Page 2 of Numbers Boy (Working Boys #2)

CHAPTER TWO

Noah

I PLOP DOWN a pile of flyers on the table by my front door and toe off my boots after a long day of trekking around the streets of Prairie Dawn.

While I love my job, I could do without the ice and snow that comes every winter and makes my face hurt whenever I have to take a client out for a walk.

But I suppose that’s what I get for starting a dog walking business in Wisconsin.

You’d think I’d be used to it, having grown up here, but that winter wind is something I don’t think I’ll ever grow accustomed to.

At least I’ll have no reason not to put those flyers up tomorrow since I can just put up a few wherever I go with various clients.

After I peel off my gloves and outer jacket, I stick my thumbs into the holes on my hoodie sleeves and head sock-footed into the kitchen to make myself a tea.

The nice thing about living in a place where the air hurts your face half the year?

Cozy clothes and hot beverages. And as much as my best buddy, Blake, and I complain about the weather, I know neither of us would ever move.

Speaking of Blake, when is he supposed to be home today?

I glance at our shared calendar on the fridge and see that he had his final walk scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Checking my watch, I groan when I see that it’s only five o’clock.

Stupid early sunsets. On the bright side, that means Blake should be home soon.

I grab a second mug and add his favorite tea bag so it’s ready when he gets here.

Carefully, I pick up my tea and make my way back to the living room and settle onto the couch, immediately pulling the plush blanket off the back once I sit down.

I may look tough with my tattoos and burly exterior, but I’m a freeze-baby, damn it!

The only thing that could make this nest of warmth better would be a pup of my own.

Or better yet, a partner to snuggle up with.

Blake and I have floated the idea of getting a dog, but with both of us spending most of our time helping other people make sure their pets are loved and well taken care of, we wouldn’t have enough time to have our own.

Not to mention, our tiny shoebox of an apartment would barely fit a Yorkie or Chihuahua, much less a pittie or any kind of shepherd dog, and big dogs tend to be our favorites.

And as for the partner, for some reason, everyone looks at me and thinks I’m going to want to take them hard and fast. But that’s not my style at all, so the physical side of things tends to fizzle out pretty quickly.

Plus, I’ve had a lot of people, guys especially, get weirded out when I tell them that, not only do I run a business with my best friend, but I live with him, too.

It’s like they expect us to both be secretly in love with the other and don’t want to get caught in the middle.

Well, except for that one guy who wanted to literally be caught in the middle.

And that’s all kinds of nope. I love Blake, I do, but on a purely platonic level.

So, neither type of companion, canine or human, is going to happen anytime soon. Which means for now, I’ll make do with my teas and blankets.

My thoughts of snuggle buddies are interrupted when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I fish it out and open it to find a text from my sister.

Amy: Hello, my most favorite-est brother in the whole wide world

Me: What do you need, my wonderfully annoying older sister?

Amy: Any chance you could babysit the girls for a few hours tomorrow? Work offered up some overtime, but I have to get them from their after-school clubs at 5:30.

I open up the digital version of the calendar Blake and I have with all of our client appointments, but I already know I’m going to say yes.

My sister works her ass off to take care of herself and her two girls, so watching them for a few hours every now and again is nothing.

My nieces mean the world to me, although they’re probably another one of the top reasons my relationships haven’t worked out in the past, second only to my close friendship with Blake.

I’ve always said that any potential partner I have will have to be okay with kids, even if we don’t have any of our own, because there’s no way I could go more than a few days without seeing Isabella and Lilly.

Plus, they’re super cute and love hanging out with me and Blake.

Fortunately, we somehow don’t have anyone on the schedule at all, so I won’t even have to worry about convincing them to go on a walk with me.

Me: Not a problem. My night is completely clear after 5 tomorrow. Do you want me to bring them to your place or hang out with them here?

Amy: Thank you, thank you, thank you! You really are the best brother.

Amy: And whichever is easiest for you. They’ll have their backpacks and things with them, so they shouldn’t need anything from home.

Me: Sounds good. I’ll probably bring them back to mine since it’s closer

Amy: *heart emoji* They’re going to be so excited when I tell them

As I finish up my conversation with Amy, the front door opens.

“Why is it so freaking cold?” Blake says in lieu of a greeting.

I grin and take a sip of my tea before answering, “There’s tea in the kitchen.”

“Thanks, dude, you’re the best,” comes his reply, muffled as he takes off his layers of winter gear. A few minutes later, he’s made his trip to get his tea and is next to me on the couch, trying to wiggle his feet into my cocoon of warmth. I push his legs away with an exaggerated groan.

“Fuck off, get your own blanket.”

“But yours is already warmed up. Sharing is caring.” Blake burrows in deeper and lets out a happy sigh when I capitulate and throw the blanket over both of us. “Thanks.”

After getting comfy, he pulls the hair tie out of his man bun and shakes the loose blond waves out. Small flecks of water from where snow has melted into the strands land everywhere, just like the golden retriever I walked this morning. And just like that golden, Blake’s a giant goofball at heart.

“No problem. How was your day?”

“Not too bad, other than the freaking wind. I thought poor Cookie was going to get blown away when I took her out,” he jokes, referring to one of the Chihuahuas we regularly walk.

He nods toward the door. “I saw the flyers on the table. Trying to get some post-holiday new pets to fill up our empty time slots?”

“That’s the hope,” I say before taking a sip of my drink. “I figured we could put them up during our rounds tomorrow.”

“Perfect. Now, pass me the remote. There’s a new episode of Murders in the Dairyland out tonight.”

Shop talk over, Blake and I spend the evening watching our favorite true crime documentary.