“He ever talk for himself?”
I glance back at Ziggy to see if he wants to take this one, but he’s got his back to us, so I go with the same excuse as last time. “He’s shy.”
“Shy?” The guy laughs. “Not hard to say hello though, is it?”
How am I supposed to know what’s easy and what’s hard? I’m not in Ziggy’s head. From what I’ve seen though, saying helloishard for him, and this guy is talking about something he doesn’t know anything about. “Apparently, it is.”
“Good thing you’re easy to talk to.” The guy steps up to me with a cocky smile. “Maybe we should go a round. More level playing field, if you know what I mean.” He lets the words stretch between us, and I pick up on the suggestion in his tone, while one of his friends snickers behind him. “At … pool. Of course.”
“Of course.” It’s tempting. To take himat pool. While he’s attractive in a blue-collar way, I’m not exactly thrilled with the way he dismissed Ziggy so easily. I’m sure I could hand this guy his ass since I rarely miss a shot. My jaw is tight as I continue, intending to turn and fill Ziggy in on my plan. “Let me finish up here first.”
But almost as soon as I say that, the loudclackof a pool cue hitting the table comes from behind me. I turn in time to see Ziggy storming through the bar.
“What’s his problem?” someone asks, but I don’t stick around to answer.
Watching him disappear has dread seeping through me. I go after him.
Was I doing it again? Was I ignoring him?
Fuck, fuck,fuck.
I’m knocked off center as a thousand excuses fly through my head. Ziggy’s made it clear before how he feels to be left out, and instead of listening, I did it again. The worst part is that I didn’t do it consciously. I got so caught up in the moment, and it’s not like I wasn’t thinking of him—I was, that’s part of the problem—but he had no way to know that. He had no way to know that I was only agreeing to play against that guy for some misplaced sense of Ziggy’s honor.
For all he knew, I was agreeing to ditch him.
I’m the worst friend in history.
And still, I know that this gripping panic at upsetting him isn’t exactly normal friend behavior.
I burst out of the bar and stagger toward the parking lot, rain coming down over my head. It’s getting heavier, but as I blink through it, I can’t spot Ziggy, and the longer I go without seeing him, the higher my guilt creeps up my throat.
A hand closes over my shoulder, and I’m hauled backward under an awning. At first, I think it’s the guy dragging me back for more pool, but when my brain catches up with me, I turn and find Ziggy. He’s all narrowed eyes and pouty lips, the darkness creeping over his features. He’s still dry, despite the rain coming down only inches away from us.
“I’m sorry,” explodes out. “I know I’ve said that a million times before, and I’m sorry I have to keep saying sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you in there, and when he started giving you attitude, I wanted to put him in his place. I know that’s not an excuse, but?—”
With a loud huff, Ziggy closes his hands over the front of my shirt, and he hauls me closer.
I’m expecting a punch, but what happens next rattles me even more than that.
Ziggy’s mouth slams against mine.
Pleasant surprise shoots through every limb. His lips are soft and at complete odds with the two tiny metal bars digging into my chin. There’s a whole moment where we’re both completely frozen, and then my brain goes offline.
I cradle his face and press forward, tongue sweeping into his waiting mouth. I’m freezing from the rain, but his mouth is hot and delicious, and when my tongue brushes something unexpected, the excitement shoots straight to my cock.
He’s got a tongue piercing?
Which leads to my next question:
Does he have any other secret piercings?
The groan that slips from me is out of my control, and Ziggy answers it with a shaky inhale. He’s kissing me back like it’s the first meal he’s ever had, and I’m happy to meet his enthusiasm.
I’m happy to kiss him back.
To keep kissing him.
I had no idea he had this in him, and I’m sure I’m supposed to stop it, but I can’t.
