Chauncey licked the spoon as if he would never taste ice cream again, and then he gave a slow nod, as if only half listening to Sterling. “I can do that for you, Sterling. Do you want to go now?”
“Now would be nice.”
Sterling wasn’t sure if Chauncey was the right person to ask. His movements were still jerky, and he was walking a bit slow. Sterling was actually a little concerned.
“Is everything all right? I can ask someone else.” He wanted to say more, but Sterling wasn’t sure if asking the man why he was walking funny was any of his business. He may be a chatterbox at times, but he knew when to butt out of someone’s business.
“I’m cool,” Chauncey replied. “I was in an accident not too long ago. Even though I’ve recovered, sometimes my coordination screws with me. I go right when I want to go left, or I miss the toilet seat altogether.”
Yeah, Sterling so did not want to know about that last part.
“But I can take you.”
This man was about to give him a ride into town? He was going to be behind the wheel of a truck? “Uh…maybe I should ask—”
“I’m fine,” Chauncey said as he wiggled his brows. “Just make sure you wear your seat belt.”
Sterling took a quick step back.
“Just kidding.” Chauncey chuckled. “You’re too easy. But you are going to wear a seat belt. Besides, it’ll give me an excuse to harass my mate at work.”
Okay.
“I’ll be right back.” Sterling shot up the steps and grabbed Bacon from the small pen that Riley had constructed in their bedroom. It wasn’t big, but then again, neither was Bacon.
“Where’s the fire?”
“Going into town,” Sterling shouted to his brother over his shoulder and then skidded to a halt. “Why aren’t you at work?”
“It’s my day off. I do get those, you know.”
Sterling narrowed his eyes as he walked down the hallway toward his brother. “You didn’t ask for a vacation package and a 401K, did you?” The last town they were in, his brother had done just that. They nearly weren’t hired.
“And Cody said after my ninety days, I would get it.” Darcy looked smug. “I told you I knew how to negotiate.”
“I guess.” Sterling turned and walked down the hallway, heading back downstairs.
“Hey, Sterling,” Darcy called out.
Sterling turned.
“Maybe later we could hang out?”
He had missed his brother. They lived under the same roof, but Darcy worked as a prep cook during the day and spent his nights with his vampire mate. Sterling hadn’t seen much of Darcy in the past few weeks, and he really missed hanging out with the guy.
“Okay.” He grinned as he ran down the steps.
“Ready?” Chauncey asked.
“Yep.”
As they approached the truck, Sterling became confused when Chauncey headed toward the passenger side. Maybe Chauncey was going left when he should be going right. That thought did not comfort Sterling.
“Want to drive?” Chauncey asked as he dangled the keys in front of his chest.
It had been too long since Sterling drove. He had a valid license, but didn’t own a car. “Really?”
“Sure.” Chauncey tossed Sterling the set of keys. Sterling caught them in midair, nearly dropping Bacon. He scooted her back up his chest and climbed into the truck.
“You’ll have to hold Bacon so I can drive,” Sterling said to Chauncey as he held Bacon out to him. Once Chauncey took the pig, Sterling reached down and readjusted the seat. His legs were too short to reach the pedals. Of course, he wouldn’t have that problem if a single one of the Lakeland men was built like a normal person.
Sterling chuckled lightly to himself. He wasn’t sure he would like them as much if they were. He certainly knew he wouldn’t like Riley as much if he wasn’t so tall and sexy and—damn. He needed to stop thinking about his mate or he’d never make it out of the driveway.
He watched in amazement as Chauncey buckled Bacon into a seat belt between them. He never would have thought of that. Sterling started the truck and pulled from the drive, heading into town. He was so excited that he was driving that he hadn’t watched his speed limit.
“Cops are behind us,” Chauncey said as he looked over his shoulder. “And their lights are flashing, speedy.”
Sterling felt panic well up in him. He had never been pulled over by a cop before. What if they took him to jail? What if they threw him on the ground and handcuffed him? He didn’t even know a lawyer he could call.
“Should I try and outrun them?” Sterling asked as he glanced in the rearview mirror.