“You girls want something?” Cade glances at me, his meaning clear.We down for this?
Last week I wouldn’t hesitate. Hell, last week I’d already be taking the brunette up on her unspoken offer because that’s my MO. Doesn’t matter whether I want the anonymous sex or not. It’s become a habit, and not even one I much care about anymore. The only reason I’m not making a move right now is because of Jas.
Jesus Christ. We’re not dating. I told her I wouldn’t be exclusive this week, and she didn’t give a shit.
I don’t owe her anything. Why am I even thinking about it?
The girls inch closer, and we spread out, giving them room to move in. The brunette squeezes herself between Zach and me, and the blonde wriggles next to Cade. He slings his arm around her shoulder, and she snuggles into him and takes a sip of his beer.
Gage leaves the redhead with Hawk. “Count me out,” he says, looking at me as the chick runs her finger over my leather.
“I’ve got my own redhead waiting for me at home.” Zach grins, and I give them both the finger.
“My name’s Lulu,” the chick whispers, going up on her toes and leaning into my space. Her breath tickles my jaw, and it’s annoying. “What’s yours?”
“Lulu,” I repeat, ignoring her question. I don’t give out my name to cheap little hookups. Now is a good time to wrap my arm around her, but I guess I’m in no hurry. “Pretty name.”
“Thanks.” She traces her finger over the tats on my hand and around the cuff of my shirt, and I involuntarily tighten my grip around the bottle. This chick has serious boundary problems. “Does your ink go all the way up your arm?”
Zach and Gage exchange a glance before tipping their bottles down their throat, probably to stop themselves from snorting with laughter. Strange, I don’t feel like laughing at all.
“What do you think?” I take another pull of my beer and fight the urge to snatch my hand away from her. She doesn’t get the message and keeps on stroking my wrist.
She’s hot, and I’ve always had a thing for dark-haired chicks, but she’s nothing classy like Jas.
I swallow a groan before it escapes, and finish my beer. It’s like I’m sixteen again, and committed to the only girl I’d ever really wanted. Despite all the girls who threw themselves at me, whether inside the club or not, there was never any possibility I’d cheat on Jas. Not even for that first torturous year when the most we ever did was fool around.
Doesn’t matter what I tell myself. I’m not going to screw this chick tonight. I place the bottle on the bar and remove her hand from my wrist.
“Go play with the others,” I tell her, and her mouth drops open like she can’t believe I’m turning her down. Cade beckons her over, and I shift along the bar to give him more room.
It’s only then I notice the identical smirks on Zach and Gage’s faces.
“Fuck you,” I tell them.
“Told you,” Gage says to his brother.
Zach gives me a penetrating look that pisses me off. “Heard Jas is back in town.”
“Kelly died.” I know that won’t shut them up, though.
“Yeah, I heard.” Zach rolls his shoulders, and for a second I think I’ve dodged a bullet. “And you’ve hooked up with Jas while she’s here.”
There’s more behind his comment than an obvious observation. Zach knows me too well, and when it comes to Jas, he knows way too much. I should keep cool and shrug it off, but I can’t because, when it comes to Jas, everything’s raw and fucked up and I’ve no idea where the hell I’m going with it. “Why not? She’s up for it.”
“Sure, bro.” Zach’s not smiling anymore. “But she’s still Jas. You sorting your shit out?”
“Nothing to sort.”
“Okay.” He takes a long swallow of beer, but I’m not fooled. He doesn’t believe a word.
It shouldn’t bug me, but I don’t like anyone making assumptions when it involves Jas. Fuck it, what am I thinking? It’s been ten years since anyone assumed anything about her, but it’s like all the old anger is still festering just beneath the surface.
Except I was never pissed with Zach. He treated her like my old lady right from the start, before we became prospects, because even if she was only fourteen, she wasmine.
She’s still mine.
…
