Rolling his eyes at his pathetic obsession with her, he looked at the ground as they rode the elevator down as Jensen said, “I don’t know why she didn’t hire someone to move her.”

Shea shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“I don’t think she has the money,” Vaughn found himself saying, and Jensen looked back at him.

“Don’t be a douche.”

“What? I meant that nicely,” he tried as the doors opened. His eyes landed on Brie, who was standing by a big-ass sofa, her arms crossed over her chest and her little chin up in the air. She didn’t want this, it was written on her face, but then, no one said no to Shea Adler.

Well, except Elli Adler.

And his daughters.

“Nothing you say is ever nice,” Jensen shot back as they got out, and Vaughn’s eyes met Brie’s. Heading toward her, Jensen called out, “Brie, I told you that you could call me to help.”

“I don’t ask for help very well. Elli had to ask Shea,” she admitted with a shrug. “Sorry about this.”

“Don’t be sorry. It’s fine.”

“Yeah, it’s only six floors worth of stairs, but who’s counting?” Vaughn joked.

Brie’s gaze cut to Vaughn’s. “I didn’t ask you to help.”

“Technically, you didn’t ask anyone, but here we all are.”

She glared, and he glared back as Jensen rolled his eyes. “They fight a lot.”

“Are they dating?” Shea asked.

“God, no,” Brie yelled, which made Vaughn scoff.

“She wishes.”

“Please.”

“No, thank you.”

“No? No, thank you, what?”

“No, I won’t date you,” he said calmly, which only made her face turn bright red as the rage settled in her eyes.

“You asshole, I was saying please because I wouldn’t date you if you were the last man on earth and I hadn’t been laid in years!”

Vaughn paused as Jensen shook his head and Shea looked on excitedly. “Well, that’s not nice. How dare you not want to help the world make a comeback? Do you not care for humankind? It would be our job to bring back the human race.”

“No, and I’d probably kill you just to make my point.”

Feigning shock, Vaughn held in his laughter as he accused, “You’re ruthless, Ms. Soledad.”

“You have no idea, JoHo.”

Her eyes narrowed, and the playfulness left his eyes as they burned into hers. He didn’t like how quick she was with her quips, and he sure as hell didn’t like that he was attracted to her at the moment. She looked a mess, her hair up in a sloppy bun, her shirt that read, “Real OG with my sippy cup” on it, and tight jeans. She wasn’t his type. He wasn’t sure how many times he had to tell himself that, but for some reason, he wasn’t listening.

“Well, let’s get this couch up the stairs,” Shea said then, but Brie and Vaughn stayed locked in their heated stare down. “So me and Monroe will get the front, y’all bring up the rear.”

Holding her hand up, she turned her face to Shea. “I don’t want to be near him.”

Mirroring her, Vaughn held his hand up. “She’s weak, I can’t lift with her. She’ll kill me.”

“That’s my plan.”

Cutting a look at her, he glared as she sent him a sneaky little grin that shot heat straight to his balls. With an exaggerated sigh, Shea shook his head. “You two are like my kids. Jesus.”

Jensen nodded. “You have no idea.”

“Okay, but you two are closest in size—”

“She comes up to my cock.”

“Actually, I come up to your chest, you prick.”

“So does my cock when it’s standing at attention.”

Her eyes widened for just a second as Jensen and Shea sputtered with laughter. “Is that with or without your sexual enhancer? I know you’re getting up there in age.”

“Damn,” Jensen muttered, shaking his head. “Come on, let’s get this over with before they murder each other. I’ll bring up the rear with Brie.”

“No, I got this,” Vaughn said then, his eyes still locked on Brie’s. “You’re too tall for her.”

“Actually, I like my men a lot bigger than me.”

“Aren’t they all bigger?”

“Shut up and pick up the couch before I dick-punch you.”

“I don’t know, my wrists might not be able to handle the lift.”

Her expression grew sinister. “Well, maybe you need to stop whacking off all the time.”

He scoffed. “I don’t need to whack off. I have chicks wanting every single piece of me.”

“For the money, right? You pay a lot? Have to, with how small your cock is.”

“Baby, my cock is the size of you. Like, head to toe.”

“You know they say people who have to boast about cock size are usually hung like fish.”

“Fish have dicks?”

“Yeah, isn’t that the long thing that hangs out?” Jensen asked, but Brie shook her head.

“No, that’s the poop.”

Jensen laughed. “Oh, I get what you’re saying.”

She smiled as Vaughn glared. “You’re rude.”

“And you’re a self-righteous prick.”

“At least I’m not a crybaby brat.”

“Yeah? At least I’m not a showboating, overboasting-about-my-cock playboy.”

“Ha! At least—”

“Oh, my God! Shut up, and come on,” Shea finally yelled, and both of them snapped their mouths shut. When Shea yelled, you couldn’t help but hear it, and as Vaughn looked around to see that everyone was watching, he figured they were done. Chancing a glance at Brie, he saw she had her arms crossed over her chest as she glared. A grin pulled at his lips, but he wouldn’t let himself smile. He wouldn’t let her know he’d truly enjoyed that.

They got into position with only a little bit of grumbling from the two of them as they got the couch up with ease. With three big hockey players, Vaughn wouldn’t expect any less, but what surprised him was that Brie was strong. She carried the couch up the six flights, and while she was winded, she didn’t look as if she would die as he anticipated her to. Placing her side down, she opened her door, and then they moved the couch in and to the spot she had ready for it. Her apartment was empty except for boxes and a few pieces of big furniture. Normal for someone who had just moved in, but he wished it were set up. He wanted to know her. He wanted to see her things, her life, but it was all blank, all a mystery.