A Wild Ride (Jessica Brodie Diaries #3) (8 page)

Lump knew me, though. She stood up, too, anger crossing her face and her fists balling. "You are a worthless friend, Jessica. A dirty worthless friend! I’ll
kick
your twat if you think I am going to side-step a waitress to go to the bar and go down past seven."

William and Adam got up in a hurry, arms ready to come between us. They were the only ones ready to intercede. The rest of the guys in the area, which had gathered around to watch the fireworks, had smiles a plenty. They were hoping to see a cat fight.

"A dirty worthless friend that isn't going up from six, a proper waitress flag
and
order, or your worthless lazy ass walking to the bar. Throw down if you want, but I'll get at least one eye and have you lookin' like a pirate, eye patch and all." I leaned in to her, ready to do battle.

She tensed all her muscles, staring at me with hate.

Then her face broke and she started chuckling.

"Bitch," she said, sitting back down. "You always get the better end of the deal. And a
pirate?
"

I laughed. "You only say that because you don't have to work for yourself. I am more kind-hearted then you give me credit for!"

"Willie, relax," Lump said with humor, sipping her drink. "We were just negotiating. She is a damned tight ass—you have to threaten her to get anything!"

“Them girls is crazy!” someone muttered as he wandered away.

William looked back and forth between Lump and I with candor. "Are you fooling?"

"Willie, don't put it past 'em. Your lady there can argue the teats off a nursin' goat," Adam said, sitting down and going back to his beer.

"Ew," I remarked. "I hate goats."

William just sat down and shook his head. "Paul’s right, women are crazy."

"You got that right, man!" Moose said from down the table.

All the girls got in an uproar and started talking at once. We fell back into laughing and joking.

After the alcohol had been liberally consumed the steady stream of women started. Our crew of girls were back and forth between the dance floor and our table, and every time we returned there was a new selection of women in our area. None of them talked to us, and we didn’t bother noticing them.

As the night train thundered toward mid-night, the guys in our area became less conscious of those that were acceptable to hit on, and turned to our crew of girlfriends. It was one time when Lump, Candace and I were on our way back from the dance floor that we were stopped by two guys that were in the VIP group, but that we didn’t know.

Candace squeaked past quickly, but Lump and I weren’t paying enough attention until it was too late.

“Hey ladies.”

“Hey,” Lump shot back, feigning disinterest and looking around. It was habit for hers, and unfortunately usually made men try harder to secure her attention.

“How y’all doin’ tonight? Saw y’all on the dance floor. Looking good.” The sandy haired guy took a step toward Lump. The other guy, slightly taller but the same mediocre appearance, walked around me, eyeing my body.

It just got crowded fast. These guys were a little too drunk, and a little too used to women throwing themselves at them tonight. VIP status was going right to their heads.

“Guys, we’re residents. Step off,” I said firmly, though still in a friendly way. It was talent.

“Residents, huh?” the guy circling me said, much too close. He was starting to piss me off. Also, make me nervous. I was no longer all that great with strange guys in my personal space, thank you Dusty.

“Yeah,
residents
, as in I’m Willie Davies’s girlfriend. This is my friend. Seriously, step off.” I dropped the friendly.

“You’re Davies’s girlfriend?” the jack-off close to me said as he thankfully took a step back. “Oh shit, you’re that gal that got that bull. I saw that lil’ rascal not long ago. Feisty fucker. Nice work.”

The other guy was looking at me with disinterest, turning back to Lump. “She might be taken, but what’s your story, darlin’? Wanna take a ride?”

“She’s off limits.” Adam stepped behind Lump, whisking her hair over her shoulder to put his hand softly on the back of her neck. I could see goose-pimples break out over her skin as she leaned back into his body. Adam moved his hand to her shoulder to allow the increased bodily contact.

“Says who, you Dunn?” The guy wasn’t backing down.

“Yeah, says me. And says the lady leanin’ up against me.”

The guy did, in fact, notice that Lump was overly content with the contact. The move had been made, and Lump was proving she was happy with the outcome.

“There a problem?” Alas, my knight in shining armor had arrived.

“We got a pissing contest here, boys?” Came Ty behind him, in good humor, as always.

William snaked his arm around my waist. Ty stepped up next to him, nodding to the guy that had already backed off.

