“I don’t suck.”
“Well, that makes one of us, I guess.” I cover my mouth. “Shit, I didn’t?—”
“More things to sue you for. See who’s winning now?”
My lips break into a smile. “I just wanted you to know you’re invited.”
I watch Aiden think for a moment. “I’ll be there in ten.”
“Really? I was just kidding. My friends are a lot, and you are?—”
“I’m what?” he challenges.
“Nothing.” I smirk. “Nothing at all.”
“I’m hanging up now. I want those boxed and ready by the time I get there.” I smile as he hangs up.
This is a horrible idea.
I’m confusedthe moment we pull up in Hunter’s driveway.
I mean, I’ve been confused pretty much every day since Aiden stepped into my bakery, but this type of confusion is reserved for my friends. It doesn’t help that my heart has been beating out of my chest since Aiden picked me up.
I need to stop whatever it is I’m feeling. It’s stupid. Aiden is hot. So what? It’s like my entire nervous system becomes aware of him. He hasn’t said much on the ride over.
“What are they doing?” He asks.
I see Noah’s car on a jack with the wheel off. My best friend is sitting on the ground, shirtless and in a pair of coveralls, fixing something. All of that’s normal.
Hunter is great with cars.
No, what’s confused me is the audience he has sitting on the porch.
Noah, Bo, and Mark are sitting there.
Noah and Bo have popsicles, their eyes trained on Hunter as he works. It’s hot out today, and I walk closer seeing Hunter’s tan skin is slick with sweat. Mark’s playing a game on the porch.
My feet make noise on the gravel, and Aiden is close behind me. Hunter lifts his head from the car. “Hey.” He looks back at his spectators, shaking his head.
“What are you doing?”
“Noah’s brakes. Apparently, he wasn’t aware that if they screech when you stop, that’s bad.”
“And you’re doing a great job, Puck Daddy!” Noah waves at us. “I think you um... you missed a bolt. Better grab that wrench thingy and tighten it. Slowly.”
Hunter shakes his head. “Idiots.”
“Admit you like the attention.” Hunter flips me off. “Then why are you doing this shirtless? Was a T-shirt constricting your movements?”
Hunter’s brown eyes lift. “Fuck off. I don’t want to get grease on my clothes.” Hunter stands, tightening the bolt on the tire, and Noah and Bo both cock their heads to watch.
Hunter bends at the waist and picks up a tool.
“Can take the butt out of the hockey, but not the hockey out of the butt.”
“Noah, that doesn’t make sense.” Hunter shakes his head. “Why is Aiden here?” His brows rise.
I look back at him. “He wanted to come.”
