“Oh, they’ve been spending time together, Mick and Brenda.”Cassidy groaned as she sat down next to Audrey.“I wouldn’t call it dating, exactly… but mostly because I think David’s head would explode, and mine might, too.”
Yasmine’s eyes widened.
“Mick and Brenda?That’s… okay, you know, I was going to say I wouldn’t have guessed that, but when I take a second to think about it, it almost makes sense.”
“Which is probably why it’s driving my brother crazy,” Audrey said.“I’ll admit, I am trying really hard not to think about it.”
“Neither of them will confirm they’re doing anything other than spend time together, but Brenda keeps dropping sexual innuendoes, and when David flat-out asked Mick if he and Brenda have sex, Mick said—and I quote—‘a gentleman doesn’t fuck and tell’.”Cassidy dropped her head into her hands, and it was hard to tell if the sound she made was a laugh or a groan.
Maybe a little of both.
“Hence, the need for a break,” Claudia said.“Who needs a drink, and what do you want?”
After everyone had something to drink and Claudia had put out some snacks on the table for them to nibble on until the pizza got there, they went through the game options.Since there were four of them and Audrey was so tired, the other three agreed that Pandemic was the perfect option—the game play was still on the level they enjoyed, but since it was a cooperative game, they could give Audrey plenty of help and direction.
Which worked for her.
They got everything set up and had started playing when the first question came.
“So, Ashley said something about a video going viral?”Claudia glanced over at Audrey questioningly.
She told them the story of Rebecca, which also necessitated admitting to Claudia about Mason showing up and why she’d called him for rescue—as well as him chasing the guy down the street.Game play paused, then the pizza arrived, and they all listened while she went through the whole thing.She had to backtrack to the first note and how Mason had gotten involved, which made her nervous, considering who she was talking to.
She wasn’t wrong to be.
“I had no idea!”Cassidy frowned.“I can’t keep this from David, can I?”
“Sure, you can,” Audrey said immediately.“Please?I don’t want to bother him.Mason seems to have it handled.And David’s already stressed out enough between work and now Grandma and Mick.”
“Well, there is that.”But Cassidy still looked conflicted.“I don’t know if I can lie to him, though.Especially if Audrey is in danger.”
“We don’t know that she really is yet.Though granted, the notes aren’t good, but they’re also just notes.You don’t have to lie to him, just don’t say anything unless he brings it up,” Claudia advised.“Audrey’s not wrong, he does have a lot going on right now.Mason is a good person to take point on it—he’s who David would assign to do it if he couldn’t handle it himself, and right now, he doesn’t have the time to, so we’re just skipping a step—and now that I know, I can help, too.”
“What’s going on with work?If you can tell me.”Yasmine’s expression was hard to read, even though Audrey was desperate to, especially after admitting that Mason was helping her.She was very blank, so Audrey couldn’t tell if she was upset.She didn’t seem outwardly disapproving or anything, but that wasn’t exactly the same thing as approving.
“Devlin again.You remember Zeus’ girlfriend, Noelle?”
“Sort of.I only know what I’ve heard; I haven’t actually met either of them.”
“Well, I’ll have to get you a picture of Noelle, so you know who to avoid.She was cheating on him with Devlin, and Zeus found out at a meeting on Monday.That or he’s been working with Devlin, and she was the go-between, and he got outed on Monday.It’s kind of hard to tell which it is.”
Yasmine’s mouth dropped open in shock.Even that looked pretty on her.
“Wow… okay…” She said the words slowly, as if she was trying to think of what to say and coming up with nothing.Audrey could relate.
“So, either he’s spying on us and reporting back to Devlin, or Devlin’s been banging his girlfriend, so we’ll think Zeus is spying on us, or it’s just an incredibly wild coincidence that Devlin happens to have been banging Zeus’ girlfriend.”
“And on top of that, David’s worried that Jensen’s brother is doing filthy things to his grandmother.”Claudia snickered when both Cassidy and Audrey groaned.
“Did you have to phrase it like that?”Audrey asked plaintively.
“Yes.It’s funnier that way.”
“Maybe to you.”Cassidy scowled at her, but she was fighting a smile.
“It’s a good thing Mick isn’t a member of the Outlands,” Yasmine said.“I could see him bringing Brenda there just for the shock value—hers and David’s.And Audrey’s, if she’s there.”
“Oh.My.God.”Audrey covered her face with her hands.“The last place I want to see my grandmother is a kink club.”
