“You’re hornier than any man I know, surely there were a few wild nights?”
I lock gazes with him. “Nope. I always knew the men I was with. I could never bring myself to just randomly sleep with people, the whole idea of it freaks me out.”
He raises his brows.
I thump him again.
“Okay, well, tell me another funny story then, since you’re so frigid.”
I shake my head. “I’m not frigid. Tosser.”
He winks at me. “Come on, besties have to share these things.”
“I didn’t know there was a Bestie rule book,” I throw back sarcastically.
“There is now. Rule number one, besties have to share these things.”
I think about it for a moment or two, trying to remember something funny.
“Oh, I have one!” I grin.
“Share, woman!”
I scoff and he rolls, catching my leg between his and somehow pulling me closer so we’re face to face. “Okay,” I say, my heart pounding. “It’s not my sex story, because, I’m so good and all, but it is a friend’s.”
He squeezes my leg with his, urging me on.
“Okay, pushy,” I huff. “So anyway, she went into the room to give this guy a blow job one night. They were in there for ages. Anyway, she came out and I swear to shit, she had a pubic hair stuck between her front teeth.”
He starts chuckling.
“That’s not the worst of it.” I laugh. “The worst part is that nobody told her, the entire night.”
“Oh, my god, bitches!” He grins, winking at me.
“I know, poor girl wouldn’t talk to us for a week when she found out.”
“Don’t blame her.”
I put my arm up under my head and stare at him.
He stares back.
“Why are you staring at me? It’s creepy.”
I snort with laughter. “My god, this friendship is hilarious.”
“We’ve discussed your stalker tendencies. Staring is one of them.”
“Fine, I won’t look at you, loser.”
He grins. “Go to sleep.”
“You’re staying?”
“Mmmmhmmmm.”
That sound. Hot.
“In my bed?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“Anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?”
“All the time.”
“Shhh,” he says, wrapping his arms around me and jerking me towards him so my face presses into his chest.
For a minute, I just lie there, not sure what to do, then I finally relax in his arms. He told me he wasn’t very affectionate, so I’m surprised by this gesture.
“I thought you didn’t cuddle,” I say.
“I’m cold,” he murmurs.
I stay there in his arms, it feels nice to have comfort after everything. He makes it feel natural, and not weird at all. My eyelids get heavy, and I exhale, relaxing further into him.
Then he starts snoring.
And I giggle in his arms.
Yep, this is the best.
CHAPTER 11
I walk into the compound and am immediately grabbed from behind. My legs swing off the ground, and I giggle as familiar hands wrap around my waist. Jack. Always Jack.
“Where have you been?” he asks, not putting me down. “Why haven’t you called? Molly. I swear. You’re being a terrible friend. What will I do?”
“God, you talk too much,” I say. “Now put me down.”
He puts me down, and I spin towards him. “I’m busy. Some of us have a life, you should try it sometime, oh wait, you’re too busy chasing a girl that doesn’t even like you.”
He slaps his chest. “Burned. You cut me real deep, Mol. Real deep.”
I shrug. “That’s what friends are for. Had anymore luck with the one you can’t obtain?”
He sighs and we fall into step beside each other, walking towards the clubhouse. “She’s still playing hard to get. That’s all it is now, a game. I just know it. I’ll win her over. My good looks and charm are sure to do the trick eventually.”
“Maybe ...” I point out waving a finger around. “Maybe she prefers pretty boys.”
Jack gasps. “Are you saying I’m not pretty?”
“You’re half pretty, bit girly if you ask me.”
He thumps me.
I grin. Jack is gorgeous, and he knows it. He knows I know it, too.
“Molly!”
I see Mercedes rushing towards me. She’s so pretty, with her long blond hair and those eyes that look just like her dad’s. Her father, Spike, is in a different club. It took a bit of adjusting, but she’s pretty much made herself at home here.
“Hey, Mercy!” I smile, waving to her.
