Here we go, I guess.
Being totally consumed by Grinder thus far means I haven’t really taken the time to pay full attention to everyone else. Rookie mistake. I see the woman from the kitchen sharing a red lollipop with the man she’s sitting on, clearly having a great time. Next to her is the man who brought the cake, I think he said his name is Spencer. He doesn’t look like he’s having thebest time, nursing a bottle of beer as he stares into space, slowly rocking his head along to the beat of the music.
I should thank him for being so welcoming earlier.
Grinder leads me toward the pool table and I pause, literally stopping in my tracks as nerves take hold when I see him. He has a Birthday Boy sash on and is unmistakably the man I’m here to see. He has a small tattoo on either side of his forehead, one beneath each eye, and his hands are covered. I wonder whether they have any meanings?
“Boys!” Grinder gets the attention of the four men around the table, all glancing up at him with varying degrees of interest. “Meet Pah-Kah.” He gestures toward me like a magician’s assistant presenting the next trick.
I have two choices here…two main ones, anyway. I could awkwardly wave, or I could smack Grinder upside the head for taking the piss out of my accent.
I go with option three.
“Can I play the winner?”
“Sure thing, hot stuff. Name’s Jonesy.” The man approaches with his hand out, but before I can introduce myself, Grinder punches him out of the way.
Jonesy falls onto the pool table, and it’s followed by groans and curses from the others.
“Fuck sake, Jonesy, now we have to start again!”
“Fucking cheat.”
All I can do is laugh because that was fuckin’ funny. The way he fell from a teeny punch totally comical. I look up at Grinder beside me.
He’s glaring at Jonesy like he wants to kill him and I have to say, it does everything for my libido.
“Call her hot stuff again,Prospect, and I’ll add your molars to my collection.” Then he grins, a demented, demonic, verydangerous grin, and I just know he isn’t posturing. He means every word.
“Can I watch?” I keep my face neutral, batting my lashes with faux-innocence. It makes him laugh again and he wraps an arm around my shoulder, hugging me into him.
Oh, God…bad move. He still smells delicious, he’s so warm, and my nipples could cut glass right now.
“You’ve found one as demented as you, Grinder. One from across the pond, like me.” The birthday boy is laughing and it pulls me from my lustful stupor. “Nice to meet you, Parker. Sledge.” He tilts his head and his beer as a way of greeting. “And you’ve got me next. Seeing as Jonesy can’t take a fuckin’ punch. Pussyhole.”
“She’s a catch. Found her covered in blood in an alley and the rest is history.” Grinder pulls me into him again, like he’s proud to show me off, and I’m just mortified.
“How was she covered in blood when you found her?” The dude with hair longer than mine leans against the pool table and takes a gulp of his beer. Pretty sure his name is Boner. I’ve seen him a few times now.
He’s looking at me differently than before, with suspicion, and I get the impression he doesn’t trust me.
“Fuck it. It was me. I killed the dude. There. I said it.” I wave my hands out to the sides, like what are ya gonna do? I appreciate Grinder ready to take the hit for me, but I’m not about miscommunication and lies being spread causing problems.
Instead of the judgement I fully expect, they all laugh.
“I fucking knew it!” Boner shakes his head and stands upright, holding out his palm. “Well done, Parker.”
I shake his hand, a little taken aback, but okay…!
“I er…” I clear my throat. “Has someone got a beer, please?” The tequila isn’t working.
“Jonesy, get Little Miss Stabby a fresh beer.” He follows Grinder’s order without a second thought.
“You have to stop calling me that. I’m trying to make a good first impression here.” I glare up at him and fist my hands on my hips.
“You already did that last night, but we can make some impressions in the pool table of our bodies if you wanna make a new one?” Biting his damn lip, Grinder grins.
“If I wanted to fuck someone in front of my brother, I would be getting paid a fuck load of money for it.” Ah shit.