“We used to do that all the time.” Blake raised a brow at him. If he wanted to spend time with Trevor, there were other ways. The morning runs could be one of them.

“When we were sixteen¸ because he had nothing better to do.” Trevor wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“That’s not true. Jase and I go see a movie sometimes. It’s just—” Blake shook his head. “Never mind.”

Oh, yeah. It was Trevor’s fault again. Once Trevor started drinking and using, he hadn’t wanted to do anything like that.

“No fighting, boys.” Jason shook a teasing finger at them. “He’s probably right though, B. It’s not a movie he needs. We can get you laid without hitting up a bar, Trev.”

Trevor wasn’t in the mood, but he couldn’t help but laugh.

“It always comes back to sex with you, doesn’t it?” Blake threw a piece of drywall at Jase.

“And that’s a bad thing, why?” Jason replied.

The two of them would go on for days if Trevor didn’t interrupt. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t need you guys to babysit me or to drag me out of the house. I’m fine. If I want to see a movie, I’ll go see one. If I want to get laid, I’ll find someone to fuck. I’m a big boy.”

“Or, you know, maybe we just want to spend time with you. That’s an option too.” Jason shook his head, looking frustrated.

Trevor felt like all the wood they’d pulled down was now piled on his back. Shit. They were right. There was no reason he couldn’t hang out with his brother and his brother’s best friend. Just as Trevor opened his mouth to say so, another voice cut in. “This open space is going to work much better.”

Simon.

Trevor sighed. He was annoyed now. Annoyed at himself, at Blake and Jason, and at Simon too. “Yeah, it’ll give you a lot of room.”

Blake raised a brow at Trevor. Yeah, he knew. Simon shouldn’t be in here. Not right now. Half the time his brother didn’t trust Trevor to deal with things, but he obviously wanted Trevor to be the one to deal with Simon, which worked since Simon had said he wanted Trevor to run this. A fact he hadn’t told his brother about. “It’s dangerous to be here without any protective equipment.”

Half of Simon’s mouth kicked up and Trevor could read his expression. What? I might cut my hand on a nail?

“Shut up.” Trevor shook his head, but he was smiling.

“Trev,” Blake said just as Simon replied, “I didn’t say anything.” And he was smiling too.

“Do you have a minute? I’d like to get your thoughts on an idea I had about the house.” Simon wasn’t looking at anyone in the room other than Trevor.

Trevor held back a groan, though he wasn’t really sure why he felt that way. If it was the fact that it felt good to see Simon when it shouldn’t, or something else. He didn’t really have to have a reason to be in a bad mood anymore.

“Yeah, sure. I’m coming.” Trevor took off his hardhat and set it down before scratching his head.

He didn’t look at his brother or anyone else in the room as he followed Simon outside. He wore a pair of jeans that hugged his long legs, and a T-shirt. “I don’t have much time. The guy we’re working for is a real hard-ass.” He hoped Simon would laugh at that, and he got his wish.

Simon sat on the porch steps. Trevor stalled a minute and then joined him. “I always loved this house,” he found himself saying. It was old. It reminded Trevor of an old farmhouse in the South, with shutters on the windows and a wraparound porch. “When I was a kid I used to dream about riding a dirt bike in all that open space out back.” That was another thing he’d forgotten about until the words found their way out of his mouth.

“It’s beautiful. I knew I had to have it when I saw it. It’s supposed to be inspiring me to write.” Simon’s words pulled him out of his thoughts.

“How’s that working for you?” He knew the answer to that. Simon wasn’t writing.

“I’m waiting for the guy I hired to do the remodel to finish. He’s a real slow-ass.” Simon winked at him. Trevor rested his elbows on his knees, his feet two steps below the one he sat on.

“They’re taking you out to get laid tonight, I hear.”

“No, they’re trying to babysit me. If they go do anything it’s not going to be at a place where no alcohol is sold.” It wasn’t that they were big partiers, but they enjoyed going out, drinking and dancing sometimes. Or drinking and fucking. Hell, even if they went to a game or something there would be beer. It wasn’t that Trevor was never around it—people drank at restaurants when he went out to dinner—but his friends or brother never did it around him. If he went, they would curb what they did. “I don’t want to be a downer on their night.”