She stops in front of me and looks up. “I haven’t seen you for ages! How are you?”
“I’m pretty good. You? How’s Diesel? Treating you well?”
She nods, cheeks flushing. “He always does.”
Jack makes a gagging noise.
“You shut up,” Mercy says to him, poking him in the chest. “At least I don’t have to stalk people to get love.”
Jack gapes at her; I burst out laughing.
“I thought we would be good as sibling in-laws, but you’re just a mean girl, Mercedes,” he says, crossing his arms.
She steps up to him, putting her arm around his waist and snuggling in. “You love me, bro.”
He rolls his eyes.
“I’ll leave you two to it, I’m going to find Mom.”
I walk inside the club house and do my usual wave to everyone lazing about. I walk into the kitchen, where I know all the ladies will be preparing for the cookout tonight. I’m right, my mom, Ash—who is Phoenix and Quinn’s mom; Jaylah—Jack and Diesel’s mom; and Pippa—Kaylee’s mom—are all standing, yabbering as they prepare salads.
“Ladies,” I say, walking in.
They all stop talking and look to me.
“Good golly, miss Molly,” Jaylah sings. “You look radiant.”
I shake my head with a soft laugh. “Only you could come up with something so incredible, Jaylah.”
She shrugs. “What can I say? I’m a genius.”
“She’s right, though,” Ash says, studying me. “You look really happy. What’s happened?”
“Is it a boy?” Mom says, eyes getting wide.
“Tell us,” Jaylah continues.
“Tell us now,” Ash demands.
“Tell us if you want,” Pippa says softly, always the soft, quiet spoken one.
“No, Pippi,” Mom says fondly to her little sister. “No, she must tell us. There are no options here.”
I laugh and slide my backside onto the kitchen counter.
“That’s nasty, I hope those pants are clean,” Mom says, smacking my leg as she walks past.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Tell us!” Jaylah cries. “The anticipation is killing me.”
“There’s nothing,” I say, throwing a hand up. “Seriously.”
“There’s a man, isn’t there?” Ash questions, staring at me through her lashes, studying me.
“He’s just a friend.”
They all squeal in unison.
“They’re never just friends, honey,” Mom points out.
“That’s not true,” Pippa adds. “Boys and girls can be friends all the time.”
“Thank you,” I say to Pippa, with a smile.
“Blah blah,” Jaylah waves. “Continue. Who is this man? What’s his name? How old is he? Is he hot? Does he ride a bike?”
I throw my hands up. “Okay, chill, I’ll tell you. His name is Roman, he’s a friend I met recently, yes he’s hot, and yes he rides a bike.”
“Tell me,” Ash says, crunching on a carrot. “How does one simply be friends with a male?”
I shrug. “I don’t know, we just are. It’s hard to explain, but we really do just get along so well. We met and it was never weird, we just clicked. It’s like I’ve known him foreve
r. He’s going through a really hard break up.”
“Poor guy,” Pippa says, frowning. “Is the girl awful?”
I nod. “She can be. It sucks.”
“Girls,” Mom huffs. “Bitches.”
“Totally.” Jaylah nods.
“Mmmmmhmmmm,” Ash agrees.
“Who’s a bitch?”
We turn and see Dad and Mack coming into the room, holding trays of burgers for later.
“Women,” Jaylah says, smiling at Mack.
“True,” he agrees.
She flips him the bird.
I giggle.
I love their relationship. They’re the one couple I know that have something different. She drives him crazy, she talks way too much, she’s loud and sometimes annoying, but he adores her. He’s broody and quiet, a man that likes time alone, so they’re an odd match, yet they seem to work together perfectly.
“Who’s being a bitch then?” Dad asks, coming over and winking at me as he passes to put the meat on the counter.
“Her new flame’s ex,” Ash says, wiggling her brows.
My dad shoots a look at me. “Pardon?”
I sigh. “He’s a friend. Stop stirring the pot, Ash.”
