There’s one other person I can try, but I feel bad doing it. I’ve been relying on him too much lately, and it’s not fair to him. But then I think about Tinsley’s face when she gets home from preschool. I promised her a birthday surprise, and right now, I have no way of delivering.
Scrolling through my contacts, I press the call button, bringing the phone to my ear.
Everett answers on the third ring.
“Hey, Juliet,” he says, sounding slightly breathless. “Is everything all right?”
“No,” I squeak out in a high pitch, then my words come out in a rush. “I mean, Tinsley’s fine. She’s at preschool. I’m trying to put together her new bedroom furniture for her birthday, but it’s all a mess, and I don’t know how to fix it. Do you have classes today? I can’t remember what your schedule’s like on a Thursday, and you can absolutely say no?—”
“Whoa,” he laughs. “Slow down. I’m free. I just finished for the day. What do you need?”
Slumping back against the wall, I say in a small voice, “I need help.”
“I can come over,” he says. “My housemate’s with me. Do you want both of us? Between the three of us, we should be able to get it done before you have to pick up pipsqueak.”
Relief washes over me. “Yes, please.”
“On our way.”
True to his word, they arrive fifteen minutes later. Everett calls out from the living room, and I shout back for them to come straight through to Tinsley’s room. He hovers in the doorway, taking in the chest of drawers.
“I followed the instructions,” I say weakly.
He smiles. “I’m sure you did. These things are designed for people with engineering degrees.”
“You’re telling me.” I huff out a laugh. “At least I managed the bookshelves.”
“Good job.” He steps into the room, revealing his housemate behind him. “Juliet, this is Blake.”
“Hi, Juliet,” the stranger says, his voice smooth as butter.
All the air is sucked out of the room as I take in the incredibly attractive man. Tall, broad-shouldered, and muscular, with ink-black hair that falls haphazardly over his face. He’s wearing a BHU training jacket similar to Everett’s, yet he looks a few years older.
They’re both staring at me, and I realise they’re waiting for me to say something.
“Uh, hi. Hello. Th-thanks for coming to help.”
Blake grins and shrugs. “No problems. Anything for Sprout.”
My brow furrows. “Sprout?”
He runs a hand through his hair. “Sorry, Tinsley. She’s a great kid.”
Warmth spreads through me at the compliment. Sheisa great kid. “Thanks.”
Everett moves over to inspect the chest of drawers. “This should be an easy fix,” he says to me, then turns to Blake. “You good to tackle the bed while I work on this?”
Heat blooms in my cheeks as thoughts of Everett’s friend tackling me onto a bed fill my subconscious.
Holy shit, what am I thinking?
I had sex with one man at a masked sex club, and now I’m thinking about jumping any good-looking man in close proximity.
Ugh, I need therapy.
He’s my stepson’s housemate.
“Where do you want everything?” Everett asks, and it takes me a second to realise he’s talking to me.
