what’s happening around me.
Waking up to the door shutting, I try not to move or make a sound. I know Raef is already mad at me for sleeping with Striker this morning, and I sure as hell don’t want to be on his bad side anymore. I hear him move around the room, but he doesn’t even acknowledge that I’m in here. Well, not that I’m letting him know. I’m still under the covers, and hiding anyways.
I hear his phone ring, and I listen to his side of the conversation. “Hey Brant, what did you find out for me?” His voice is gruff, and he sounds tired.
“Yeah, I think so,” he pauses again, and I try to peek out from under the covers to watch him. “No. No, asshole.” He runs his hand through his hair, as he listens to whatever this Brant guy is saying.
“Fuck you,” he laughs this time, and I think that it’s the first time I’ve actually heard him laugh. “Yeah, I’ll hopefully be home soon. I just have to deal with the supplier, and I should be good.” He doesn’t say anything for a few minutes, and I wonder what he’s being told. “Naw, tell Anslie that shit ain’t happening to me. There isn’t anyone here worth it. You can keep your romantic bullshit to yourself. Or better yet, shove it up your ass,” he laughs, and he tells him that he’ll call him later.
Hearing his words hurt, but I guess I already knew that. He told me already this morning. I guess part of me was hoping that he would change his mind, and take me with him when he left, but I guess not.
“I know your listening,” he says, pulling the blankets back, and uncovering me.
“Where those words for me?” I ask, with a scowl.
“Nope, just stating facts.” He doesn’t even flinch with his answer, and I know that he really means what he said.
“Thanks,” I mutter to myself. He takes a seat next to me, and he goes to say something, but then stops himself. “Just say it. It’s not like you’ve held anything back from me before. Why stop now?”
“Even if I did say there was someone here that caught my eye, I sure as hell wouldn’t tell my sister. By the time I got home she would have planned my wedding, and named all my future kids.” His tone is casual, and I don’t know if I believe him or not.
“She would do that?” I ask. He nods, and I can’t tell what he means by that first statement. Does he have someone that caught his eye?
“But I don’t have any plans for anything while I’m here because sloppy seconds isn’t really my style.” That hurts. I didn’t expect it to hurt that bad, but at least I know he’s being honest. Looking down at my hands, I try to not let his words affect me.
He gets up, and walks back out of the room without looking back. Part of me feels like he’s saying these hurtful things on purpose, but the other part of me thinks I deserve it. Getting up, I don’t even bother sticking around. Making my way out of the room, I make my way into the bar area of the club, and sit on a stool and order a beer.
When the prospect or whatever he is, brings me one, I thank him and tell him to put it on Raef’s tab, as a big fuck you. He nods, but doesn’t say anything else.
I spend the next few hours drinking by myself, and by the time Raef comes back, I’m drunk and flirting with all of the brothers. I don’t even care anymore. This is the first time, in a long time, that I’ve done something I’ve wanted. Sure it probably isn’t the best idea, but I know that Striker is watching me from afar, and he won’t let anything happen to me.
I feel his presence behind me, and I just ignore him. I go back to flirting with Street, or was it Screech? Whatever, I really don’t care. “Damn girl, I don’t know how you’re related to Butch, but fuck. I have a bed you can sleep in if you need it.”
I put my hand on his shoulder, and lean in to sexily whisper in his ear, “You promissse to fuck me heard?” I slur. Nope, not sexy at all.
A hand
Jack Ketchum, Tim Waggoner, Harlan Ellison, Jeyn Roberts, Post Mortem Press, Gary Braunbeck, Michael Arnzen, Lawrence Connolly