She laughs.
“Do I need to meet this man?” Dad asks, crossing his arms. When he does that, it makes him look massive, and scary.
“No,” I grin at him. “I’m going to find the others. Carry on.”
“This conversation isn’t over, girl,” Dad calls as I leave the kitchen.
“Love you, Daddy!”
I disappear down the hall to the room we all set up when we were growing up. It has televisions, a pool table, a few sofas, some video games, it’s basically teenager haven. We all used to spend so much time in here during our teen years. When we have cookouts, we still all come in here.
“Yo!” I call, walking through the door.
Phoenix and Quinn are head to head playing a video game, Kaylee is on the couch reading a book, and Matilda is sitting on Jack’s lap, poking his ear while he whines excessively at her. Just the norm.
“Molly, what up?” Quinn calls, not moving his eyes from the television.
“Not much, Quinn.”
“Molly!” Jack yells. “Get your feral sister off me. She’s trying to put her filthy, dirty, nasty little wet finger in my ear.”
“You’re on your own there, bro.”
“I thought we were friends!” he cries as Matilda rams her finger in his ear again.
I laugh and sit down beside Kaylee. “Hey, chicky, how’s it going?”
She closes her book and smiles. “It’s going good, how are you?”
“Not too bad, been busy with work.”
“And a new boy, I hear.”
“Matilda!” I call. “Have you been telling them all about Roman?”
“Yes,” she says, her voice strained as she tries to fight Jack by slapping his hands away as he tries to protect himself and his poor ears.
“I’m so glad you can keep a secret.”
Quinn and Phoenix put the remotes down and stand, coming over and flopping down beside me on the couch. Matilda finally lets go of poor Jack and scurries over.
“So,” Quinn says. “Tell us everything.”
“Don’t leave a single thing out,” Phoenix adds.
With a shrug, I tell them everything.
And I don’t leave anything out.
~*~*~*~
“You’re such a tool, Maddox!” Ash says, flinging a bean across the fire at him.
My dad catches it with a grin and shoves it in his mouth. “And you love it, woman.”
“I do not love it. If Santana wasn’t my best friend in the whole wide world, I’d knock that grin clean off your face.”
“Knock it off,” Mom adds. “Seriously, I’m fine with it. I’ve been wanting to do it for years.”
My dad turns and gives her a grin so predatory even I shuffle backwards, then he hooks an arm around her waist and hauls her onto his lap. Then he leans in and bites her neck. She giggles, then squeals, before they get into a pretty intense kiss.
“Gross,” I mutter, turning to Matilda, who is looking away now, too.
“Why must they torture us with their public displays of affection?” she groans. “It’s seriously gag worthy.”
I snort. “So is watching you with Calvvvvvvin.”
She flushes and nods. “I told him that’s what you guys call him. He thought it was pretty cool.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course he did, the tosser.”
She slaps me. “He’s not a tosser!”
I nod, pursing my lips. “Total tossbag.”
“I hate you.”
“Yes, well, it’s my job to be honest with you, sissy.”
She huffs. “Soooooooo.”
“Sooooo, what?”
She wiggles her brows. “You and Roman after we left the other night?”
“Nothing happened.”
“Pffft, as if.”
“It didn’t.”
“You two did fuck me eyes.”
“We did not!”
“Did so, right there across the table, fuck me eyes. I saw them.”
I shake my head, grinning. “We did not give each other fuck me eyes. Those were just our eyes, it’s not our fault it looks like fuck me eyes.”
“That was a lot of words, because you know it’s true, fuck me eyes were happening. Just do it. Get it out. Ride the pony.”
I wheeze and lean over, laughing so hard I have to grab my belly. “Do not ever use that statement again in your life.”
“Why? You’re single. He’s single. Ride the fuck out of him.”
“Oh, my god, seriously, stop!”
“Just saddle up and go to town, sister!”
I turn and slap her arm. She’s laughing, too. Her eyes bright.
