Chapter Three
Nash
That could not have gone worse.
The ride back to our shop was quiet. I thought I heard Cole muttering to himself when we first got in the truck, but silence filled in around us after that.
I know Ren is pissed at himself for what he said, even if he didn’t mean it the way it was interpreted.
He keeps fiddling with his fingers in the front seat next to me.
This is going to bug him for a while; I know it.
He always has a positive outlook on life and the world, which is a reason he’s one of my best friends.
We’ve known each other since middle school.
Same with Cole. While Cole is rough around the edges and could use some anger management skills, Ren is the happy-go-lucky kind.
Always wanting everyone to be happy and get along.
Those two idiots couldn’t be more different, but we’ve been stuck with each other for over sixteen years, and that won’t be changing anytime soon.
I pull up to the shop and put the truck in park. Cole is out of the truck in a flash, but I put my hand on Ren’s shoulder as he’s reaching for the door handle. I wait for him to look at me so he knows the seriousness of my words.
“It’s okay, Ren. We all know you didn’t mean it that way. We’ll get another chance to talk to Lucy about the work that needs to be done.”
“I’m upset. She didn’t even let me apologize.” He looks back down at his hands, fingers pulling on each other.
“How about we go out tonight? Since we don’t have to do the Winslow place today, I’ll call Mr. Martin and see if we can get his job done this afternoon instead. That way, we can have tomorrow off. We’ve been working too damn hard lately, anyway.”
Ren looks up with a sly grin, and I can see his brain working up a plan for tonight.
“You know Cole isn’t gonna want to go,” Ren states, and I know he’s right.
“You let me deal with him. He works too damn hard, too.” As we both turn to look out of the windshield, Cole is moving landscaping equipment back where it belongs, proving what I just said is correct.
Ren chuckles to himself, then gets out of the truck to go help.
I know Cole won’t be happy about it, but he’ll do anything for Ren and me if we really want him to.
Let’s just hope he can keep his anger issues at bay so Ren can enjoy the night.
I rub the back of my neck while sighing, then get out of the truck to call Mr. Martin and have a conversation with Cole.
I wonder what kind of fuckery Ren will get us into tonight?