Page 110 of Not Safe For Work

Chapter 26

I shifted my gaze back and forth from the schematic in front of me to the model I was supposed to be building.

Nothing. I’ve got nothing.

I couldn’t translate the dimensions to the pieces of wire and foam-core I’d cut on Friday. Couldn’t remember how they were supposed to go together, where they were supposed to go, what the fuck this thing was supposed to look like when it was complete.

I wasn’t even scatter-brained. I was no-brained. No amount of coffee was going to get me out of this funk. All morning, I’d alternated between staring into space and staring at things with no clue what to do with them. Though I’d slept like the dead last night, I felt like I hadn’t slept in weeks. Drained. Dragging. Dumb.

“Hey, McNeill.” Cal jarred me out of my thoughts. “What do you think?”

I pushed myself up, gingerly rubbing my lower back. “About what?”

“About what?” Scott snorted. “Dude, haven’t you been paying attention?”

“Uh, can’t say I have.” I glanced at Teagan, and she gave me that look that said she’d be getting answers out of me later. I muffled a cough. “So, what do I think about what?”

Scott clasped his fingers together and stretched his arms over his head. “Cal thinks he’s got a shot at Dawson.”

“Dawson?” I blinked. “As in, Marie Dawson?”

Cal went bright red.

Bianca patted his arm. “It’s worth a try. The worst she can do is say no.”

“No, that’s not the worst she can do.” Scott shoved a chip in his mouth. “The worst she can do is sleep with him.”

“How is that the worst she can do?” I asked.

“Um, duh.” Scott shrugged. “Because chicks like her tear off their mate’s head after copulating.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “You are one sick fuck, you know that, Scott?”

Teagan snorted. “Says the man who’s boning Cal’s mom.”

“I hate you both,” Cal grumbled.

“So, when critters like that rip off their mate’s head, do they do it right after sex?” Scott asked. “Or do they wait until they’ve, like, cuddled awhile?”

“I don’t think I’d cuddle with something that was going to tear my head off,” Teagan said.

“Could be worse.” Bianca nodded toward Cal. “You could be cuddling with Calvin.”

“Good point.”

“Hey!”

“Come on, guys,” I said. “Dawson’s not that bad.”

“How the fuck would you know?” Cal asked.

“Yeah.” Scott eyed me. “Have you been cheating on—”

“Dude, if you say it,” Cal warned, “I swear to God, I will stab you with a pencil.”

“Boys, boys.” I laughed. “Settle down.”

“Dorks,” Bianca muttered.