"No," I insisted. "They were laughing with me this morning. They said it was fine." And then I realized the rest of what Jake had said. "But we're good?"
And he gave up on his rope, turning to give me his full attention. "Yeah, Cody. Flirty friends, right?"
"Who may have spent the night together," I reminded him.
"Just some real big flirting," he assured me. "You know, the physical kind."
"And now you're saying it's never going to happen again?"
"Whoa, slow down there, cowgirl," he teased. "What Isaidwas that I'm not about to fuck up your good thing with them, or my friendships. I also know saying something's ok is a lot different from experiencing it, hating it, and trying to change your mind. So, all I'm saying is if Tanner decides he's not ok with the open thing you have going on, then I'm ok with usstayingfriends. Just friends. Maybe flirty ones, but the verbal, not the physical kind."
I noticed all the disclaimers he'd snuck into that. It was honestly a little impressive. "Which means that if he is ok with it, then it could happen again?"
"Fuck yeah," he said, reaching for his rope again. "I'm not anidiot!"
"Good," I said, turning to check behind me again. "So should I go check on them or something?"
"How long have they - " He stopped as J.D. and Ty stepped into view, making their way up the hall. "What the..."
Because J.D. looked a little rough around the edges. The first thing my mind jumped to was the worst: that he and Tanner had thrown down! But that was impossible, wasn't it? And yet, the sight of J.D. looking rumpled and Ty carrying his shit? It stunned me enough they had the chance to make it almost to us before my brain kicked in again.
"J.D.?" I begged.
"You draw for me, rookie?" he asked.
"Yeah..." But I caught his jaw, turning his face so I could see the red mark on the side. "What the fuck? I thought you two were just talking!"
"Austin," Ty said, dropping J.D.'s bag into place beside mine. "And Cody, he's riding. Just make sure he didn't get his brain rattled by thattire ironso much, he forgets to put on his helmet."
"Asshole," J.D. grumbled. "You were supposed to help me smooth this over, Ty."
"A fucking tire iron?" Jake snarled, moving to my side but looking at Ty. "What the fuck happened?"
And the pair shared a long, knowing look. "Austin and Derek found J.D. and Tanner alone," Ty explained. "They tried to hurt them hard enough they'd go away. Instead, J.D. turned Tanner loose."
"Sounds about right," Jake said. "This is why no one fucks with the bullfighters." Then he looked at J.D. "And Tanner's ok?"
"He'll live," J.D. replied. "He's also ok with last night."
Which made Ty lift a brow and look over at me. "Do I want to know?"
"You do not," I assured him.
He just thrust out his lower lip and nodded. "Ok. I'll pretend like I have no clue that Jake took you home and didn't makeit back to his room until this morning. I will, however, say that when I asked him, his answer was just about the same."
"Which is why he was the one staying until the morning," J.D. pointed out.
Ty just lifted both hands in defeat and stepped back. "Heard loud and clear." But he was grinning at me. "But he's one of the good ones, Cody." Then he looked at Jake. "I'm gonna make sure the guys know about this shit. If you decide to help..."
"Can do," Jake assured him. "In a minute, though."
"Yep," Ty said before turning and walking away.
But I wasn't done with this. No, I wanted to know everything - starting with how J.D. was doing.
"So what happened?" I asked. "Are you ok? Serious, J.D. You're just barely healed!"
"And Mama's here," he reminded me. "Tanner busted up his hands a bit, but he convinced 'em to leave. My ribs are fine, too, baby."
