she threw in more essentials and changed the subject.

“So come on and spill it. Tell me what happened with Craig last night?”

Val’s eyes rolled up to Kerry’s now scarily watermarked ceiling. Maybe it was best she was leaving. That stain looked ominous, and she didn’t need her upstairs neighbor’s floor falling in on her.

“He was in and out. Literally. That’s about it. It was over so fast that I didn’t even have time to put effort into giving him directions. Not that he would have heard or taken directions anyway,” Val said.

Kerry frowned. “Well, that sucks.” Val gave a snort and Kerry couldn’t help but laugh. “Still, things looked so promising between the two of you when you left.”

Val shrugged. “I thought so too. I mean he seemed so enthusiastic when we were at the table, but damn, he came at me like he did those chicken wings. He was all about eating the middle when all the good stuff was up at the tip. And there he was. Completely ignoring it.”

She let out a long sigh, and Kerry grimaced, then remembered her BFF in her night table and dived for it. “Can’t leave this here.”

Val frowned, then picked up Kerry’s multicolored knit skirt. “I don’t think you’ll be needing it where you’re going, my dear.”

“Just shut it. You act like you’re sending me off to work at the BunnyRanch and not the local yarn shop. This conversation is stupid. And for your information, I’m taking it because I don’t trust who will be coming in and out of my apartment under the guise of repairs while I’m gone. You never know what snoops will be up in here touching things.”

Val made a face. “Ewww. You’re right. Take your vibrator, girl, and keep it safe.”

Val picked up Kerry’s already short denim shorts and a pair of scissors, looking like she was about to hack off two good inches.

“What are you doing?” Kerry yelled. “Not to mention you’re supposed to be helping me get the essentials for work and interviews. I don’t need these shorts made into booty shorts.”

Val held up the shorts and the scissors. “Who says booty shorts are not essential in this case?”

“You’re out of your mind!” Kerry said. “Are you sure you’re not still slightly hungover from last night?”

“Cute, but no. I’m perfectly lucid. We’re about to go on break at the center and you’re about to have a couple of uninterrupted weeks in captivity with those fine-assed men. It’s time to shoot your shot, woman. Trust and believe, if you don’t, plenty will.”

With that declaration, the image of long-legged, heavy-toed Erika came to the forefront of Kerry’s mind. Val waved the scissors again. “I see you’re getting my meaning.”

“I’m not admitting to getting anything,” Kerry said, crossing her arms over her chest. Then the memory of Jesse and how good he had looked in the kitchen as he cooked her breakfast edged out the unwelcome image of Erika. “Let’s just say I do let you go all Scissorhands on my shorts . . .”

Val grinned dangerously.

“If I do,” Kerry continued, “you’d better make them look just as good as Bey’s from Beychella, and they had better be just as magical, because I’m not sacrificing my ass or my dignity for anything less.”

Val held the shorts up to her head in mock salute. “As you command, Kerry Girl.”





13




What’s up with y’all? Why is everyone looking so tense?” Noah directed his comment to all of his brothers, but then he laser-focused on Damian and shook his head and grinned. He walked over to his brother and patted him on his shoulder. “You really need to calm the hell down, bro. You’re looking like you’re straight ready to square up.” He rubbed Damian’s shoulder. “And damn, you’re stiff as shit. I told you that you need to add more stretching to your routine.”

Damian shot Noah hard eyes. “I’m not in the mood for a routine from you, pop locker.”

Noah snorted, then stepped back.

“He’s just mad because I offered up his room.”

“Offered? You just gave it away. Why not give away your own?” Damian said.

“What, with me in it?” Jesse grinned. “You think she’d share?”

“Now is not the time to joke, Jesse,” Lucas chimed in.

“Who said I’m joking?” Jesse countered at Lucas’s butting in before he turned back to Damian. “Besides, it’s not like you didn’t agree to it.”

“And it’s not like it wasn’t an emergency,” Lucas added.

“It’s not like she didn’t have other options either. Besides,” Damian added, “if I didn’t say yes, once again, I’d be the fucking bad guy. Both of you, no, all of you always make me out to be the bad guy.”