I cupped his cheek. “Not without Jordy?”
Laurel’s pupils were wide already, dark pools of need, his cheeks stained with pink. “I’m greedy as fuck, aren’t I?”
The relief.
Dancing sunbeams, rainbows, and butterflies in the middle of November. My lips stretched into a grin.
“We both need him.”
“You love Jordy.” Laurel held my gaze, his heated eyes flicking between mine.
I love Jordy.
And I was falling for Laurel. And Laurel went into heat for me. For Jordy?
It had to be both of us. It wouldn’t make sense otherwise.
“I’ll call him.”
Frantic, I reached for my stuff, and the phone fell out again as I tried to find it between layers of cotton. I’d never been as grateful for the protective case Jordy had made me buy last time we were in Green Peaks.
Laurel clung to my waist as I lifted the phone to my ear. He wavered, and I wrapped my free arm around him.
“Show me your bedroom.”
The ringtone sounded once. Then the second time.
I supported Laurel as we shuffled up the sleek wooden stairs. The house smelled of fresh pine and Laurel’s slick.
Fourth ring.
Pick up, dammit!
21
JORDY
Chickie hadn’t heard back from my probation officer all week. Tomorrow was Monday, so I could call and ask if they had everything they needed. Or maybe no news meant good news. Why was I so fucking nervous about this? I hadn’t caused any trouble, and my probation was almost over. They had no legal reason to prolong it.
Monty wanted to celebrate, but I’d told him no. It would feel too much like tempting fate. I could just see myself getting drunk on my last day, accidentally breaking someone’s nose, and ending up back behind bars.
I wondered if I’d feel different when it was over. I hoped for some relief, some weight to lift from my chest, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I tried not to think about it as I put the chairs down, restocked the fridges, and aired the main room before opening. My thoughts strayed to Laurel instead, and that didn’t make me feel much better.
Sedric walked into the pub with a chirpy hiya. I wasn’t in the mood to chat, but I swallowed my annoyance and smiled athim. It wasn’t his fault I was having another lousy day. The shift would be long, and he’d need me to have his back.
My phone buzzed in my pocket just as I was setting up a new keg. I pushed it into place, then stood to rinse my hands. I dried them on a towel and fished the phone out of the side pocket in my cargo pants. Monty’s name glowed on the screen.
“What?” I answered like I always did when he called me at work. Usually, a round of ribbing and banter would follow. Would we ever get that ease back, or had Laurel sucked all the joy out of us and taken it with him?
“I need you to come here,” Monty said. His voice sounded weird, like he was talking through gritted teeth. Nope, there would be no lighthearted banter today.
“I just opened the pub. Where are you?”
“At Laurel’s. It’s kind of an emergency.”
The earnestness of Monty’s tone made my chest constrict.
“Is Laurel okay?”
