3. Alex
3
Alex
“ T hat’s going to be a tight fit. It might be better if we go through the back.” Jax looks between the large stainless-steel refrigerator and the front door of his future home.
“That’s what she said.” I can’t help myself.
“Alex, I’m in no mood for this,” Jax grumbles.
“Sadly, that’s also what she said.”
“Why the hell is he here?” Travis, Jax’s best friend and business partner, smacks the side of the box. I don’t know him too well. He seems like an okay guy, a bit high-strung at times, but I know he’s been through a lot of shit. Shit I can’t even imagine.
“We’ve been through this.” Jax looks at Travis, clearly getting agitated. “This house had more issues than expected. In order to keep us afloat, the crew needs to work on the house on Anchor while we put in as much effort as possible into this one. It needs to be move-in ready before Aly has the baby. Plus, Alex is cheap labor.”
“Thanks,” I huff. I actually don’t mind helping Jax out. I admit I’m here more for muscle than to actually fix something. I’m not much of a handyman, but I’d like to learn a few things for when I eventually settle down and have a place of my own.
This house has been a bear to work on. The entire electrical system needed updating as well as the plumbing. Jax and Travis also replaced the roof, siding, and windows. And did I mention there was also one room covered in floor-to-ceiling mirrors? I was tasked with the job of taking all of them down. Getting to see myself from every angle is not as much fun as I thought.
Jax has been working on this house for months, even before he and Legs, aka Aly, got together. Once they realized their relationship was a match made in Heaven (literally), they eloped and immediately started planning a family. I’m happy for them. Jax is much less of a grump nowadays, and Legs has become a great friend.
“Aly isn’t due for months,” Travis grumbles. “There’s still plenty of time to get this done.”
“I want everything as perfect as possible,” Jax argues.
“How about we take a lunch break and order a pizza?” Carter, forever the peacemaker, whips out his phone.
“I think that’s a great idea.” I study the fridge currently sitting in the driveway. “We can figure out a game plan for this monstrosity while we eat.”
Everyone agrees and we head toward the almost completed kitchen to get some drinks and wait for our food.
“Have you decided what you’ll do with your condo once you move in here?” Carter places a large cooler on the kitchen counter.
“Aly gets all emotional when I bring up the subject. She’s excited to move in here, but she doesn’t want to leave all of you either.” Jax waves his hand between Carter and me. I know he’s also referring to Gabby and Michelle, who were Aly’s original roommates. “I think we’ll stay at the condo for the duration of her pregnancy so she has everyone around her, and then we’ll move in once J.J. is born.”
“I’m sure we’ll be over all the time. You know, since you have so much space here. That wraparound porch of yours gets some great light. It would be the perfect place to sunbathe.” I grab a bottle of water from the cooler.
“Note to self: add an awning to the porch.” Jax swings around and points a finger at me. “And I’m establishing a new rule. Every guest in our house must be fully clothed at all times.”
“Fine,” I huff. I have an issue when it comes to wearing clothes… I don’t like them. I’m okay in my heavy gear when I’m fighting fires ’cause you need to protect the goods and all. But when I’m at home? Everything comes off. Well, almost everything. I keep my boxers on when I’m around Carter because that would be weird. I’m also required to wear clothes when I eat with the girls. They claim it’s too distracting or whatever.
“Pizza is here,” Travis says, tilting his head toward the window. An older model Volkswagen pulls up to the curb.
“I’ll get it.” I run over to the front door and swing it wide open. “Well, hello.” I smile at the sight of a young, college-aged blonde holding our delivery.
“Hi.” Her face flushes. “I, umm…I have two large pizzas—one meat lovers, one pepperoni with extra cheese.”
“That’s us.” I take our order and hand her some cash. “Keep the change.”
“Are you sure?” Her eyes widen when she adds up the tip I just gave her. It’s more than I usually give, but her tires look pretty worn.
“Absolutely. I appreciate the prompt, friendly, and might I say beautiful service.” I wink.
“Thank you.” Her face turns an even deeper shade of red .
“Have a wonderful day!” I call out as she makes her way back down the driveway. I close the door and turn back to the guys, who are all giving me a look.
“What?” I place the pizzas on the counter.
“You just can’t help yourself.” Carter shakes his head.
“I was being polite.”
“Your polite and my polite are two different things.” Carter grabs a slice of meat lovers. “You flirt with anything on two legs.”
“Glad I only have one.” Travis snorts, referring to the fact that he has a prosthetic. I don’t know much, but I know he and Jax were injured overseas during their time in the Navy. Jax is able to cover the majority of his scars with tattoos, but Travis’s are too numerous and severe to hide.
“See, this is why Gabby won’t go out with you,” Jax chimes in, grabbing a slice of pepperoni and mumbling something about it lacking pineapple.
“Oh, like you’re the relationship expert now?”
“Of course not, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Gabby doesn’t want to go out with a guy who has slept with half the population of Starboard Beach.” Jax takes a bite of his pizza.
“This coming from the guy who has slept with the other half,” I counter. It’s true. Jax and I are not known for our celibate ways, although he’s cleaned up his act since Aly came into his life. I, too, have calmed down significantly. I haven’t been with anyone since I met Gabby. Oh, there have been opportunities, but the thought of being intimate with anyone else makes me ill. It’s funny. For most of my life, I was against long-term relationships, but everything changed once I met her. I just wish the feeling were reciprocated.
