Chapter 11
Julia
“What a dick!” I grumbled. “That’syour coach? Please tell me you don’t put up with that asshole. An absolute sleazeball. Who does he think he is? It’s a good thing you took me out of there, otherwise I would have ripped him a new one.”
Red took my rant in stride, piping up every now and again with a succinct, “Hm.”
He wasn’t averse to conversation. He was plenty loud whenever he was with Dylan and Cash, but I got the sense that he was more inclined toward being quiet. Like he would rather save his energy to put toward other things, like driving.
He was behind the wheel, concentrating on the road. I liked how big his hands were on the steering wheel. There was something incredibly sexy about the way the sleeves of his black sweatshirt were rolled up to just below his elbows. It was relaxing, listening to the rain pitter patter against the exterior of the car, the wind whistling past us.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, slumping in my seat. “I know I talk a lot.”
“I don’t mind. Your voice is nice. Soothing.”
I glanced at him, grinning and blushing and a bit giddy. Red was a tough nut to crack. I felt like I had a much easier time getting to know Dylan and Cash.
Hearing him give me such an open compliment felt like winning a million bucks.
“Are you even allowed to drive?” I asked. “I thought you were red-green color blind.”
“I am. I can still tell when the signal lights up.”
“Interesting.”
“So. You and Dylan, huh?”
I nibbled on my bottom lip, suddenly very,verywarm. “Yeah.”
“And you and Cash.”
“Yeah?” I shifted in my seat slightly to get a better look at him. “Cash mentioned something about how you’d kill him if he tried anything.”
“Hm.”
“That’s not really an answer.”
“I… might have strongly discouraged it.”
“May I ask why? Is it like an all-or-nothing vote sort of thing? Like you all have to agree on a girl or it doesn’t happen? I’m pretty new to this whole thing, but I like to think I’m taking this in stride. That doesn’t mean I don’t have a lot of questions, though. I mean, I’ve tried asking, but Cash and Dylan are very good about distracting me with…”
“Sex?”
I cleared my throat. “Yeah, that.”
“There’s no vote involved,” he said simply. He took a gentle right, making sure to signal. The wiper blades whined as they whipped back and forth to clear the window. “Cash, Dylan, and I… We’ve always had very similar tastes. If one of us takes an interest in a woman, there’s a ninety-nine percent chance the other two will feel the same.”
I grinned mischievously at him. “So does this mean I’m working with ninety-nine percent, or just the one?”
“What doyouthink?”
“Ah, answering a question with a question. That’s the fastest way to piss off a journalist, you know.”
The car finally came to a stop. I’d been so distracted I didn’t realize we’d arrived at our destination. I frowned out the window, taking in the view. It was an older building surrounded by a line of trimmed hedges and a few scattered trees. Out front, a sign read: The Friendship Gardens Senior Home.
I arched a curious brow. “Um… I know I’m older than the three of you, but I’m notthatold.”
Red made a sound, a cross between a snort and a chuckle. “I really did get a text. I’d tell you to wait in the car, but something tells me you’re not going to listen.”