“Fuck that. Out with it, Gunny,” Fig says. “I know what I saw that day. Don’t tell me you haven’t fucked the doc yet.”
“Keep your voice down,” I hiss. “First of all, as far as anyone knows, Iamfucking her since we’re supposed to be dating. You questioning it in public doesn’t help.”
Fig presses his lips together, conceding the point. “Fine,” he says, his voice lower. “But something tells me the two of you have taken the ruse farther than you need to.”
I wave my bottle dismissively at him. “You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say before I take a sip.
“Bullshit,” he counters. He turns his attention to Kelsier, who’s a little too late hiding the faint smile turning up his lips. “Spill it, Kels. What do you know?”
Kelsier holds up his hands. “Don’t look at me. Gunny and I don’t kiss and tell. I have no idea where his dick’s been, and I prefer it that way.”
Fig throws up a frustrated hand. “You’re both full of shit. Mack, whatdo you think?”
Mack rests his chin on his hand and strokes it like he’s contemplating me. His eyes narrow as I raise a brow at him.
“Oh yeah, he’s definitely fucked her,” Mack says, leaning back. “We just need to find out when so we know who won the pool.”
I growl at him. “Both of you need to get laid yourselves and stop worrying about my love life…or lack thereof,” I add when Fig looks like he’s about to ‘Gotcha’ me.
“Ask and the universe provides,” Mack says, and I look toward the door of the bar where his attention is now.
Several women, all dressed in tight clothes and done up like Barbies, just walked in. They take in the tables of hockey players sitting around the place and whisper to each other.
I groan inwardly. Bunnies.
Don’t get me wrong. In my rookie season, plus a few after that, the arrival of bunnies always got me going. As I look around the bar, in fact, our current crop of new bloods seems to sit up straighter and look toward the women.
The last few years, though, the allure of taking a random stranger to bed has lost its luster. I’m not sure when the hell I became an adult and started wanting a relationship instead, but that shit snuck up on me.
I pull out my phone, wanting nothing more than to text chat with Gray. Well, really I want to see her, but this is the best I can have for now.
Ash
You going to sleep soon?
I don’t want to keep her up if she’s tired, but I just need a little more of her before I let go for the night.
Gray
Just finishing up my syllabus for next week. Almost done.
The woman really doesn’t stop working. In exchange for not teaching her large lecture class this spring, her department head roped her into teaching a short winter session class, so instead of having most of Januaryoff like usual, Gray starts teaching again next week.
Gray
How about you?
I feel guilty for being out while she’s home working, but I type out a response.
Ash
At a bar with the guys celebrating the win. Not staying long.
Gray
Have a beer for me.
I smile and type out a reply.
