“The Hamster. I remember now.”
“Zayn.” Harley’s sharp tone is not one I’m used to hearing from him.
“I’m going to kill J-Dawg one of these days.” Hannah has steam practically billowing from her ears.
“If it’s any consolation, you look nothing like a hamster.”
“Gee, thanks,” she retorts, pinning me with a glare.
“I mean, you’re super pretty, and you don’t have frizzy hair or beady eyes.”
“Zayn!” Now it’s Harley’s turn to glower at me.
“Shit.” I set my coffee down. “I must have foot-in-mouth disease today, and that’s probably my cue to leave.”
“It’s cool. Stay for breakfast. Hannah is an amazing cook.”
My stomach heaves, and I rub a hand over it. “Ordinarily, I’d be down for it, but I’m not feeling so hot.”
“Can’t say I’m too surprised.” Hannah casts a disapproving glance around the room, her nose wrinkling and twitching as she takes in the myriad of empty beer bottles, half-eaten stale pizza on plates and in boxes, cookie crumbs all over the patterned carpet, and the overflowing ashtray lying around the place.
I look away to hide my smile. I kinda see where J is coming from now.
Grabbing my coffee, I slurp it down as I try to remember what happened after we got back here last night. I remember J blaring the music and watching in amusement as he dirty danced with the blonde twins, taking turns shoving his tongue in each girl’s mouth while I checked my cell every five seconds and then got slowly stoned and blind drunk when Emery replied with a terse “Lose my number.” I was drunk enough to stupidly text back, but the message bounced becauseshe blocked me.
It was at that point I wanted to drown myself in the bottle of JD, and it seems I made a really good stab at it. I vaguely remember the girls trying to convince me to join them, but I wasn’t interested. I wanted to stew in the mess of my ownmaking, and I guess I passed out on the couch sometime after J took the party to his bedroom.
“Sup, animals,” he says, sauntering into the room bare-chested, wearing only low-slung gray sweatpants that cling precariously to his hips. His feet are bare, his hair is a tangled mess, and lipstick marks cover his cheeks, and there are a few on his chest too.
“The only animal around here is you,” Hannah says, putting her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes on J. “Look at the state of this place and you!”
Woah. That’s a bit harsh, and I can’t believe Harley is letting it pass without saying something.
“Keep your fur on, Hamster. Nothing got broken.” J’s grin explodes. “Except my bed.”
“Tell me that’s a?—”
“Bye, J.” One of the blondes sticks her head through the door, waggling her fingers at my brother.
The second blonde appears beside her twin sister. “Thanks for a great night.” She blows him a kiss.
“We left our number by your bed,” blondie number one says. “Call if you want to hook up again.”
“Later, baby,” the second twin says, grabbing her large tits through her dress and rubbing them provocatively.
Silence descends after they leave for a few beats before Hannah breaks it. “Do you purposely go out of your way to find women with big breasts and tiny brains, or is it another one of your personality flaws?”
“Careful, Hamster. Someone might think you’re jealous. Meow.” J makes a clawing motion with his hands.
“I don’t think hamsters make that sound,” I say, biting back laughter.
“They’ve both got sharp claws, broski, and stop splitting hairs.” J’s grin is out of control.
Harley slaps J across the back of the head, and I chuckle. “Anyone sharing living space with you needs claws of steel.” He wraps his arms fully around Hannah, drawing her back against his chest. “Ignore him.”
“Yes, please,” J drawls. “Please ignore me.”
“On that note, I’m out.” I grab my leather jacket off the arm of the couch and check that my keys and cell are in my pocket.
