I snorted.
He rubbed the center of his chest. “Damn, you don’t pull punches, do you? So, what? Your type is celibate lumberjack nerds?” He jabbed his thumb at me over his shoulder. I adjusted my glasses, and frowned at him.
Sloane put a hand on Wyatt’s shoulder. “Elias is the best out of all of you with a chainsaw. You may want to be a little nicer.”
Wyatt moved to stand beside me and elbowed me in the ribs. “He knows I’m joking. Makes sense you’d pick Mr. Dependable.”
Layne laughed. “Elias is just being a good friend and—”
Her phone vibrated on the table, and the smile slid from her lips. The nameTEDDYflashed across the screen.
I grabbed the phone off the table. I saw red as I hit the green circle to answer. “What?” I barked.
There was silence for a moment. “I need Layne.”
Jace came through the door with a plate piled high with burgers, his brow dropping when he took in the scene.
“Well, you’re not getting her. What do you want?”
Teddy snorted. “Fine. Get yourself a piece of paper and a crayon and write this down.”
I clenched my jaw.
“I have something for Layne. I’m coming to her house tonight to drop it off. Got it, or do you need me to go slower?”
I glanced at Layne and took a breath. She needed this to stay civil, no matter what kind of shithead he was. So instead of tearing into him, I hung up.
“He’s coming to my house?” Layne asked, looking deflated.
I nodded.
She let out a string of curses.
Wyatt clapped a few times, then playfully punched my shoulder. “I take back everything I said. That was impressive. You legit added a growl in there.”
I gave a small bow, trying to play it off as nothing, when really I was fuming at Teddy, and watching Layne like a hawk.
Sloane put an arm around her friend. “Let’s eat. You’ll feel better. Besides, yourboyfriendwill be with you when you get home, right? You guys drove here together?”
She gave me a look that said she knew exactly what was running through my mind. I schooled my features and gave nothing away.
“Carpooling?” Wyatt said. “That’s like third base to this guy. Right after eye contact and connecting to the same Wi-Fi signal.”
Layne smacked him on the arm and gestured toward the table. “Get some food in to you. Beer makes you an ass.”
“He’s always an ass,” Zane said. “Beer just makes him louder.”
We all settled around the table and started passing plates. I sat close to Layne, feeling protective even though I knew that if it came down to it, Teddy wouldn’t stand a chance against her.
Wanting to protect her didn’t mean I thought she was incapable. I just wanted to do things for her. Make her life easier. Surprise her with coffee. Shovel her driveway. Show up without being asked. Simple shit. The kind that mattered more than swiping a credit card.
I shook the thought from my head. I was in deeper than I wanted to admit.
Dinner passed with the usual joking. The food was great, but I was counting down the minutes until we could leave. Whatever Teddy thought he was doing, it wasn’t going to end the way he wanted.
Finally, we all started moving towards the door. Jace grabbed my elbow and guided me a few feet away. “Keep an eye on this Teddy shit, will you?”
I nodded as I shrugged on my jacket. “You think he’s violent?”
