“I mean, how are we supposed to concentrate with all these spinners prancing around?” Fauxhawk smirks as Maddie once again folds herself in half, touching her feet to the bar.
I close my eyes and draw a steadying breath as anger blooms deep in my chest.
They’re not worth it…
“Then again, imagine all the kinky shit they can do in bed with that kind of flexibility,” he continues, gaze roving across the room. “I’d be down for some of that action.”
White-hot fury explodes behind my eyelids. “You know we can hear you, right, pendejo?”
The words are out before I can stop myself.
Fauxhawk’s smirk evaporates and a flush bleeds into his nose and cheeks. “What did you just call me?”
Hands trembling, I yank my earbuds out and stuff them in my pocket. “I said, we can hear you,pendejo.”
This time I emphasize the word, though I don’t provide an explanation.
Fauxhawk stalks forward, eyes narrowed, but before he can so much as utter a word, Parker appears.
Becauseof coursehe does.
The guy is like a bad freaking penny.
The kind with a disarming smile and chiseled jawline designed to lure you in with the promise of toe-curling orgasms he can’t actually deliver.
He plants a hand on fauxhawk’s chest, meeting the guy’s flat stare with one of his own. “Knock it the fuck off, Langley.”
Surprise washes over me and a laugh bubbles up from my stomach, bursting from my mouth. Because in what universe could DJ Parker ever be my hero?
6
PARKER
“What’s so funny?”Langley and I ask in unison.
It’s probably the first—and last—time the D-man and I will ever be on the same page. We might be teammates, but the guy’s a dick. And despite the she-devil’s low opinion of me, I wouldn’t wish Langley on my worst enemy.
“I can’t decide what’s worse,” she drawls, adjusting her ponytail. “The cliché sexist pig routine or the knight in tarnished armor.”
“Be nice.” Her friend drops from the rack, landing lightly on her feet before extending her hand to me. “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Maddie.” She nods at the blue-haired demon, who’s wearing a black tank top and shorts the same color as her hair. Shorts that reveal even more of her toned bronze legs than those damn Sailor Moon pajamas. “And this is Sutton.” She flashes me a knowing grin as her roommate huffs out a breath, sending a loose strand of cobalt hair flying. “Ignore the Addams vibes. She’s harmless. Totally warm and squishy on the inside.”
Just like a barracuda.
“DJ.” I shake her hand, because unlike the sh—Sutton, I’ve got manners. “But my friends call me Parker.”
“Nice to meet you, Parker.”
They pointedly ignore Langley, and I can’t say I blame them. I’d do the same if our positions were reversed. Which is why it’s time for him to get gone. “You done here?”
The D-man smirks. “I was just offering to help these ladies with the machines. Looked like they could use a little guidance.”
Sutton snorts. “Bullshit. The only thing you were offering was ten different kinds of sexual harassment.” She glares up at him, chin jutting out. “It’s like you’ve never even heard of Title IX or the #MeToo movement.”
Langley’s face goes blank and I know what’s coming before he even opens his mouth. “What the fuck is Title IX?”
Maddie rolls her eyes and Sutton shoots her atold you solook.
Jesus Christ. It’s too early for this shit.