“I’m reformed now!” Jax says defensively.
“So am I. I just don’t have a way to prove it.”
“I will admit,” Carter pipes up, “Alex spends a lot more time at home now compared to when I first moved in.”
“See!” I point to my roommate. I’ve always liked this guy.
“I don’t think it’s just the excessive flirting.” Carter shakes his head. “She doesn’t take you seriously. How many times have you asked her to marry you?”
I throw my head back and think. “Counting today?”
The guys let out a collective groan.
“How much do you really know about her?” Carter presses.
“I know that her favorite coffee order is caramel coconut cold brew, she hates flowers, and she’s petrified of spiders. She loves the color purple and reading romance novels and has the best sense of humor because she always laughs at my jokes.” I pause. “And the way her ass looks in those leggings she wears—”
“Dude!” Jax cuts me off. “Quit it! I feel like you’re talking about my little sister.”
“Agreed.” Carter rubs his chin. “So you know some basic things about her, but you need to get to know her on a deeper level. Why doesn’t she like flowers?”
“I’m not sure. She mentioned it to me one time when a patient brought in a huge arrangement as a thank you to everyone who took care of her in the ED.”
“That’s kind of odd,” Travis chimes in. “Is she allergic to them?”
“No.” I shrug. “She just doesn’t seem to like them.”
“If you are really serious about her, I think you need to get your shit together and come up with some sort of plan.” Carter grabs a piece of paper from a notebook on the counter.
“A plan for what?”
“To win Gabby’s heart because right now, you are stuck in the friend zone and trust me, I know all about that.” He mumbles the last part under his breath .
“I’m not stuck in the friend zone.” I brush him off.
“Really?” He gives a sarcastic smirk. “How are the wedding preparations going?”
“Okay, fine. I guess I could use a little help in the dating department.” Geez, I never thought I’d say those words.
All of us watch intently as Carter scribbles down a list. He hands it to me a moment later and I read it aloud.
Operation Ms. to Mrs.
Step 1: Stop proposing every five seconds.
Step 2: Spend more time with Gabby alone and get to know her on a deeper level.
Step 3: Show her you’re beginning to take life more seriously.
Step 4: Find out why she doesn’t like flowers.
“Okay, not bad. I agree I should probably simmer down on the proposal stuff. Spending time alone could be difficult considering our schedules, but it’s not impossible. What do you mean about taking life more seriously?”
“For starters, you act like a thirty-year-old man-child,” Travis interjects.
“I’m still twenty-nine, thank you very much. And I can be serious when I need to be.” I turn to Jax. “Remember when you fell off the roof and were all doped up on pain meds? I helped look after you.”
“You tried to extort government secrets out of me,” Jax deadpans.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that.” I play with the paper in my hands.
“I was thinking somewhere along the lines of keeping your clothes on or taking on more responsibilities.” Carter mindlessly doodles on a clean sheet of paper .
“Like what? I already have a full-time job and volunteer when I can.”
A panting sound comes from beside me.
“Where’d you come from?” I look down at Travis’s three-legged dog, Gus. I didn’t even realize he was here today, but it makes sense. Travis rarely leaves home without the scruffy hound mix.
“He loves pizza crust,” Travis says, giving his trusty sidekick some scraps. Gus eats them in one bite.
A thought occurs to me. “Oh! I know! I could get a dog! That would show Gabby I’m responsible.”
“And who would take care of this dog when you’re at the firehouse?” Travis asks.
I look over at Carter, who puts both hands up in the air. “Don’t look at me! I have enough responsibilities as it is.” Carter is an electrician and owns his own business, but on top of that, he helps out his mom and much younger siblings. The man is a saint.
“All right, no dog.” I frown. It would be cool to have a dog of my own, but once again, my roommate is right. I’m not home enough to take care of one. I look over at Travis. “Maybe I could borrow Gus sometime? You know, pup sit or something?”
“I take him everywhere with me. When would I need you to pup sit?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Is there any place he isn’t permitted?” Even though Gus is Travis’s shadow, he is not a certified service animal. We’re lucky to live in a town where most businesses are still locally owned. Many places allow Gus to come inside, but there are a few places that are off-limits.
“We could go to the movies!” Jax says excitedly. “You did mention you wanted to see the new Marvel movie with me. ”
“I did say that.” Travis ponders. “And I hate to leave him home alone.”
“Well, now Uncle Alex can watch him while you go to the movies.” I stand a little taller, feeling proud of myself for thinking of this. It really is a win-win situation.
“I’ll think about it.” Travis looks down at his dog and back up to me. “But he’s not calling you Uncle Alex.”
“Then he can call me Tio Alex,” I suggest.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” Carter throws his hands in the air. “He’s a dog. He’s not calling anyone anything.”
“Not with that attitude.” I cross my arms over my chest, giving my roommate a stern look.
“I don’t know why I even offered advice.” Carter shakes his head. “This could be a disaster.”
“It might, but I have to give it a shot.” I fold up the list and place it in the back pocket of my jeans. I have to for both of us because deep down, I know Gabby cares about me as much as I care about her. I just have to find a way for her to let me in.