Page 21 of Perfect Pact
“No one cares,” Jase demands.
“I care.” I join forces with Cole. He seems like he could be more of an ally than Jase—especially since he’s a master of distraction…and destruction.
“Great!” Jase ignores the two of us and examines the boxes lining the back wall. “Are these staying or going?’
“Actually, these stay, but the boxes by the back door are being donated.”
“How about we take that off your hands?” Jase walks back out to the front. “This way?” He motions toward the kitchen Cole was trying to find.
“Yeah.” Cole and I follow him.
“I was going to drop them Monday, but since you have a truck, that would save me a few trips.”
“Perfect.” Jase grabs a box, and Cole opens the door. “What about the totes in the drive?” he calls out as he makes his way to the truck.
“There’s more?” I follow Jase outside, finding a very sweaty and always determined Beth stacking totes like she’s building a fort. “Yeah…I’ll have to go through those.”
“I bet you do.” Cole smirks as he grabs a bottle from the six-pack he’s been carrying around.
“Thanks.” I hold out my hand as he twists off the top.
“For what?” Cole takes a long pull. “Ahhh…that’s goin’ down good.”
I lean against the railing, staring at him.
Cole watches me, his eyes narrowing as he takes another sip. “Fine.” Cole hands me the rest of the pack. “I guess if you are going to stand there and whine about it.”
“I didn’t whine.”
“Well, you will be.” He nods toward Beth, who is bending over, fighting a garden hose like it’s a snake.
“Damn.” I stand there for a minute, admiring everything Beth is. She is more than a perfect ass. She’s the perfect girl. She just refuses to see it. If only I can get her to agree on one date…
Shit!
My eyes dart over to Cole, who’s obviously seeing what I’m seeing. I step in front of him, blocking his view.
Cole snorts. “You don’t have to say another word, man.” He pats me on the shoulder. “I have one of those.”
I play dumb. “An angry neighbor?”
“Angry roommate.” Cole smiles over the top of his bottle, draining the rest of his beer.
“How’s that going for you?”
“Well…I get to touch her boobies now—and some other places.” Cole shrugs. “I call that progress.”
“Cole!” Jase shouts as he makes his way back up to the front porch. “Are you going to help me or what?”
“Geez…” Cole sets the longneck back in the carton. “I was just helping this guy out. You know, being a friend.”
“Emotional support,” I chime in, saving the day. “You know, Jase, it’s been a rough few days. Cole was just trying to help me out.”
Jase isn’t buying what we’re selling. “Whatever.” He walks past us and starts stacking the boxes in front of Cole. “How about you make this your mission?”
“Damn, cuz. You really need to make nice with Vanny. This back and forth has your bitch mode activated.” Cole picks up a box and sets it on his shoulder.
“Watch it,” Jase warns.