just
not sure I want to this time.”
“Why not? Because Scout’s there? He’s seen
your little white hiney before. So what’s the big deal? Plus you do
about the most half-assed skinny-dipping on this side of the
planet. You never take off your shirt. The rest of us sit there all
high-headlights and you just keep your bra and shirt on. What fun
is that?”
“That’s my business and you know it. You’re
so nosy tonight. Jesus. Just back off. You’re making me even more
nervous.”
“I’m sorry, love muffin. I’m not meaning to
do that. Want another beer? Might help settle your nerves. Or maybe
a shot or a lobotomy?”
“A beer. I think just a beer. No wait…a
shot. No…agh. Just get me something, I can’t even decide this. Just
be my friend and help me.”
“Beer, shot, and full strip lobotomy coming
right up! Lean on me tonight, okay? If you need me to distract
Scout or Creed, I can do it. I’ll just shake my moneymakers at
them, or whatever else you need.”
“God knows I can count on you, Rox. You and
your cans are always there for me. Thank you.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
SCOUT
I haven’t seen Tess all week and now,
walking into my bar, seeing her with Rox, makes my heart hammer. I
have a little guilt about Liberty coming into town with all that’s
gone on with Tess, but not enough for it to cause me any regrets.
Tess has made no mention of our newfound intimacy in any form. No
texts, no calls, nothing. I told her, ball’s in her court. No
pressure. Even though I feel like I have boulder on my shoulders.
So maybe it’s just status quo? Maybe we really are just back to
being best friends. The problem is, her wedding day is creeping up
on us and if she does or says nothing, then I guess that’s how this
thing’s gonna shake out. For the record, it makes me nuts.
The only beacon of clarity I’ve been able to
put my finger on over the last few days is that my relationship
with Liberty is over. I’m ending it. I won’t even fuck her tonight.
I hope to hell that’s the plan with Tess and Creed. I want to tell
her, Please don’t, Tess…please don’t fuck your fiancé . What
kind of a best friend says that? You see…I can’t do that to her. I
can’t tell her not to sleep with her fiancé. Can I? Too cruel?
“Well, look at you two beautiful girls
starting the party early. You guys are like chum sitting here all
gorgeous and ready for the bottom feeders.”
“Looks like we caught one! Hurry, Tess, sink
the hook.”
“Rox, I can always count on you, now can’t
I? Where the hell is Striker? I told him to get his ass here early
tonight.”
“He’s here. He’s in the back just tweaking
the equipment, but we’re pretty much good to go. Everything looks
great, and I have a little special surprise for you,” Tess says
with a wink.
Please tell me the surprise is that she is
dumping Creed. Please—even though I never pray, be good to me,
God—let those be the words she speaks.
“Do tell…or are you just going to tease me?”
She looks unbelievably gorgeous tonight. And I can’t help but
wonder if she looks this way because Creed is coming to town or
because of our lip-locking. She went a little further tonight: a
few more curls in her hair, a bit more shadow on her eyes…just
little things that I notice.
“Come with me.” She hops off her bar stool,
stumbling a tiny bit into me. That would be the five-inch heels
paired with the line-up of empty shots on the bar, I would
imagine.
“Steady, girl…you okay?” I grab her around
the waist to help her find balance, just happy as hell to be
touching her.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m a little nervous tonight.
Rox has been plying me with some extra happy juice.”
She grabs my hand and leads me to the back
room, where we manage our technology for the holographic concerts.
We walk into a crew of five guys tweaking stuff, getting ready for
tonight’s show. She takes me straight past them into the back booth
where we do previews. It’s
not sure I want to this time.”
“Why not? Because Scout’s there? He’s seen
your little white hiney before. So what’s the big deal? Plus you do
about the most half-assed skinny-dipping on this side of the
planet. You never take off your shirt. The rest of us sit there all
high-headlights and you just keep your bra and shirt on. What fun
is that?”
“That’s my business and you know it. You’re
so nosy tonight. Jesus. Just back off. You’re making me even more
nervous.”
“I’m sorry, love muffin. I’m not meaning to
do that. Want another beer? Might help settle your nerves. Or maybe
a shot or a lobotomy?”
“A beer. I think just a beer. No wait…a
shot. No…agh. Just get me something, I can’t even decide this. Just
be my friend and help me.”
“Beer, shot, and full strip lobotomy coming
right up! Lean on me tonight, okay? If you need me to distract
Scout or Creed, I can do it. I’ll just shake my moneymakers at
them, or whatever else you need.”
“God knows I can count on you, Rox. You and
your cans are always there for me. Thank you.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
SCOUT
I haven’t seen Tess all week and now,
walking into my bar, seeing her with Rox, makes my heart hammer. I
have a little guilt about Liberty coming into town with all that’s
gone on with Tess, but not enough for it to cause me any regrets.
Tess has made no mention of our newfound intimacy in any form. No
texts, no calls, nothing. I told her, ball’s in her court. No
pressure. Even though I feel like I have boulder on my shoulders.
So maybe it’s just status quo? Maybe we really are just back to
being best friends. The problem is, her wedding day is creeping up
on us and if she does or says nothing, then I guess that’s how this
thing’s gonna shake out. For the record, it makes me nuts.
The only beacon of clarity I’ve been able to
put my finger on over the last few days is that my relationship
with Liberty is over. I’m ending it. I won’t even fuck her tonight.
I hope to hell that’s the plan with Tess and Creed. I want to tell
her, Please don’t, Tess…please don’t fuck your fiancé . What
kind of a best friend says that? You see…I can’t do that to her. I
can’t tell her not to sleep with her fiancé. Can I? Too cruel?
“Well, look at you two beautiful girls
starting the party early. You guys are like chum sitting here all
gorgeous and ready for the bottom feeders.”
“Looks like we caught one! Hurry, Tess, sink
the hook.”
“Rox, I can always count on you, now can’t
I? Where the hell is Striker? I told him to get his ass here early
tonight.”
“He’s here. He’s in the back just tweaking
the equipment, but we’re pretty much good to go. Everything looks
great, and I have a little special surprise for you,” Tess says
with a wink.
Please tell me the surprise is that she is
dumping Creed. Please—even though I never pray, be good to me,
God—let those be the words she speaks.
“Do tell…or are you just going to tease me?”
She looks unbelievably gorgeous tonight. And I can’t help but
wonder if she looks this way because Creed is coming to town or
because of our lip-locking. She went a little further tonight: a
few more curls in her hair, a bit more shadow on her eyes…just
little things that I notice.
“Come with me.” She hops off her bar stool,
stumbling a tiny bit into me. That would be the five-inch heels
paired with the line-up of empty shots on the bar, I would
imagine.
“Steady, girl…you okay?” I grab her around
the waist to help her find balance, just happy as hell to be
touching her.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m a little nervous tonight.
Rox has been plying me with some extra happy juice.”
She grabs my hand and leads me to the back
room, where we manage our technology for the holographic concerts.
We walk into a crew of five guys tweaking stuff, getting ready for
tonight’s show. She takes me straight past them into the back booth
where we do previews. It’s
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