Page 24 of For the Record
“I’m going inside. Make sure the garage door is secured shut before you leave.”
“No problem. Oh, I meant to tell you I can’t make it here this weekend,” McCoy called after her.
“Oh?” Much to her dismay, Sawyer’s interest was piqued. Goddamn McCoy. And goddamn her jealousy. “Plans with, what was her name? Abs?” The words were out before she could stopthem. Sawyer had been dying to know more about Abs since they’d come into her restaurant the Monday before.
“Abs?” McCoy looked confused at first, but then she wagged her head from side to side, her green eyes glittering with amusement. “Abi’s just a friend, I promise. I mean, there was one time I wanted more, but she didn’t, and anyway. I’m single and ready to mingle.” Her nervous chuckle was like a footnote in her drawn-out flurry of nonsense. The moment she realized she’d unintentionally flirted was almost comical.
“You’re like one of those cheap greeting cards at the dollar store,” Sawyer deadpanned, disguising her sudden desire to laugh with a cough instead. She refused to give McCoy the satisfaction.
“Sorry,” Coy blushed, which was a remarkable feat to witness under the grime and drying sweat on her face. She bowed her head. “And um, no. To your question,” she jumped to add. “My nana needs help around her place, so I’ll be there most of the time.”
A teensy part deep in Sawyer’s frozen heart softened with the easy admittance. When they’d first met, she’d have never in a million years pegged McCoy as the family type. She didn’t mind being wrong on this one … not that Sawyer planned to tell McCoy as much. She stood up straighter. “You said most of the time. What are you doing with the rest of it? Clubbing with friends? Working your charm again, perhaps? You agreed to commit six days a week on the McLaren if I recall correctly.”
McCoy’s lips parted, her jaw slack and her eyes filled with surprise as she looked up at Sawyer. The column of her throat bobbed up and down as she swallowed. Her nostrils flared. “I … are you serious? I literally just said I’d be helping my nana.” A frustrated laugh slipped out, and McCoy glanced from Sawyer to the McLaren before a scowl appeared. “Can you not make anexception? I didn’t realize there was a timeframe on the fucking blob of death sitting before us.”
“Clearly,” Sawyer agreed, lifting her coffee mug to her lips to hide her grin. Her stomach fluttered, but not from indigestion. Grumpy McCoy was pleasing to look at. And to tease. She turned away. “I’ll expect you Sunday evening and then Monday morning, per our original agreement.Bonne journée,McCoy.”
Chapter 12
McCoy
It took a lotto ruffle Coy’s feathers. Like, alot, a lot. And yet, Sawyer Lavoie managed to do what few could. She ruffled the feathers. The fricking peacock, oh-so-confident hypothetical McCoy feathers. Andlaughedas she did so. Never in Coy’s life had she been so equally frustrated and turned on. The gall of that maddening woman! Did Sawyer expect Coy to be at her place every moment she wasn’t at her day job? And the way she’d asked for specifics, like she deserved to know what Coy was doing or with whom. Which she definitely didn’t. It wasn’t Sawyer’s business if Coy planned to take someone new home for the night. She’d seemed almost jealous at the prospect, but that wasn’t possible. Right?
“You’re miles away tonight,” Abi said, sneaking one of Coy’s fries. Coy and her friends were atO’Rourke’s to see the latestlive band. They came almost every week, but for the first time in probably ever, Coy had considered backing out.
She sipped one of her favorite on-tap dark ales, loving the smoky taste as it slid down her throat, and shrugged. “Just not feeling it tonight, I guess.” Then, knowing Abi wouldn’t simply leave it at that, Coy added, “All the extra hours this week has me wiped.”
And I’m still salty as hell over the shit with Sawyer.
Thankfully, Abi didn’t press any further. Coy was content to be left alone, only half listening to Taunya’s latest work ordeal at the hospital. She sipped her ale, perusing the crowd in the pub that night. It wasn’t overly loud yet, as the band hadn’t started, but Coy found herself rubbing at the tension forming at the base of her neck. There was too much going on around her, and it took a minute before she spotted Naz and Ash cozying up against the wall near the restrooms. Naz caught Coy’s eye across the pub, a wicked grin appearing before she captured Ash’s lips with her own. When they came up for air, Naz held her hand out in Coy’s direction. Coy shook her head, waving them off before returning to her beer.
A hand landed on Coy’s arm, and Coy glanced over to see Abi staring at her, eyes widened in surprise. “Did I just witness a three-way proposition?”
“Er … I mean, yeah, I guess.” Coy smirked, trying to shake off her weird mood. Hooking up with Naz and Ash would certainly help with that, right? She needed to go back to her roots and keep things superficial and casual with possible lovers. Not get hung up on mixed messages and stolen glances from Sawyer.
Fuck, why can’t I go five minutes without thinking about her?
Coy sighed, lifting the glass to her lips again. It didn’t help that every time she thought of the time and energy it’d taken to try and bond with Sawyer, an uncomfortable blush appeared, and her pulse began to race.Shame. That’s what it was.She was embarrassing herself trying to get Sawyer’s attention, and to what end, exactly? She should never have sent those random facts via text message.So stupid.Sawyer was probably incapable of bonding with anyone, and surely not with someone as opposite in personality as Coy happened to be. Sawyer just demanded and made ludicrous assumptions about people. Well, enough of that. Coy wasn’t putting herself on the line anymore.
“Well, tell them you’re mine tonight. I know how you like it when a femme gives you an order.” Abi booped Coy on the nose with one long finger, affection warming the icy blue of her eyes.
Coy huffed a laugh, and a warmth as inviting as a gentle breeze blossomed in her chest. Somehow, Abi always knew what she needed to lighten the mood. “Touché, Abs. So what? Is the barber’s company lacking this evening?” She dodged a swat from Taunya.
“Quit picking on my sister, or I’m gonna start in on yours, playgirl.”
“Ooh, protective, are we? Good on you, Tauni.” Coy clinked her mug of beer against Taunya’s glass before switching into her best British accent, “We in the sibling sisterhood need to stick together. After all, we are the guardians of many sibling secrets and, of course, broken hearts.”
“Ugh, that accent, though.” Abi snorted a laugh, feigning a long shudder.
“Long-winded, but I’ll take it as an agreement of no future douchery.” Taunya pointed her finger at Coy in mock warning.
“What are you …” Tess’s stare was quizzical as she tried to piece together the current conversation. When her head looked like it could explode, she gave up, slumping in her seat and picking up her beer. “Know what? Never mind.”
Krystal looked amused. “You’re not used to Coy’s eccentricity, Tess? She’s special, but we adore her anyway.”
“H-hey. I take offense,” Coy protested with a surprised chuckle. She’d have thought Taunya would use that line, not Krystal. “Aren’t you supposed to be the quiet, shy one?”
Abi booped Coy on the nose again. “Didn’t you get the memo? Krystal’s evolving now that Tess is in the group.” Everyone laughed at that, even Tess.