Well, that solves the mystery of who has been keeping the driveway clear. “Yeah, I thought you looked familiar! Well, you don’t have to do my parents anymore. I can take care of it while I’m here.”
“Nope.” Ben takes a long drink from his beer.
“Nope?” I repeat. I’m so confused.
“I’ll keep doing it. Don’t you worry about it.”
Alrighty then.
“Do you guys want to join us?” Andy asks while scooching farther into the booth.
“Sure!” My answer is automatic. I probably should have checked with Max first.
I slide in next to Andy, but Max doesn’t move right away. He’s too busy glaring at Andy, who just rolls his eyes, and keeps moving so that he is across the booth from me, sitting closer to Ben. Max finally sits down, moving in close to me and putting his arm around my shoulders. He waves one of the servers over with his other hand and she takes our drink order.
“Don’t forget I get to buy the drinks!” I remind Max.
“No need sweetheart. Max and his friends drink for free.” Andy flashes what is quickly becoming a familiar goofy grin.
Sweetheart, seriously? I mean … I love it. But I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to considering I have known him for all of three minutes.
“First of all,Andrew,you don’t know me well enough to call me sweetheart.” Then, I whip my glare over to Max, “And two. You told me not to worry about dinner knowing damn well I wouldn’t have to buy the drinks here.”
“Yup.” Max chuckles.
“God damn scoundrel.” I am more impressed than I am mad. Max is really pulling out all the stops.
My insult causes Ben to snort and Andy to howl with laughter. Max just leans in, and his breath is on my ear as he whispers, “You learn that word in one of your books?”
My whole face is the colour of a strawberry. Thankfully, Max saves me before the other guys picks up on it and asks, “So what did you guys get up to today?”
“Kids are doing napkin holders. No one had to go to the nurse today so all in all it was a pretty good day,” Ben deadpans, then takes another sip of his beer.
“Ben is a high school wood shop teacher,” Andy explains to me. “And I just wrapped up my last construction job of the year. I’m free until the spring, baby!”
“Um, did you forget that your promised to help me around here this winter?” The server returns with our drinks and Max slides a glass of wine over to me before taking his beer.
“Odd jobs here and there really don’t count, and you know it. I’m free until the spring, baby!” Andy repeats, tapping his bottle against my glass in cheers. I giggle.
“And what did you get up to today, Miss Charlie? Gotta be pretty boring working at the rink with this guy.”
I shake my head. “No way, it’s great! I get so much reading done and Max is a lot of fun to talk to.”
Max gives my shoulder a small squeeze and I look up at him. He has the most gorgeous smile on his face and I almost literally swoon. It is unfair how attractive he is. “I love hanging out with you at work. And outside of work”
“What do you like to read?” Ben interrupts before I have a chance to respond.
“Well, romance mostly if I’m being honest. But as long as it’s fiction, I’ll give it a try.” I offer Ben a small smile and he glances down, avoiding my gaze. That’s odd.
“Romance, nice.” Andy smirks at me.
My initial reaction tells me I should be embarrassed, but somethings telling me these guys don’t care. I shrug it off. “I like what I like.”
“I myself like a good horror. But I’ve been known to dabble in dark romance as well.” Andy waggles his eyebrows at me.
Dear god, this man can make me giggle so easily. And he reads too? Fuck. “Ilovedark romance,” I admit.
“Nice! We should compare reading lists sometime.”
