Page 36 of Crazy In Love (Love & War #2)

FOX

My first forty-eight hours in Plainview felt like a lifetime.

Like honey dripping through a sieve, and clocks set in slow motion for the sake of taunting those paying attention.

But now that the work week has begun, repairs are underway in my apartment bathroom, and better, Alana’s no longer in the hospital, it’s like time has jumped into fast forward.

“Why did I hear rumors about a bathroom renovation at the bookstore?” Tommy wears his baby girl in a wrap against his broad chest. Like one of those actual crunchy-mama lengths of fabric that hold Hazel’s tiny body close to his, her little legs tucked up and her head pressed over his heart.

All so he can eat his dinner with free hands.

He lounges beside Alana at the table on his porch. The lake glistens behind us while the delicious scent of lasagna dances on the air. Franky takes his seat at the head of the table, while I sit opposite a still-tender Alana, and Chris reclines beside me.

Totally cool. Totally chill and not at all obvious that we maybe have a secret.

Tommy cuts a small slice of lasagna and carefully slides it onto his tongue. “I was at the hardware store today and they said how you came by yesterday to choose tiles.” His thick brows, damn near exact replicas to Chris’, furrow over green eyes.

“Tiles?” Too tired to do much more than eat, Alana brings her gaze across to me. “What for? ”

“Oh, the bathroom at the apartment.” Don’t tell them you shattered their things while having sex. Definitely don’t tell them you’re banging Christian Watkins in secret. “I just wanted to change it up. I hope that’s okay.”

“I mean…” Alana sighs. I swear, she’s half asleep already. “It’s not a big deal. But bathrooms are expensive, and you’ll only be there for six weeks. I figured the existing tiles were fine.”

“You’re kinda high maintenance,” Tommy chuckles, shaking his head and stabbing a green bean with his fork. “Jesus, Tatum. You renovate hotels while you’re there, too?”

“You’re making it into a whole thing.” I study my dinner like it holds all the world’s secrets, which is way easier than looking into my friends’ eyes and telling a lie. “I like bathrooms to look good, and figured, since I was paying for it, you wouldn’t mind.”

“You’re not paying for it,” Tommy cuts in. “I’ll pay for it. That’s not the issue.”

“No, I?—”

“It’s Alana’s asset,” he rumbles. “It’s her store and her apartment, and eventually, it becomes ours , just as the gym becomes ours .

I’ll pay for the damn tiles. But seriously,” he bites the bean in half and grins.

“It’s weird. You’re staying there temporarily , but you’re making permanent changes. ”

“The tiles were cracking around the taps,” Chris inserts. “I saw them when I was fixing the shower head before Fox got to town. Those cracks mean water will get into the walls.”

“Yeah.” I use my fork to point his way. “Exactly. I was trying to get ahead of a future problem, and seeing as how I’m not sure what else to get you guys for a baby gift, and since I’m using the bathroom, rent-free for six whole weeks, I thought this was a nice thing to do.”

“Rent free,” Alana rolls her eyes, “but you’re working at the bookstore, also for free.”

“Not for free,” Franky drawls. “I saw her eating a cupcake yesterday.”

“Dude!”

“And when we counted stock at the end of the day, there was a one-cupcake discrepancy. Which means she didn’t write it down.”

“What’d we say about snitching?” I reach across and flick his fork slightly off-kilter. “I earned that cupcake, Franklin. I earned the right to sneak a cupcake and not tell anyone about it, too.”

Tommy snorts. “We’ll dock your non-existent pay at the end of the six weeks. Why’d you order a new shower stall?”

I drop my gaze and go back to studying the secrets of the universe and all that nonsense. “Hmm? ”

“Tiles, I can understand. Maybe. Not really. But a whole new shower?”

“Well… Um…”

“Once you remove the existing tiles, you remove the seal,” Chris jumps in, saving the day. Again. “Can’t reinstall the same shower glass once the seal is broken.”

“Yup.” I hook my thumb in his direction. “That’s why.”

Alana does a slow blink, drawing bright blue eyes up until I feel them on my skin. “Did you order a new sink?”

“No, there’s nothing wrong with the sink.”

“So you’re putting in new tiles and shower glass,” Tommy quips, “but keeping the same ugly sink?” He’s too clever—or maybe I’m a terrible liar—so he smirks and fills his mouth with lasagna. “Seems kinda weird that you’d go to the trouble of replacing some things and not others.”

“Now, who is high maintenance?” I put my fork on the table and grab my wine glass instead. “You’re getting new tiles and a new shower, plus six weeks of free bookstore labor, and all you can focus on is that you didn’t get a new sink?”

His eyes dance with humor, flickering from me to an overly casual Chris. “Forgive me. I never meant to sound ungrateful. I’m just a curious person.”

“I think I’m gonna fall asleep sitting up.” Alana sways in her seat, tilting to the side and resting her cheek on Tommy’s broad shoulder. “If I choke on my dinner, will someone clear my airways?”

“I’ve got you, babe.” Tommy reaches around and holds her up. “You can head to bed in a sec.”

“But Hazel?—”

“Is doing just fine.” He presses a kiss on Alana’s forehead. “She’s asleep and won’t wake for a few hours yet. When she does, I’ll bring her to you so she can eat, then I’ll change her diaper and put her down for the night. You hardly even have to wake for any of that.”

