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Finn pouts, the adorable creased lower lip making me goofy smile at him.
“I liked it better when you had the leave of absence.”
“Well, a girl’s gotta make money. I can’t just lay on my back all day.”
Finn breaks out into a grin, but Jax pretends to gag. “I’m so excited for this new joint future,” he deadpans. Grumbling, he adds, “My little brother getting some...”
“Maybe if you weren’t such a bear to everyone,” I tease.
He grunts in response. “I’m not changing. Whoever wants to get with me can fucking deal.”
I glance toward Finn, and he gives a half shrug, as if to say,Sounds about right.
Jax certainly has everything going for him, too. I don’t know his story other than what I’ve partially gleaned from Finn. He was burned super bad in the past, so who can blame him for being gun shy? However, I find it hard to believe that girls aren’t throwing themselves at him when the Ring turns into a club post-fights. He’s all tatted up and muscley. A girl with a few shots in her might brave his scowl and go for it.
When I tell him as much, he glares at me. “It’s the quality of the lay, youngin’. I don’t want just any.”
I’m shelving this conversation with him for another day because what I really want to tell him is that he won’t be attracting any good ones with his permanent pissy face. But I’m new here, so I don’t want to test his hard stare either. Next thing I know, he won’t be letting me come back, and I quite like Finn...and his bed...and manyotherthings I explored last night.
I spoon the last of my oatmeal in my mouth and stand. “I have to get going.” I kiss the top of Finn’s head on my way to the kitchen to place my bowl in the sink. “Call me.”
He catches me around the waist on my way back through. “I can ride the bus home with you.”
I give him a placating smile. “I’ll be fine. Situation neutralized, remember? I’m a big girl.”
“I’ve been thinking,” Jax pipes up. “You should take a few classes with us as a precaution. I’m not saying you can’t handle yourself, but some training is better than no training.”
Finn widens his eyes at his brother, shocked, and then turns the same look to me. “I wholeheartedly agree.”
“We can discuss,” I offer, inwardly grimacing at what I’ve seen them make their clients do. “Honestly, I’m worried you guys will eat me alive.”
“We’ll go easy on you.”
Jax hits Finn upside the back of the head on his way to take care of his own bowl. “The hell we will.”
Finn presses his lips together to keep from laughing. When his brother’s back is turned, he mouths, “We will.”
I lean over to press a hard kiss to his lips and then make myself walk away. “Bye. See you both after work.”
My furry friend follows me to the door, and I reach down to give Max some loving before heading out the door. I stole Finn’s hoodie this morning, so I pull it tighter around me, breathing in his scent. This freaking early, there is hardly anyone out and about. The bus rolls to a stop within ten minutes, and I climb the steps in the clothes I wore to the gym yesterday. The only other people riding are dressed way better than me at the present moment.
The bus travels along the Heights streets, and I watch the city come alive out the window. More and more cars start to pass. The pedestrians on the sidewalk wait at crosswalks as we cruise on by. When we finally get to my stop, I wave at the driver and step down. The crisp morning air wakes me even further, and I head right for mine and Jaz’s favorite coffee spot. I didn’t bother to text her that I was coming home. Knowing her, she’s still sleeping. Plus, the coffee will be a peace offering for not answering any of her texts yesterday while I was rolling around in the sack with Finn.
The barista calls out my order, and I pick it up before heading back out onto the cracked sidewalk. The one person I haven’t heard from since yesterday is Cole. Either he’s avoiding me, or he’s gotten wrapped up in the business he had in Arizona and can’t write me back. It’s unlike my brother to leave me hanging, but Dempsey is in town, and if he knew anything happened to Cole, he’d tell me.
As I’m walking up the wood stairs to my apartment, my phone rings. I fish the device out of the pocket of Finn’s sweatshirt and grin when I see his name scrolling across the screen. “Hey,” I answer.
He groans. “Even your voice is sexy. Can you come back?”
I laugh, biting my lower lip in the process. “You’re going to wear me out.”
“I just want to be around you. Skip work. Let’s watch Netflix all day and cuddle.”
I hold the phone between my shoulder and ear as I pull my keys out. “You have a bunch of fighters who missed the hell out of you.”
“Yeah, but they’re not as hot as you,” he says dismissively.
Finally getting the lock to click, I push the door open. I’m jostling the two coffees, my phone, and the keys, so I lightly tap the door shut with my heel, so I don’t wake Jaz up. “I promise some other time. I have a best friend to dish to about the amazing sex I had last night.”