“No one hurt Phil!” I called as he pranced around, getting in the way.
“Watch it,” Kevin said and snatched Jasper flat against him before Jasper trod on Phil.
“Youwatch it,” Jasper said, throwing his arms around Kevin to stay upright.
“Are you boys done?” I asked.
“Nearly.” Jasper made another grab for his phone and got another handful of Kevin instead.
Kevin smacked him away.
“Oh my god,Kevin! I need to call Liam! Give me my phone! Charlie, tell him to give me my phone.”
Kevin looked over at me.
“Kevin, you can give Jasper his phone,” I said. “Jasper, you don’t need to call Liam. Kevin didn’t find a body.”
“You didn’t?” Jasper demanded. He and Kevin were still clutching each other.
“Uh…no?” Kevin extracted himself.
“Then what was that dramaticCharlie, I found somethingbusiness all about?”
Kevin blinked. “I found something to show Charlie,” he said, and gestured at the cardboard box. “How d’you go from that to a dead body?” It dawned on him, and he glared at Jasper. “I amnotKevin the Corpse Finder.”
“I didn’t say it.”
“You thought it.”
Jasper looked at me for help.
“You did say it, actually,” I reminded him. “About five seconds before Kevin came in.”
Kevin glowered.
Jasper eased back a step. “Would you look at the time?” he said. “I must be off. Things to do, places to be. Can I have my phone, please?”
Kevin slapped it onto his outstretched palm.
“Ouch. Okay. Thanks. Rain check on the gym, Kevin? Cool. See you on Monday, Charlie. Be good, Phil. Bye!” He rushed out of the kitchen.
Phil watched him go with a sad sigh and leaned against Kevin, who bent down and gave him a quick hug before straightening, speculative gaze on mine.
“Enjoyed that, did you?” he asked me. He picked up Phil’s front end, pivoted him around to face the back door, and patted his rump. “Go and check on your balls,” he said.
Phil obediently wandered out.
I swung my legs lightly. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Mm-hmm.” Kevin came over and inserted himself between my parted knees before gripping my thighs and dragging me to the very edge of the counter until we were plastered together. Bracing his fists either side of my hips, he leaned in, pressing his chest to mine and making me arch back. “What got you hot, huh? Me and Jasper having a tussle? Or me backing you up?”
Him and Jasper having a tussle. Definitely. “Six of one, half a dozen of the other.”
Kevin’s eyes gleamed. “Jasper doesn’t do it for me, you know.”
“That’s a relief.” I couldn’t exactly compete, if Jasper was his type. I lacked the height, the muscle, and the sweet nature.
Fortunately, Kevin was into shorter, grumpier, reluctant gym-goers such as myself.