Second String (In Too Deep #3)

by McMillin, Casey

  "Trey and Tonia's restaurant will be the first of our projects to be completed. It's on track to be done by early fall," Gretchen said.

  "They're about to start working up the menu," Joel said, "and we get to reap the benefits of that. We'll call to see if you want to come by and pick up a plate lunch when she brings food."

  I sucked some air through my teeth. "I don't know if I should," I said. "That would mean me having to hit the gym twice as hard. I already fill out my uniform more than most of those other girls."

  "Ethan, that's the place where you disagree with her and tell her how thin she is," Gretchen said. She was just teasing us both.

  "I'm not telling her that," Ethan said, looking at Gretchen like she must be kidding. Then he smiled and gave me a squeeze. "Her big booty is one of my favorite things about her. Hell, it's one of the main reasons I talked to her when we first met."

  I gasped in mock horror, turning on Ethan to fake a punch to his shoulder. I didn't care if he talked about my big booty. I knew he liked it. Plus, I was confident enough in myself to not mind if he said things like that anyway.

  "I'm looking forward to adding a few pounds to my booty while I have the excuse of being pregnant," Gretchen said. "Thank God I'm starting to feel better. It's perfect timing with the Sims starting to bring food over."

  "Okay, you talked me into it… call me when they bring some food," I said. "It might be worth adding an extra spinning class to try the new menu."

  "I wish I could get in on some of that," Ethan said. "My mom doesn't cook for shit, and Josh and I never make anything more complicated than spaghetti."

  "I'll bring you some when I come see you sometime," I said.

  "You might have to bring enough for Josh unless you want to see a fight."

  "I don't think so," Joel said, then immediately looked like he regretted saying it.

  "Did you hear something from your friend?" Ethan asked, "because Josh hasn't heard back from the guy since he told him what it will take to relocate."

  "I know he's planning on making Josh a good offer," Joel said. "More than he asked for."

  "Seriously?" Ethan asked. "Josh thought it was a long shot because he asked for more than he thought he should."

  "Well, Mitch is planning on giving it to him," Joel said. "Do me a favor, though, and don't mention it. It's between Mitch and Josh… I just wanted to give you a head's up since you might have to look for a new roommate."

  "I'm not looking for a new roommate," Ethan said. "It'll be quiet around there, but I won't mind the change. I'll miss not having my boys in the same town, though. First Collin, and now Josh."

  "Why don't you just move to L.A. too?" Gretchen asked.

  "There's no way I could even think about that until after the trials, but it's definitely a possibility eventually," Ethan said. He looked at me to see how I reacted to that, and I bent and put a kiss on his cheek in front of God and everybody.

  "Oh snap," Gretchen said. "I didn't think about Josh moving up here. Brit's not gonna like that one bit."

  "Why would Brit care if Josh moves to L.A.?" I asked.

  "Did I tell you she was seriously considering taking the job as art director at The Center?" Gretchen asked.

  I shook my head. "I knew she was thinking about it, but I thought she was leaning against it," I said.

  "She said the more she thinks about it, the more she feels like it might be the right thing."

  "What's that got to do with Josh?" I asked.

  "She and Josh sort of get under each other's skin a little." Gretchen said.

  I thought I remembered a few things here and there that got tense with them, but I didn't think it was anything that would make Brit change her mind about moving.

  "Can't you just not mention it to Brit?" I asked.

  "I think I'd have to," Gretchen said.

  The boys just stayed silent, listening to our conversation.

  "Wow, that's really weird," I said. "Do they just rub each other the wrong way, or what?"

  "That's an understatement," Gretchen said.

  "How do you know all this?" I asked.

  "Brit told me about a conversation she had with Josh that almost turned into a fight. She really has an aversion to him for some reason."

  "The feeling is mutual," Ethan said.

  My head whipped around to look at him. This was turning into some good old-fashioned drama.

  "What'd Josh say about her?" Gretchen asked.

  Ethan looked at Gretchen, not knowing what she'd relay to Brit. "Nothing," he said. "It's nothing. I shouldn't have said anything." He tried to leave it at that, but Gretchen and I both looked at him like we wanted the rest the story. "Just ask Josh what he thinks about her the next time you see him, I'm sure he'll tell you all about it."

  The End

  (till book four)