I take the tray of drinks that we picked up on the way here from Rupert—we both went with tea—while Rupert carries the baked goods (we got a variety) and we head to the bar.
“Why do you need to talk to me? Am I in trouble?”
“Should you be in trouble?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I don’t believe so. I’ve been a good little boy.” He smirks.
“Have you though? You’re attempting to make an older lady an influencer.”
“Influencing is for all ages. Do not discriminate. Also, she’s not old. In twenty years, you’ll be just as old as her. So you better watch what you say because your time is right around the corner.”
“Has she said anything about Renley?”
“What do you mean?”
I pull the pastries out and place them on the bar. We got a cinnamon roll, an almond croissant, and a pistachio-flavored cronut.
“I mean, has she suggested that Renley’s tense?”
“She hasn’t said anything. Then again, she’s been pretty focused on the training, and then yesterday, she pulled her glute muscle making a jump, so she was focused on nursing that.”
I take the lid off my tea, letting it cool while it steeps. “I think she’s supposed to be helping Renley and she’s not. I don’t know much because Renley won’t talk about it and I won’t press, but that’s the impression I got yesterday. Just didn’t know if they were fighting or anything.”
Rupert shakes his head. “Not that I’m aware. Then again, if they were, do you think it would be our place to say something?”
“I guess not,” I say, taking a piece of the almond croissant. “I just didn’t like seeing Renley upset yesterday. I wanted to fix it.”
“If there is something going on with their relationship, I don’t know if that’s yours to fix. Just like it wouldn’t be Renley’s position to fix things with your father, and I know for a fact that you wouldn’t like that.”
I shake my head. “It would piss me off.”
“Exactly, so don’t insert yourself in whatever’s going on between them.”
“Probably right.” I pick up my tea and take a sip. “Can I tell you something that you have to keep to yourself?”
“Who the hell am I going to tell?” he asks, turning so he’s leaning against the counter. “I’m here for you.”
“You’d tell Kitty.”
“We train more than talk, but I get it. Your secret’s safe with me.”
I break the cronut in half and give him one piece. “Last night, I dry humped Renley in the rain against the side of the house.”
Rupert has his cronut halfway to his mouth before he slowly lowers it.
He blinks. “Pardon me?”
“You heard what I said. I’m not going to repeat it.”
“In the rain? Against the side of the house? Did you…did you find completion?”
“Can you not say it like that? Jesus, man.”
“Well…did you?”
“Of course I did. Have you seen her? She’s sexy as hell, her tank top was soaked through, she let me play with her nipple, so why wouldn’t I find completion?”
“Ha!” He points at me. “You said completion.”
