Ridiculous. And I knew it, but still, the thoughts were waiting there.
Right when I was leaving Eve’s, my phone buzzed with a message.Hey! Problem at the office. Everything’s flooded. Sorry, I’ll message later.
Can I help?I immediately texted back.
We just have to move everything.
I’m available for that.
A couple minutes passed. It was weird how antsy I felt, like I’d be disappointed if I couldn’t go help move things from a flooded office. But as I stood on the street outside my friend’s place, I wanted to go straight to Brown & Young and prove I could show up. Not just for Peyton, but for Noah, too.
You’re a lifesaver, Peyton finally texted back.Here’s the address.
* * *
PEYTON
Jet’s eyes got wide as he stepped out of the stairwell and took in the scene of the soggy office. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants, slung low on his hips, and a comfortably worn gym shirt, and as always, he looked damn amazing.
Those muscles were going to come in handy for more than just throwing me around in bed.
“Burst pipes?” he asked, then pulled me into a quick hug. After a long, panicked afternoon, I wanted to squeeze him close and just lean into his weight. But I knew Noah was running around behind us, recovering the office with the rest of the employees, so I forced myself to pull away quickly.
“Malfunctioning sprinklers. The building installed a new, high-tech system over the weekend, and something triggered our floor.” I gestured down to my pant legs, cuffed halfway up my calves. “It’s still quite damp.”
Jet nodded as he cast his eyes around the office. Everything important was elevated up on the tables, and we were all desperately trying to tend to computer equipment and to dry precious papers out.
“It took a solid thirty minutes to figure out how to turn the sprinklers off,” I explained.
Jet winced. “Shit. So much for high-tech.”
I sighed and rubbed my beard. “Yeah, and it’s not a good look for an architect, to live in a leaky building. Thank you so much for coming. The floor above us is empty, thank god, so we’ve been moving things up there to dry. But even with a cleaning crew coming in later, it’s still an absolute disaster.”
Jet rubbed my shoulder, the touch easing some of the anxiety I’d been carrying all day. “It’s cool. I’m glad to be here.” His eyes tilted up, and quickly, he yanked his hand back. “Noah!”
Noah hurried to the front of the office. He was down to his suit pants and T-shirt, which were both still slightly damp. “Jet, wow. You made it.”
I frowned at the way he said that, like he was surprised. I’d already explained Jet was on the way, so of course he came. But considering the afternoon, I just pushed that feeling aside.
“Sounds like you guys could use some help,” Jet said, then pulled his brother into a half-hug. “You want to tell me where to get started?”
Noah hesitated. I caught his eyes flicking between me and Jet. It was obvious what he was thinking about, and frustration prickled the back of my neck when I saw the hint of judgment in his eyes.
At least the flood provided plenty to distract from the awkwardness. The three of us hadn’t been together since that dinner. Jet and I weren’t about to start making out in the middle of the office, but the truth still hung between us, the energy changed.
Shit. Was I fooling myself, thinking this had a chance at working?
“Well, there are papers that need to be dried, pinned on string that we’re running through the conference room.” Noah tapped his lip, thinking over the tasks.
“Or really heavy shit that needs to get hauled up the stairs?” Jet asked.
Noah smiled, relaxing a bit. “I hate to ask.”
“You didn’t,” Jet said. “I offered. And what the hell use is it lifting weights obsessively if I don’t use my strength for something practical?”
I hummed under my breath, satisfied. This was the version of Jet I had been getting to know, someone whose sincerity and kindness came easily, a man with honest intentions. The more Noah saw of that guy, the better I expected things to go for us all.
The day had been chaotic at the office, but as we jumped back into work, my mood finally started to lighten. Jet quickly took Noah’s instructions, hauling computers and short file cabinets up the stairs, and I had to force myself not to gawk at the way his muscles popped and how his sweatpants clung to his firm ass whenever he squatted. His fresh energy did something for the mood of the place, too, so soon enough, we all started to joke about the mess of the office, instead of just bemoaning the flood.
