Page 60 of Before and After

“Hey.” She lifted a bag of microwave popcorn. “I come bearing snacks.” She dropped down in the chair beside me.

“Didn’t your shift just end?” I asked.

She nodded. “I have a bit of time before I need to collect Ollie.” Her nose wrinkled. “Then I’m coming back for the evening shift.”

“What? You’re pulling a double?”

She nodded. “There’s a staff member who’s got sick kids. Both her kids have the flu, and she’s knee-deep in Kleenex, and stuff you put in Kleenex.” She winced. “I’d prefer she keep those germs at home.”

I did too.

“I figured I’d help you listen to the bug.” She opened the popcorn and popped some in her mouth. She held the bag out to me.

I took a handful. “It’s not very interesting so far.” I turned the volume up and we could hear the guys laughing.

She sighed. “I didn’t think they’d be sitting around saying, ‘oh, we’re asshole drug dealers.’”

My lips twitched.

She curled her legs under her. My gaze dropped to her mouth. Now that I knew how good she tasted, how those legs felt around me, I wanted more.

I looked back at the screens.Dammit.

Nothing about me, or my life, was compatible with hers.

She deserved better.

I cleared my throat. “They just ordered room service. The guy who crashed his bike is complaining about his knee.”

They were currently talking about football.

“I assume Tessa interrogated you?” I asked.

She grimaced. “Yes. I can’t believe you ran off like a coward when Tessa busted us.” She playfully slapped my arm. “You left me to defend myself.”

“I had faith in you.”

She snorted.

“Tessa shared with Ro. He and Piper came digging.”

She made a humming sound.

“Who wants to hit the bars tonight?” one guy said on the audio feed. “Mitch, can your knee handle that?”

“Yeah, if there’s beer and somewhere tight to stick my cock.”

Allie pulled a face.

“We already knew they were assholes,” I murmured.

“I feel like you need a hot, little brunette to play nurse,” someone else told Mitch. “You had a blonde last night.”

More laughter.

“If you’re feeling off your game, you might need a little help to persuade your chick of choice.”

I leaned forward.