“Well, then I fall short of the standard. I make my own big boy money.” He started sorting through the bags and grabbed his three from the mass. “You’re sure it’s good for me to use your fridge for a bit? I can run back to the hotel and stow this stuff.”
“It’s fine. You bought enough stuff to fit in a mini-fridge. I have a maxi-fridge.” Not exactly. It wasn’t one of those fancy French-door numbers. Probably wasn’t even the size of a standard fridge, since he lived in a studio, but it was bigger than whatever was in the Hillyard. Plus it usually stayed pretty empty. All sorts of room for anything Jake grabbed.
He nodded, then started unloading lunch meat and cheese, some yogurt, pre-cut fruits and veggies, and he tucked a few microwavable meals in the freezer. “You got anything for here, hand it to me. I’ll put it away. Probably in the wrong spot, but away.”
“Oh yeah, my fridge organization is super top-tier.” Quinn handed him two cheese and cracker trays to tuck in there, then started scouting for other refrigerated goods. Some apples, oat milk, spiked seltzer. A smile crept onto his face. It felt awfully domestic to be doing this with Jake. Domestic and natural, falling into jobs together around the house.
Quinn hesitated a second when he brushed the top of the purple and green Epsom salt bag. He pulled that out and scanned it over one more time. He had no idea if lemongrass and lavender would actually help with muscle aches like the bag claimed, but it would at least smell nice while he was soaking. But since he’d invited Jake to come over, that added another wrinkle. One he wasn’t quite prepared to iron out just yet, so he set the bag aside and continued putting the groceries away.
When they got to the frozen chicken strips, he set those aside and preheated the oven. “You could have at least let me pay for my own dinner.”
Jake shook his head. “Not a chance. I’m getting paid for the work I did today. This is the least I could do, since you joined the crew pro bono.”
“I’m getting ahouseout of it.”
“You already had a house, we’re just sprucing it up a little.” Jake grabbed a bag of fries out and handed it over to Quinn. “Besides, chicken and fries aren’t exactly going to break the bank for me.” He dug around a little more, then pulled out the Caesar salad kit and handed that over as well. “And you’re hurting. What kind of dick would I have to be to make you pay when you’re so sore?”
“I’m fine.” He was not in the least, and tomorrow would very likely suck, but that was neither here nor there. “I got the Epsom salts for that.” Which opened up the topic very nicely, but Quinn shoved it to the side once again, turning his attention to the bags that still needed unpacking. Coffee in the cupboard, shampoo with the Epsom salts he was definitely not thinking about, chocolates on the counter because they hadn’t been on his list but they spent way too long walking around the store and they jumped into his shopping cart.
Actually, that was the case for most of his stuff. Not that it was all quite as unplanned as the chocolate, but he’d gone shopping for one thing. Then, since Jake was wandering around, looking at everything and trying to find stuff to take back to his hotel room, Quinn just bought more and more stuff that hedidneed. Or want. Or that looked good. But certainly not stuff he’d intended when they left the job site.
Once almost everything was put away, the oven beeped. Quinn checked the time on everything, then threw the fries on a pan and started the timer. “So, salad? Does that match aesthetically here?”
Jake shrugged, grabbing the bag and tearing it open. “I like Caesar salad.”
Quinn chuckled as he grabbed a big bowl from under the counter and handed it over. “And what if I wanted to kiss you again and your breath smells like garlic and anchovies?”
“Well, yours will too. So I don’t see the problem.” He dumped everything into the bowl, then fished out the packets of accouterments and started throwing things together. Within five minutes, he had a bowl of salad ready, with croutons off to the side. “Besides, salad course first, so our breath can de-stinkify by the time we might be ready to make out.” He tapped his temple. “I’m not as dumb as I sound.”
That ground into Quinn, and he couldn’t help but think back to Ozzy’s comments. He hadn’t said it in so many words, but the implication there was clear: he thought Jake wasn’t the brightest or the most aware or whatever.I’m just being sensitive, here.“I don’t think you sound dumb at all.” He pulled out two plates and set them on the counter, then doled out the salad with tongs.
Jake added the croutons and they settled down on the sofa. And like a totally sane, well-balanced person, Quinn made sure his back was to the Epsom salt in the kitchen so he didn’t have to think about how to handle the bath situation.
“That had no right to taste that good.” Quinn was up in the kitchen, packing the leftovers away. “Seriously, what the hell?”
“It’s MSG or something.” Jake shrugged, sitting up on the counter gently kicking his feet. “I don’t know. But sometimes, I just crave that kind of frozen junk food. Especially after a long work day. Thanks for using your oven for it. Microwave just wouldn’t get it right.”
“Any time you want to use it, come on over. Might be impractical when you’re back in Washington, but the offer stands.”
Jake snorted, then swept his hair back out of his face. “I’ll keep that in mind. I could even make a set of keys, since I’m the one responsible for working on your new place.”
“I work from home, so not really any point. But sure. Break in and cook chicken strips in my oven.”
Jake jumped off the counter. “Well, I should let you get to soaking your sore muscles.Do notoffer to drive me this time. I can handle it.”
He pulled out his phone and Quinn’s stomach lurched, forcing the words out of his mouth. “Wait!”
Jake turned. “Something wrong?”
Now or never, I think.Quinn took a steeling breath, then grabbed the couple of bathroom items from the counter and locked eyes on Jake. “Would you be able to…help me with this? In the tub?”
Jake’s cheeks tinged pink, then he smiled. “I don’t see why not. But, if we’re going that route, there’s probably a bigger soaking tub at my hotel room than you have here. Your call.”
He’s into it. He’s inviting me over. We’re really doing this. Quinn nodded. “Make sure to grab your food. I’ll get my keys.”
Chapter twenty
Jake
