“He might be exaggerating a bit.” Jeff smiled sheepishly. “But, trust me, you are fine as hell in that outfit.”
“Seriously, do all of you guys just ooze sex all the time? All of you could be models.” I caught Greta’s eye. “Seriously, G. Are they always like this?”
“Pretty much. They’re just a bunch of horny guys who arewaytoo good-looking for their own good. It doesn’t help they’re hella good at baseball.”
“Are they safe?”
Jeff laughed again. “We are. The red room of pain is downstairs.” His reference toFifty Shadesmade me snort. They had a sense of humor and were attractive enough to be models. The combo made me question Greta’sjust friendshipwith them.
“Okay, good. For the future, my safe word is ‘banana’.”
Greta threw back her head and laughed and I joined her on the couch. “What’s your safe word?”
“I feel we should stick to a theme. Cucumber.”
“Penis-shaped foods. My favorite. My safe word will be…hmm…‘sausage’?” Aaron ended it with a question. “Too far?”
“A bit.” I took in my surroundings. Jeff sat on the other side of me and handed both me and Greta cans of beer. I wasn’t much of a drinker, having only tried it a handful of times in high school. I didn’t want to drink if I could help it but didn’t want to stick out. I opened it and nodded to him. “Thank you.”
“No problem. I’m glad we could meet. This one has been talking about you all summer.” He pointed to Greta and she put her arm around me.
“Aww, you’re the best, G.” I leaned in to her for a second. “I’m glad to meet you guys, too. It’s weird—I know you guys from positions you play or your last names. If you don’t know, I’m a huge baseball fanatic.”
“She’s mentioned it, but how huge?” Jeff asked, interest clear as day on his face. I smiled. I was, somehow, in one day having conversations with the two best-looking people I had ever met in my life.
“Pretty big. My dad coaches a local college team back home and I grew up traveling with them every summer. I’ve followed the White Sox since birth and can name every member on the roster, the farming system and what’s currently wrong with management.”
“Good God.” Jeff put his hand over his heart. “I feel like I’ve been struck with something.”
I fake-gagged at him but also blushed at the mollification. These guys got chicks like Greta and I binged on reality TV—every night. I enjoyed the flirting—who wouldn’t?—but I had zero intention to actually follow through with what they insinuated. “How good are you, then?”
“At what?” he answered, wide-eyed.
“Baseball, you fiend. Do you ever stop?”
“Honestly? No.” He held up his beer. “To new friends.”
“Here, here.” I clinked my can to his and some of my anxiety left, the tense butterflies in my stomach flitting away.I can totally do this. I can make friends and be social…and normal. Yeah. I can. “I think it’s going to be one hell of a night.”
“Hells, yeah!” Greta yelled.
“Now, want to visit the red room of pain?” Jeff asked, a smirk forming.
“I think it means something else, but once again, if I say banana, you have to let me go,” I flirted back.
“Deal.” He motioned for me to head to the basement. “The rest of you coming? If we’re gonna do it, let’s do it right! I want our reputation to precede us.”
Chapter Four
Zade
“You are damn lucky I love you.” I cleaned the dishes as my sister rolled around on the couch, moaning in despair. “You take me for granted.”
“I don’t wanna hear it. You took all the attention away from me when you were born. I want redemption,” she wined, sounding pathetic as hell. Maybe I should be nicer—she still appeared to be sick and all. Zaria hated admitting any weakness so it had to be major. Plus, her roommate didn’t return for another two weeks, leaving her solo at her place.
“I’m better looking than you. That’s why.” I said the one thing I knew angered her. She growled into the pillow and I chuckled. “Don’t hate, appreciate.”
“You’re annoying.”