“But Franky?—”

“I’m going to the movies tonight with Aunt Fox.” He straightens his fork and glances up with a smile. “We’re gonna watch the new Spiderman, since it’s almost the weekend, and I only have one more day of school before having two days off.”

“You’re heading to the movies?” Chris searches the side of my face, his stare warming my flesh like a physical caress. “I didn’t know that.”

“Guess we didn’t tell you.” I set my wine down and grin. “Figured you were all about routine and predictability, and seeing as how this is a work night, I assumed you wouldn’t be interested. ”

“I was wondering where the bickering had disappeared to,” Tommy chuckles. “Things were a little too quiet. I was starting to worry.”

“We’re not bickering. We’ve never bickered.

Oh, and,” I check Alana to make sure she’s most of the way out, before bringing my eyes back to Tommy.

“We’re having a party at the gym in a few weeks.

I need you to block out the schedule and leave the building available for that entire Saturday.

And probably hire a cleaning crew, since eau de sweaty balls, isn’t it . ”

He scowls. “My gym smells like hard work! Not balls.”

“Smells like Satan’s butthole. Have someone disinfect the place. And send me a list of invitees, so I can coordinate catering.” Then, I bring my focus around to Chris. “Did you order the cake yet?”

His eyes flash with guilt. “Yes?”

“Really?” I hold his stare and watch his Adam’s apple bob with nervousness. “That’s what you’re rolling with?”

“Okay, no. But I’ll go to the bakery tomorrow and do it. I promise.”

“Good.” I come back around to Tommy. “I expect at least a hundred bodies in attendance.”

“Woman, I don’t even know a hundred people! My entire graduating class was, like…”

“Nineteen,” Chris grumbles. “Nineteen people graduated with us.”

“So find eighty-one more. I’m carrying most of this party, inviting people I don’t even know. Meanwhile, you’ve lived here your whole life, and you’re telling me you can’t find anyone who might like free cake and a cute baby to fawn over?”

“Guess I’ll find eighty-one more people.” Moping, he drops his gaze and stabs his dinner. “I’ll stand on the freeway with a sign if I have to.”

“Exactly. Because Alana deserves to feel special for once in her damn life. That no one thought to throw a shower before now is a sin.”

“What kind of shower did you buy, Aunt Fox?” Franky sips his lemonade, his dimples popping as he side-eyes the rooster strutting across the lawn.

It’s ugly and old, missing half its feathers, and has a ball-sack hanging off its chin longer than a ninety-year-old’s inside a sauna.

“Is it gonna be bigger than the one that was already there?”

“Yes. And way nicer, since the old one was ugly and outdated.”

“High maintenance,” Tommy coughs out. “Good luck to your future husband. He better be a contractor with a Jack-of-all-trades skill set. Or stupidly rich.”

“Why not both?” I swirl my wine and bring it to my lips. “I’d prefer not to limit my options, and money is important when discussing future renovations. And husbands,” I add playfully, bringing my focus to Franky. “Hurry and eat, buddy. We don’t want to be late for the movies.”

“And Alana’s going to sleep,” Chris grumbles. “Guess I’ll go home and hang out by myself, then.”

“So sad,” I quip. “So, so sad.”

“Chris!” Franky spills popcorn to the lobby floor, beaming when his favorite brother-slash-uncle— what did I say about small towns ?—wanders through the cinema’s front doors.

Am I surprised he came? Not even a little.

“Hi, Chris! Are you watching the movie, too?”

“Sure am.” He comes to a stop just inches from my back, his chest touching my shoulder and his aftershave swirling to the base of my lungs until a smile stretches my lips wide.

Stop it, Fox! Stop it right now.

“I like Spiderman, too, and there was nothing on the TV. Your mom already passed out at home, and Tommy wanted daddy-daughter time with Hazel. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Nope.” He gazes up at his idol— I swear, he likes Chris more than he likes Tommy. “You wanna sit with us, too? There are probably gonna be enough seats, since not many other people are here.”

“Sure, thanks.” He inches forward, leaning into my peripherals with a smug grin. “You don’t mind if I sit with you, do you, Fox?”

“Of course not.” I’m not in the business of lying to myself— others, sure. But myself? I prefer honesty —which means I was totally hoping he’d come. He’s a stickler for routine and the comfort of his own home, but damn, I held hope he’d give those up in favor of hanging out with me.

Us.

Me.

Whichever.

“Surprised,” I continue, pulling my phone from my back pocket and checking the time. “Since it’s… Oh geez, Christian. It’s nearly eight o’clock. Movie won’t be done till around ten.”

“I tend to stay up late.”

“But you tend to stay in .” I turn and pat his arm. “I’m proud of you for skipping comfortable tonight, buddy. This is growth.”

His nostrils flare and his eyes flicker. He wants so badly to say something about fucking me into submission and tearing the sass from my tongue. But he can’t, not while Franky’s so near.

And knowing that brings me a sense of power I’ll forever take advantage of.

“You should grab your ticket and popcorn.” I wrinkle my nose and catch the promising flex of his palm. Already, I feel it on my backside. “We’ll meet you in there.”