Who Needs a Last Name Anyway?
Maisie
"Key parties?" Tessa said. "I think they were big in the seventies."
We were sitting side by side on the sofa, and yes, I was clutching a tiny little bottle. But who could blame me after that scene with Devon and Sierra?
Oh, and Griff.
In some ways, he was the star of the show, considering that Sierra couldn't take her eyes off him – well, when she wasn't clutching onto him, that is. The thought of it still made me want to throw something – but not the bottle, because it was still half-full.
I gave Tessa a perplexed look. "So how exactly do they work?"
"You seriously don't know?"
"Well, it's not like I've ever been to one." I took a big swig from my tiny bottle – something with vodka and a hint of lime. "Have you?"
"Oh, please," she scoffed. "Who do you think I am?"
"Well…you're someone who knows a lot more than I do."
She wrinkled her nose. "But not from experience."
"So?" I persisted. "How do they work?"
"Basically, you go to a party and toss your room key into a hat or whatever. Then the party guests pick a key at random and have sex with the key's owner."
I almost shuddered at the thought. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, but…" She hesitated. "I'm thinking they'd need separate hats for guys and girls, right?"
I considered the logistics. "Maybe only the girls put in their keys, and the guys pick."
Her expression turned thoughtful. "Or maybe the girls pick."
"Either way," I said. "You wouldn't want to jumble them all together." I gave a bitter laugh. "I mean…I'm not gonna sleep with Sierra."
"Speaking of which… you never said. What happened after they left?"
"Nothing," I said. "This college kid came in and rented Shark Bike, and that was that."
She stared like I'd just answered the wrong question. "Forget the bikes. What happened with Griff? Did you guys talk about it?"
The knot in my stomach tightened just a little. "I tried. But he was really standoffish."
"How so?"
"He was all quiet and tense, like he used to be, you know, back in the beginning. He said barely a dozen words all afternoon."
She gave me a penetrating look. "Is that why you're here with me instead of there with him?"
"I guess," I murmured. "I mean…at the end of the day, we just sort of went our separate ways." And then, there was the thing I didn't say. Griff had gone first, bolting like the place was on fire.
At the time, I'd tried to brush it off, but now, it was gnawing at me more than I wanted to admit.
I wasn't even sure why. After all, it shouldn't be a big deal. It wasn't like Griff and I had agreed to spend every evening together – even if this had become the pattern.
I was still mulling it over when Tessa said, "You do know, you can have him come here, right? I mean, this is your house."
I felt heat rise to my cheeks as I considered how many nights we'd gotten busy in the tent. "I know."
"But…?"
"Honestly? I wasn't sure you'd like it."
She smiled. "Trust me, it's fine. Like I said, it's your house."
"But that's not all," I admitted. "The truth is, it feels kind of funny having him come here when I have no idea where he's living."
"And you haven't asked?"
"Not really. I mean…I've hinted for information, but I haven't asked outright."
"Maybe you should."
I sank back against the cushions. "Maybe. But what if he won't tell me?"
She gave me a funny look. "Why wouldn't he?"
"I don't know. Maybe because he's private?"
Her eyes narrowed. "How private?"
"Well…if you want the truth, I'm not even sure of his last name."
She sat up straighter. "You can't be serious. Have you asked for his last name?"
I recalled my attempt to make his employment official. "Sort of. I mean, I asked him to fill out some paperwork once."
"And?"
I almost didn't want to say. When I replied, my voice came out oddly quiet. "And he refused."
"Oh." She frowned. "Well…that's not good."
I couldn't argue with that. So I didn't. Instead, I drained the bottle and excused myself to take a long, sudsy bath, hoping to wash away the sliminess of the day.
I soaked for a good, long time, but I never did feel quite clean – at least not when I considered the way Sierra had been eyeballing Griff, like she wouldn't mind stealing two guys in a row.
But then again, was Griff really mine to steal?