Chapter 6 #2
He’s glaring at Jonesy like he wants to kill him and I have to say, it does everything for my libido.
“Call her hot stuff again, Prospect, and I’ll add your molars to my collection.” Then he grins, a demented, demonic, very dangerous grin, and I just know he isn’t posturing. He means every word.
“Can I watch?” I keep my face neutral, batting my lashes with faux-innocence. It makes him laugh again and he wraps an arm around my shoulder, hugging me into him.
Oh, God…bad move. He still smells delicious, he’s so warm, and my nipples could cut glass right now.
“You’ve found one as demented as you, Grinder.
One from across the pond, like me.” The birthday boy is laughing and it pulls me from my lustful stupor.
“Nice to meet you, Parker. Sledge.” He tilts his head and his beer as a way of greeting.
“And you’ve got me next. Seeing as Jonesy can’t take a fuckin’ punch. Pussyhole.”
“She’s a catch. Found her covered in blood in an alley and the rest is history.” Grinder pulls me into him again, like he’s proud to show me off, and I’m just mortified.
“How was she covered in blood when you found her?” The dude with hair longer than mine leans against the pool table and takes a gulp of his beer. Pretty sure his name is Boner. I’ve seen him a few times now.
He’s looking at me differently than before, with suspicion, and I get the impression he doesn’t trust me.
“Fuck it. It was me. I killed the dude. There. I said it.” I wave my hands out to the sides, like what are ya gonna do? I appreciate Grinder ready to take the hit for me, but I’m not about miscommunication and lies being spread causing problems.
Instead of the judgement I fully expect, they all laugh.
“I fucking knew it!” Boner shakes his head and stands upright, holding out his palm. “Well done, Parker.”
I shake his hand, a little taken aback, but okay…!
“I er…” I clear my throat. “Has someone got a beer, please?” The tequila isn’t working.
“Jonesy, get Little Miss Stabby a fresh beer.” He follows Grinder’s order without a second thought.
“You have to stop calling me that. I’m trying to make a good first impression here.” I glare up at him and fist my hands on my hips.
“You already did that last night, but we can make some impressions in the pool table of our bodies if you wanna make a new one?” Biting his damn lip, Grinder grins.
“If I wanted to fuck someone in front of my brother, I would be getting paid a fuck load of money for it.” Ah shit.
“Brother?” Grinder’s brows are raised, amusement dancing in his eyes. He isn’t even shocked. Did he figure it out already?
“You know, don’t you? And you’re still trying to get in my pants?” Maybe they don’t have the ‘don’t fuck my sister’ rule thing here?
“Yes, and always. You wanna tell him or shall I?” He gestures with his head toward the others around the pool table.
“You’re such a wanker.” Sighing, I turn and face my brother, whose brows are furrowed in confusion. “Rainer West?”
His eyes widen and he flinches backward.
“I’ll take that as a yeah. Hi, nice to meet you. Mum’s dead and I’m your little sister. Surprise!” I can’t stop myself from doing jazz hands as I practically sing the word surprise.
“Well shit. Happy fucking birthday to me?”
Maybe I should have left the dead mum part out of it for now. “Sorry?” I squint and scrunch up my face, unsure how he’s taking this because I obviously don’t know him well enough to figure him out yet. He’s just staring into space, and I think he’s angry?
“This isn’t awkward at all.” Trust Grinder to break the silence, but I like that about him. He’s unafraid to do and say exactly what’s on his mind. At least, that’s the impression I have thus far.
As if the world is closing in on me, my socializing tank quickly empties the longer I wait for a happy sibling moment, and the joy I was expecting is completely non-existent.
“Where’s the loo?” I’m not asking anyone in particular.
“You’re lucky we’ve known Sledge for long enough to understand what the fuck a loo is. Just through the doors at the entrance. Need a hand?” Grinder hugs me into him again and I discreetly breathe him in.
“Thanks.” I duck from his hold and beeline for the entrance, only looking back at the pool table as I’m about to go through the door. Both Sledge and Grinder are staring at me. One with disbelief and…sadness? The other with clear intentions to rock my world.
I can’t have one, and the other doesn’t want me. Therefore…I am fucked. This whole trip has been a bust.
Sighing, I leave the party and ignore the bathrooms, heading into the main part of the building and up the stairs. I didn’t unpack, anticipating the reaction to my little secret wouldn’t be taken well, so it only takes a few seconds to zip up my case, grab my backpack, and leave the room.
If I slip out quietly, I can pretend I’m not leaving behind the only family I have—who clearly doesn’t want me—and the only man who’s ever seen me for me without running away screaming.
I can pretend that the last twenty-four hours were just a wild dream that could never last. Because how could it?
Okay, I’m being dramatic. I just need to give him some space to process. It’s his birthday and I clearly have impeccably bad timing. I am not the amazing birthday surprise I thought I was and that’s fine.
I’m standing outside now, my suitcase sitting beside me. Do I stay or do I go?
Wander the streets all night or hibernate in the bedroom these people were kind enough to let me stay in?
If nothing else, I’m terrible at decision making, but I’m persistent, too.
The streets it is.
I’ll come back tomorrow and try again.