Chapter 21 Marietta
MARIETTA
Iknow the club is talking about me.
During the post-lunch meal, everybody’s looking at me.
The weather got warm again, and Betz thought it might help my case with Adam if I wore nothing but a red bandanna tied around my chest.
She seems to think I’m not sexy enough, and three times while we cut up meat and potatoes for the meal, she said maybe nobody would want to break my cherry anyhow, given I was twenty-six and nobody’s done it already.
But as we serve up the grilled steak and potato skewers, her words don’t cut me like they might have once. There’s not a pair of eyes that doesn’t skim me as I dump rolls into the basket on the kitchen island.
When Adam comes in, Chain pushes him my way. “Go on, boy. Just whip that top off and suck on those titties. You’ll be cock-deep in no time.”
Chain is quickly becoming my least favorite member of the Wild Hair.
Adam blushes fiercely, filling in the space between his red beard and hair. He’s about as cut out for the club as I am. No wonder they’re pushing us together.
Merrick isn’t far behind him. He catches my gaze, and every part of my body heats up. I need to get him alone and figure out where we stand on things. I don’t want to make him just stick it in me, but then, it might be helpful if we claimed each other.
It doesn’t have to be permanent. But the predicament will only get more intense the longer everyone thinks I’m giving myself to Adam.
Betz pulls on my arm to get out of the way. “Come on, then,” she says. “Don’t have the entire club ogling you.”
Fine words for her to say, given she made me wear this getup. We retreat to the living room.
It’s time for me to get some things straight. “So, if Adam does this thing you all want him to do, does that mean I’m not a house mouse anymore? Do I have to leave?”
“No,” she says. “If you two become a couple, you can stay and help around until you figure out if you’ll be his old lady. Just don’t become a bunny. Bunnies are toys, and they don’t live here.”
I’d asked about Adam, but I assumed the same would be true for Merrick. But Adam had moved into the club. That might make a difference.
“Would I sleep in his room?”
“Yeah,” Betz said, rolling her eyes like I’m thick as floor tile. “I’d think you’d want to. Those bunkhouse beds suck.”
“What if he moved out? Could I stay here?”
“You’d have to take that up with Iron Jack. It’s not typical for a mouse with a boyfriend outside of the clubhouse to live here. You wouldn’t be helping much, I figure, if you’re sleeping in his bed somewhere else.”
“I see.” So, I am stuck if I choose Merrick. I couldn’t just mess around with him. He’d have to take me in. Or I’d have to live somewhere else.
Unless they don’t know.
But letting them know would be the only way to get Adam to back off.
How did I get myself into this mess?
Maybe Merrick would move into the clubhouse for me? Then I could stay, too?
Despite the predicament, I don’t regret coming here. I’m going to talk to my graduate adviser soon about using the Wild Hair for my thesis.
And it has gotten me closer to Merrick. I wouldn’t have made any headway otherwise.
But now I’m stuck if I want him, particularly if I’m supposed to be with Adam.
And speaking of the redhead, he steps into the living room. “Thought I might eat with you.”
Betz jumps up from the sofa. “Step right up,” she says. “Do all the things. As soon as possible.”
I ignore her.
Adam sits next to me. “You’re not eating?”
“A mouse can’t eat until everyone else is done.”
He holds out his plate. “Good thing I got extra.”
Well, that’s sweet. I take one of the skewers. “Thank you.”
I slide the potato off the end. It’s well seasoned and savory. Sometimes Betz can pull off something decent.
Adam swallows a bite. “Do we always get fed this well?”
“Mostly. But sometimes it’s just sandwiches. Betz was feeling frisky in the kitchen today. I think it had to do with the way things went down on Wednesday.”
He nods. “I guess you know the next showdown is Thursday night.”
Of course, I didn’t. “Are you involved?”
“I’m to stay at the house to protect you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. They want to … to …” His face goes red again.
My body flashes hot with fear. I have no idea he’s trying to say. “They want to what?”
“Be the first. You know. First you’ve had.”
The blood drains from my face. “How do they even know about that?”
Adam shrugs. “It’s a novelty. It gets talked about.”
I don’t know what to do with the skewer in my hand. My appetite has totally fled. “Should I get it over with so they don’t have anything to take?”
His mouth goes still, mid-chew. He swallows. “You mean right now?”
Oh, God, he thinks I mean him. “No, no. I don’t know what I’m saying.” I can’t hold the skewer any longer, so I set it back on Adam’s plate.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” He reaches out like he might touch me but pulls back.
“Look, Merrick suggested we put the word out it had happened so they’d back off, but Iron Jack isn’t sure they will.
” He sets the plate on a side table. “I swear upon everything I have that I won’t let them harm you.
We’re taking action on Thursday, and they will surely back off.
A bunch of us will be here when that happens, just in case. ”
My stomach quivers. “What are you going to do?”
“Don’t worry about that part. Just know that the message will be sent. They’ll know not to mess with the Wild Hair.”
I pressed my hand to my chest. It seems to me that all we’re doing is escalating a conflict.
And somehow, it’s revolving around me.