Balance (Oakley’s Crew #2)

19. Archie

19

ARCHIE

“ N ooooo,” I groan when the alarm on my phone goes off. I reach over to shut it off, determined to go back to sleep and just cuddle into the strong arms wrapped around me, but Cane’s rumble of laughter has me peeking my eyes open at him.

“You can’t miss work. Walker will never let you live it down if you skip work to stay with your Larnard boyfriend.”

“I really like when you use the word boyfriend,” I say, leaning up to kiss his strong lips. “Even though you’re being a pain in the ass right now and not letting me sleep.”

“You’re the one who insisted on staying the night.”

I pout at him, knowing he’s teasing. “Right. Because you didn’t want me to. Like you didn’t beg me to stay.”

He chuckles and runs his hand down my back to my ass, pinching one cheek. “Out of bed.”

“I don’t wanna,” I grumble.

He just smiles sweetly at me. “If you get your ass in the shower, I’ll join you.”

And I’m up. I practically drag him into his bathroom, not having to strip either of us, since we slept naked, and pushing him under the warm spray before attacking his mouth. I won’t ever get enough of him.

I do love him. I do.

I just wish I could tell him that. But I try to tell him using my deep drugging kisses before I drop to my knees and worship his gorgeous cock. It doesn’t take long before he’s spilling down my throat and tugs me up before he kneels before me and lavishes my shaft and balls with licks and sucks that drive me wild until I’m coming down his throat.

I pull him up into my arms and kiss him until he relents, deciding it’s time for me to go. I love my job at Oakley’s Crew, but I kind of resent it right now as I kiss him goodbye and start the long-ass drive toward Hayes.

Surely this will get easier, right?

Still, I’m not giving up one night in his bed if I don’t have to. By the time I make it to Oakley’s Crew, I see several other trucks I recognize and one ugly mug grinning at me. “You look like shit.”

“With friends like you, I can see why some people choose to stay the hell away from other humans their whole lives,” I tease Walker, who wraps his arm around my shoulder and walks with me into the building.

“Aw, you know you’d miss me.”

I laugh. “You’re far too cheery. I’m assuming your city man found a wonderful way to wake you up this morning.”

His cheeks pink up, and I bark out a laugh, knowing I’m right. “So why the hell are you so grumpy? I’m sure your country boy did the same.” He pinches my side when he releases me, and I go straight to the coffee.

“I’m a gentleman who doesn’t kiss and tell.”

Jackson, who’s taking a sip of coffee, snorts, laughing so hard he shoots coffee from his nose. I flip him off and hand him a napkin. “Gentleman.” He laughs again.

Oakley walks into the room, whistling happily and notices Jackson wiping up his mess and the glare on my face. “Hey, I thought you were getting laid regularly now. Why the frown?”

Travis walks in after Oakley. “Do we really have to discuss not talking to our employees about their sex lives again, Oakley?”

“Should we talk about ours then?” Oakley waggles his eyebrows at Travis, and Travis just shoves his shoulder, trying to look annoyed, but he fails. He’s totally gaga over Oakley, and we all know it.

“I’m not grumpy because I’m not getting laid,” I say, taking my mug full of hot delicious coffee and sitting at the table. “I’m grumpy because I had to wake up at the ass crack of dawn to get here from my boyfriend’s house.” Several sets of eyes lock on me, all looking stunned, and I frown. “What?”

Walker sits down next to me. “Boyfriend? I’ve never heard you say that before. I didn’t know you knew that word.”

“Fuck off,” I say grumpily, my cheeks heating as I take a sip of coffee.

But now, they’re all just grinning at me annoyingly. “Holy shit. Look at my boy Archie, growing up,” Oakley says, sitting across from me. Don’t punch your boss. Do not punch your boss.

“It’s not a big deal,” I lie, sipping my coffee again.

“Things are getting serious?” Travis asks carefully. Definitely the most professional one around here, but I don’t mind talking to my bosses like they’re my friends. Truth is, they’re part of my family, not just my friends.

I just don’t know if I’m ready to talk about anything that’s happening with Cane just yet. I simply nod and don’t miss the look he shares with Oakley.

“And he lives in Larnard.”

I nod again. “Two-hour drive, but it’s worth it.”

“We’ll figure something out, okay?” Travis says, and I lift my eyes from my coffee to look at him, seeing the sincerity there.

“I don’t need special treatment. It’s fine.” But is it? It’s really early in our relationship, but I’d be lying if I said I haven’t already thought about what it would be like to move in together. I spent a long time being a bachelor and being just fine—more than fine—with that lifestyle, but now that I have him, none of that matters.

I don’t want to live the bachelor life any longer. “We’ll figure it out,” Travis says again before the rest of the crew heads in, and then we’re given our assignments.

It’s just Walker and me heading to one of our well-established clients’ houses, and as I drive there, I can feel that he wants to talk. “Just say it.”

“You love him,” he says so damn simply—and I mean, of course he does. That’s Walker’s way. Kind of reminds me of Cane a little bit. No games.

“Yeah,” I say softly, and I can feel him smiling at me, even if I refuse to look over at him.

“That’s great, man.”

“Yeah,” I grunt and continue to look out at the winding country road instead of at my best friend.

“It is, you know? It’s good to see you happy.”

“We’re still a secret, though I guess he’s going to tell Evie about us tonight after work.”

“That’s really great then. Not a secret for much longer.”

I grunt again in agreement, though I think I’m afraid. Afraid he won’t be able to do it. Afraid of being disappointed and hurt if he can’t. “Love kind of sucks, you know that?”

He chuckles at that and slaps my shoulder with his hand, gripping it in a comforting squeeze. “It’s worth it. I promise you that. He’s going to tell her, and then you two are going to be as gross and disgustingly in love in our faces, just like Dutton and me.”

I fake gag, and he punches me in the arm. “Watch it,” I scold playfully, and he just laughs.

I want that though. I know I do. Never saw it coming, but I want to be freely able to love my man, no matter where we are or who we’re around.

And I want to be able to tell him out loud that I love him.

Guess Cane made me want a lot of things. Now hopefully, he can help me get them all.