“You’re a terrible sister.”
“What are you two laughing about?” Mack asks. “Looks devious, like you’re up to no good.”
“They’re talking about riding ponies,” Jack points out, and I turn, gaping at him. He’s grinning at me, then he winks. The asshole.
“What ponies?” Krypt asks, brows going up.
“Yeah, what ponies?” Dad says, narrowing his eyes.
“Normal ponies,” I splutter. “Normal, fluffy, pretty ponies.”
“Oh, my god, she’s totally talking about dick,” Phoenix yells, laughing boisterously.
“Phoenix!” Matilda and I say at the same time.
“There better not be any fuckin’ cock riding,” Dad growls, blue eyes flashing.
“Calm down, Father,” Matilda says, waving a hand, but her cheeks are red. “Phoenix is just stirring the pot. There will be no riding of any—” she does air quotes “—‘ponies’.”
“Good—” Dad begins.
“In the next twenty-four hours,” she finishes.
Everyone bursts out laughing, everyone except my father.
He’s giving us both a death stare.
God love him.
CHAPTER 12
I stare at the message, and my heart flutters.
It’s been so long since anyone has said those words to me. Roman doesn’t come across as someone who would say something like that easily, and he really doesn’t seem like the type to use them to just get a girl to do what he wants. With a stupid, goofy smile on my face, I stare at the message again.
R – Hey beautiful.
My heart pounds as I respond.
M – Hey spunky.
R – How’s your day?
M – Boring! How’s work?
R – Boring! What have you been up to?
M – I went to a cookout the other night, but otherwise I’ve just been here, living a lonely life, with no friends and no love.
R – I’m sure you can get plenty of love.
M – Of course. I’m on Tinder. I’m thinking that’ll work out for me.
R – Get off there.
I grin and my heart swe
lls.
M – Yes boss. I saw you on there.
R – Yeah, it’s shit. Had to see what was out there.
M – You’ll be murdered. And that’ll make me really sad because then who will I stalk? Don’t you watch the news?
R – I watch the news. I’ll probably get stabbed.
M – Oh, you’re getting stabbed. Totally stabbed.
R – It’ll be right as I’m about to finish screwing some random I found on there.
M – Right as you’re about to Spoof.
I giggle at the word.
R – Spoof! How funny is that word? Just look at it. Really look at it. Spoof.
R – Spoof.
R – Spoof.
I’m laughing hard as I respond.
M – Spoof.
R – Spoof.
M – Loser.
R – Spooser.
I lose it, dropping my phone and rolling around laughing. It takes me a good few minutes to get myself together enough to respond.
M – Omg. Spooser. Gold.
R – Funny hey!
M – So good!
My phone rings after that, and I glance down to see it’s Roman calling. I pick it up on the second ring and listen as his voice comes through the speaker.
“Hey,” he says, still sounding light from laughing.
“Hey, Spooser.”
He snorts. “Hey, Spoosie.”
I giggle. “That’s even better. How’s your day?”
“Shit. Long. Rather be at home.”
“Yeah, I feel you.”
“Why, do you miss me?” he jokes.
But the truth is, I do miss him this time around. It’s the first time I’ve felt lonely without him here. Our friendship is developing fast. We get along, we like each other, we laugh a lot and it just feels ... normal.
“Yeah, maybe, don’t let it get to your head,” I finally respond.
He chuckles. “Yeah. How’s your sister and Calvin?”
“Awesome, living life on the runway.”
“Perfect fuckers. It’s ridiculous.”
“Totally. How are you feeling? Things been good?”
“Yeah, okay. Haven’t heard much from her in the last week, so it’s good. She’s probably off getting fucked by that other dickhead.”
My heart twists, because I know how much that would hurt. There really aren’t many other feelings worse in the world, than thinking about someone you love in bed with another person. I can only imagine, and just imagining it makes my chest tighten with pain. It must feel terrible for him.