Chapter Five
Arlo
The alarm on my phone goes off too damned early Saturday morning. I’d looked forward to sleeping late with both of them today, and then pretty much staying horizontal for most of the weekend.
In bed, on the sofa, in the tub—I wasn’t going to be picky.
Regardless of what position we were occupying, I’d counted on us being naked.
Bill Motherfucking Webb.
That’s Nolan’s name for him, usually said just like that. Not around Lucas, obviously.
Well,before. Maybe now we can speak our minds.
Douchebag.
On the other side of Zoey, Nolan lets out a groan. “Can we kill the motherfuckernow?” he mumbles. During the night, he got up to use the bathroom and it was easier to put Zoey in the middle upon his return than trying to climb over her. That’s not uncommon for us, to start in one arrangement and end up in another by morning.
Zoey snickers, then lets out a yawn. “Take some consolation in the fact that, by this time tonight, Bill’s mostly out of our lives.”
“We’re filing the paperwork as soon as the attorney can do it,” I say as I sit up. “Light.”
They both groan as I reach over and switch on the lamp that sits on my nightstand. When I look back at them, Nolan’s got his face pressed against the nape of Zoey’s neck.
None of us are morning people, especially those two. I’m not either, really, but I’m used to getting up early to go to the gym and work out before heading to the dealership. I’m head of their finance department, and sometimes that means working late, if a deal’s taking a while to get inked or approved. And if I’m supposed to be spending the evening with Nolan and Zoey, I don’t like to take time away from them for a trip to the gym.
At his apartment complex, Nolan’s got an exercise room literally fifty steps away from his front door, so it’s easy for him to walk over and work out in the morning, or maybe in the evening, depending on his schedule. And with his tight budget, he really can’t afford a gym membership of his own right now.
I plan on surprising him by adding him to our family plan once he’s moved in with us. Then we can work out together. We used to work out all the time in college, and I freaking miss that routine like crazy.
“What time is it?” Zoey asks with her eyes squeezed tightly shut.
“6:30,” I tell her.
They both groan again.
“I’ll even go start the coffee for you guys,” I offer, leaning in to kiss her, then him. After a trip to the bathroom, I pull on my robe and head to the kitchen.
Yes, it’s going to be a long-ass day. I rented the truck until Monday morning, just in case we needed the extra time to use it for storage.
And, I suppose, I kind of hope maybe we can start moving some of Nolan’s stuff this weekend.
But I didn’tsaythat to either of them. Sometimes Nolan has to be handled gently or he gets skittish.
Oh, he’s committed to moving in with us, that’s not the problem. But once he gets a plan in his head—such as moving at the end of his lease—it’s difficult to get him to change tracks and alter it.
If it was up to me and Zo, we’d have him living with us starting right frickingnow.
I’m standing there waiting on the coffeemaker to brew enough for me to pour a mug for myself when I hear Lucas’ bedroom door open, then his bathroom door close. A few moments later, he appears in the kitchen.
“Hey, buddy,” I say. “You’re up early.”
“I smelled coffee.”
He looks like hell, and beyond the obvious there’s something physically different about him, but I can’t figure out what, exactly. “You sleep okay?”
He nods, then he shocks me—he wraps his arms around me and hugs me, holding on for a moment, like he used to when he was younger.
