Page 54 of This Broken Heart

Dusty offers me his hand. “Dusty Larson. And you must be the mysterious nanny I’ve been hearing about.”

My cheeks flame to a new depth of color.

Josh speaks first. “Who’s been talking?”

“Bo, for one.”

“Fucking Bo.”

Dusty laughs. “How do you put up with this grouch?”

“Carefully.” I reply, earning a full-throated laugh from Dusty. It wasn’t that funny, but I’ll take what I can get.

Josh watches the interaction with a skeptical expression. He tugs on my jacket, towing me behind him as the line moves forward. Dusty notices the interaction, gaze travel between the two of us.

Josh plants his feet, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. “What are you doing here? There’s no booze or ladies.”

Dusty grins. “Correction, there are plenty of ladies.” He glances at me, winking.

Josh rolls his eyes. “They’re all here with their kids, Dusty.”

“What’s your point?” He shakes Josh’s shoulder. “I’m kidding. Kind of. Not really.”

Josh gives him a dry look. “Sienna made you drag her here?”

“You got it, sir.”

Josh glances at me. “His little sister.”

“Sister’s a generous word. I prefer demon. Teenagers are terrifying these days.” Dusty grimaces. “She told me to act like I didn’t know her, so obviously, I have to track her down and give her shit. But first things first, I need to go greet our resident firefighters.”

“You bummed they wouldn’t let you ride on top?”

Dusty thinks that over, a wicked grin stretching across his face. “You lined that joke up for me, but since there is a lady present, I’ll leave it be. We still watching the game at your place tomorrow?”

Josh gives me a sidelong glance. “Planning on it.”

“Cool. Until then.” Dusty slaps Josh’s shoulder, winking at meagain, before threading through the crowd. His blonde head bobs well above everyone else, drawing gazes as he goes. He parts the crowd like Moses parted the sea.

“How many of you are there?” I murmur, my thoughts spilling off my tongue before I can filter them.

“What?”

I want to know how many heartbreakingly gorgeous friends Josh has, so I can mentally prepare for tomorrow. I wonder if it’s too early to fake a headache. “How many friends are coming over?”

“Tomorrow?” He shrugs. “It’ll just be the four of us.”

Four of them.

Great.

36.

Josh

Usually, when the guys come over for the game, we drink our supper.

In beer form.