“Real mature, Dumfries. I appreciate you looking out for her, I do, but the last thing she needs is to rebound with a guy like you.” I bristled, and he added, “Chill. I don’t mean it as the personal attack you’re thinking. But you’re… you. I haven’t known you to be around the same girl for more than a night in the time I’ve known you.”
“I could say the same thing about you,Coach.”
“Good thing we’re not talking about me, then.” He shook his head, but I saw the amusement in his eyes. “Dayna is important to me, and she’s been through a lot. I’m going to ask you this once and only once. Do I need to be worried here?”
“Relax, I’m not looking for a summer hookup.” And if I were, I sure as hell wouldn’t pick a girl like Dayna.
“Good because she’s worth more than that.”
“I just don’t like seeing her get taken for a fool.”
“Well, fuck me, Dumfries. Who knew you had a heart underneath all that brooding grumpy exterior?”
I flipped him off, and he chuckled. But his smile dropped, giving away to concern. “You really think he’s messing around behind her back?”
“A twenty-two-year-old guy who hasn’t had sex in at least eight months suddenly living it up in the city after he told his girlfriend he thought some space would be a good idea … I know what I’d be doing if I were him.” My brow went up, and Carson scrubbed his jaw.
“Fuck, he said that?” I nodded, and he cursed under his breath, adding, “I knew there was something off about him.”
“The question is what—”
The doorbell pierced the air, and Carson frowned. “I wonder who that is.”
But my gut told me who he’d find standing on the doorstep, so I was hardly surprised when Dayna trailed into the kitchen behind him, carrying what looked like a picnic basket.
“I figured we could get an early start.” She gave me a weak smile. “I also brought you these.”
“Let me guess,” I said, taking the container from her. “Apology muffins?”
“Something like that.”
“Does someone want to explain to me what’s going on?” Carson cocked a brow at me.
“Ask Dayna.”
“I… I was a bitch. It seems Aiden brings that side out in me.” Her mouth twitched, and I had the sudden urge to kiss her again.
Jesus. What the fuck was wrong with me?
She was just a girl.
She had a boyfriend, even if he was a cheating asshole. Not to mention a shit ton of emotional baggage and intimacy issues.
She had apology muffins, for fuck’s sake.
“Can I trust the two of you not to try and kill each other on The Deke?”
“The Deke? What the fuck is The Deke?”
Dayna laughed, the sound fisting my heart to the point of pain.
I needed to get a fucking grip.
“The Deke is Carson’s pride and joy. Isn’t that right, Cars?”
“Damn right it is.”
“Seriously, you called your boat The Deke?” I asked, draining my coffee.