“Stay away from that.”
“From what exactly?” she tittered. “Don’t tell me you’re actually considering pursuing it.”
“What business is that of yours, Trin?” Scowling, Moose turned to her.
She opened her mouth to counter that with something smart and realized she didn’t have anything. Moose was right; it wasn’t her business. She couldn’t help herself. Working with him and occasionally partying together had become their norm.
“I’m still your friend, Moose. Damn. I care about you.” Disappointment laced her tone, her soft brown eyes drifting to the ground.
Moose sighed heavily before looking at her.
“As your friend, let me just say, a woman like that is not in your league. She’s so… mature. Way too mature for you. You’re still in that stage where life is a party. You don’t even wake up before twelve. She looks like she has schedules and routines. That ain’t you, baby.”
“You making a whole lot of assumptions, T.”
“Am I? Or is it the truth?” she shot back, eyes linking with his.
Moose didn’t blink.Some of what she said was true, but it didn’t mean shit. He’d never have to change who he was to fuck with anybody. There was nothing between him and Inari but a little flirting all night anyway. Trini was right about one thing, he wasn’t used to an assertive, ambitious woman like that. He fucked with needy bitches. Those Miss Independent types were controlling and always trying to fix something in you that they thought was broken. He already knew he was fucked up and didn’t need anybody else pointing out his flaws. Ignoring her, he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge on his way back to his suite. Soon as he stepped inside, Ayla jumped up with the book in her hand and walked over to him.
“We decided on the tattoos we wanted. Well, Inari claims she wants two.” Ayla glimpsed her sister over her shoulder as she tapped at her phone screen.
She was texting Dane to see if he was good.
“This is her first one. I doubt she will go through with it, though,” Ayla muttered, rolling her eyes as she pointed to the tattoo pair on the page.
Both had two hands with the pinkies locked together. Above one, it read, ‘in this life,’ and above the other, it read, ‘and the next.’ Moose bobbed his head, and Kong handed him the blunt he’d refused not long ago. Pinching it between his fingers, he brought it to his lips.
“I can do that. Where y’all want it?”
“On our wrists.” Ayla beamed.
“Cool.” Moose held the blunt out to her.
Ayla looked at it at first, the pungent aroma drifting up her nostrils. She loved her wine and an occasional tequila shot or two, but weed had never been her thing. She knew Inari indulged every now and then, though because she kept a stash.
“I’ve never smoked before.”
“Never?” Coast chimed in.
Ayla shook her head and nervously peered at Kong leaning against another counter space near the door.
“I tried to get her to come to the dark side once or twice. Told her she might like it here and gain a new perspective on life that I like to call ‘fuck it all’.” Inari crossed one leg over the other and sipped her margarita out of the red solo cup with a straw.
Mozzi snickered from the chair in the middle of the room, typing some shit in his phone while waiting for Moose to get to him.
“Take a puff or two,” Kong encouraged. “I won’t tell anybody.”
Ayla reached for the blunt and brought it to her lips. She pulled from it slowly.
“Now hold it,” Kong instructed. “One, two, three?—”
She broke out in a coughing fit, and Inari laughed with Mozzi and Coast.
“Take one more.” Moose nodded with a grin, enjoying watching her devirginize herself.
Ayla had to recover from the first pull, beating her fist against her chest as Inari stepped up with her cup in hand. She took another hit, and this time, she managed to hold it for five seconds before passing the blunt to her sister and taking her cup, so she could sip her drink.
“Aw, you just made me proud!” Inari slung her arm over her shoulders. “Welcome to the garden zone, baby sister!”
