The music vibrates from the speakers but just loud enough we can still hear each other talk.
Lucy leans forward glancing back at the pool tables. “So, how’s the sexy, muscled, tattooed brigade going?”
Tequila chuckles and I choke on my drink.
“It’s actually criminal how hot they are,” I find myself confessing as I bite my straw with a smirk glancing at Liem who looks sexy as fuck in his jeans and plain shirt.
Lucy snorts, casting a hard look at them. “Too bad they’re just men who think with their dicks.”
“Hey.” Tequila raises a finger. “Speak for yourself.”
“I love you, T. But there was a time Throttle stuck his penis in every hang-around at the club.”
I pause, waiting for Tequila’s reaction while Lucy’s face washes over with remorse.
“Shit. I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I’ve just been a bitter bitch lately.”
Tequila throws her a soft smile. “What happened between you and Tank?” she asks Lucy, and I wait in bated breath playing with my straw. Apparently, there’s history there.
She sighs, letting her elbows bear the weight of her shoulders. “Nothing. There has to be something goingonfor something to happen.” Lucy snags a towel, aggressively scrubbing a clean spot.
“Don’t want to talk about it. Hint taken.” Tequila eyeballs me and I take a sip, not knowing if I should add to the conversation.
Lucy silently thanks her with a glare then throws me a quick look; eyebrows raised with grimness. I scrunch my nose, Tequila giving me the same pressed, clear knowing look. Her glossed lips tug into a short grin.
“What?” I ask, not knowing why they’re giving me that look or do they know something I don’t?
“Soooo… how’s Hush?” Lucy cocks her hip, resting a fist to her pronounced curve.
“He’s fine…?” I say in a questionable tone. “Why do you ask?”
“Oh, um.” Lucy searches for the words and I wait because I truly have no idea what they’re talking about. “Sorry. Jules likes to catch me up on the latest Steel Valley Chains gossip. It gets kind of stale here on the weekdays.” Her eyes widen like a deer caught in headlights.
“Well, whatever you heard, we’re just friends.” I plunge my straw in and out of the ice watching it scatter.
Tequila swivels her stool toward me. “I’ve seen, felt, and played that friend’s game before. The way hush looks at you… the way he’s looking at you right now…” I fight my body’s urge to see for myself and keep my eyes drawn to my drink. “Trust me. I was naive in thinking Throttle didn’t feel that way about me either. That we werejustfriends, too.”
This time I look up, meeting her stare. “It’s different. We’re both—”
“Broken?” she finishes for me.
I was going to say… well, now I’m not sure because broken seems to fit.
Empathy falls over both their expressions.
I let out a heavy breath. “Yes. Broken.”
Tequila touches my arm. “I might not know Hush’s story, but I know yours. And you’re going to be okay, Dan. Shit, you’ve already come so far.”
My stomach twists because yeah, I suppose I have. I glance at Liem but this time he’s actually conversing with the guys. A small smile draws across his handsome face, and I smile along with him.
“Right. Just friends.” Tequila rolls her eyes.
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. “Ugh fine. I fucking like him, okay. I really like him. God, what are we in high school?” I roll my eyes back with a playful grin.
Tequila squeals loud enough the guys turn our way. Lucy twirls in place, throwing her hands up as her breasts move in a flirtatious fashion. Tank hits her with a heated gaze that can erupt the entire room if he’s not careful.
I cover my face in my hands because the embarrassment pours out of me.