“Hey Davies. Nah man, there’s no problem,” the guy that backed off me said, “We didn’t know they were with y’all until a couple minutes ago. Can’t blame a guy for wantin’ a shot with the prettiest girls in here.”

“No worries, man.” William blew it off. “You gonna head out to the practice bulls any time soon?”

“Ah, don’t know. Haven’t been on a bull in a while. Good to meet the gal that fooled that ol’ coot, though.”

William gave me a squeeze. “Yeah, she kept my competitors from claiming ‘im.”

As they kept talking about the bull, I noticed the other guy had wandered off, leaving Adam and Lump in their own world.

Lump’s whole body leaned back into Adam, her head leaned back to rest on his collar bone. He ran a large hand along her stomach, his other arm across her chest, bringing her in closer.

Lump responded with eyes closed, angling her face toward his neck, her hands reaching back, along his thighs, to bring his lower half harder against her backside. She softly nuzzled his neck, kissing him gently, ready to make the plunge. As Adam turned her body slowly, she lifted her chin, eyes hooded, lips seeking.

“Next time I would like to say you’re taken. If you don’t mind,” Adam said softly. He ran his fingers down the side of her face in a soft caress. His hand continued, down her neck, over her shoulder, then lightly across her cleavage.

Lump smiled, her ardor rising, her eyes fluttering at the contact. She nodded slowly, tracing up his chest with her palms.

A ghost of a smile crossed his lips as he leaned down, pulling her up slightly, touching his lips to hers in a teasing kiss.

“Told you so. Now quit peeping,” William said next to my ear.

“Just fodder for my inner romance novel,” I responded as I felt myself turn red and snuggled into him. He led me back to the table, leaving Adam and Lump kissing, now slightly more eager.

Sometime later the countdown began. Our table stood, looking out over the dance floor below. There was a Times Square ball that was dipping toward the New Year.

“Happy New Year!” we all shouted, William lifting me merrily and kissing me soundly.

Moose leaned in to give me a quick kiss as William kissed Jasmine. Ty was next, Candace got a hug. As I was turning to find Lump, I was whisked up and turned haphazardly into Adam’s arms. With a smile at my confused face, he gave me a big smack on the lips and hugged me tightly, my legs dangling.

Next he bear-hugged William, breaking apart to clap him on the back like the happiest man alive. Lump was equally so, but a titch more refined about it.

We all laughed and cuddled into our partners as the dance floor got moving again.

Chapter Five

“It’s time, Jess,” William said as he beside me with a cup of coffee.

It was a balmy Saturday morning in mid-April. We had a lot of nothing to do, him deciding to take a whole weekend away from any kind of work.

He’d also just finished telling me that he’d be gone for the next three weeks, getting a new branch up and running. Which I took with a nod and a sigh. I figured—there’d been talk.

I looked out the window, thinking outside was definitely a good idea, but not excited about the prospects of getting dressed. I decided to stall.

“Time for?”

“You to move in.”

My heart fluttered and butterflies filled my stomach. I also felt a little sick.

This
conversation again. Not again.

I wanted to live with him. I loved him. I never wanted to leave him.

There were just two glaring problems holding me back. One, Gladis’s health was starting to decline. She tried to hide it, but she wasn’t doing a bang-up job. Plus, Lady was beside herself worried, which meant she mothered Gladis more.

If lived elsewhere, not even at the cottage three nights a week, something might happen and I wouldn’t be there. My dad had died in a darkened hospital room between my visits. I wouldn’t lose another person like that. I wouldn’t.

The other problem was the skew in compromise. It was William’s house I’d move to, which was bought and paid for. All his stuff filled the rooms, and his routine was practical and concise, putting his keys “where keys go” and his shoes “where shoes go.” There wasn’t a lot of room to start a new life together when I was joining his already established residence. We wouldn’t even remotely be on equal footing.

Plus, we spent every night together, anyway. I had a wardrobe for his house, and one for mine. We had a dog bed in each, our favorite wines or whatever doubled. It didn’t matter which house we chose to sleep in, our stuff was already there. What was the big deal in consolidating?

I commenced my evasion tactics. “It would be silly to move in right before you leave for three weeks.”

“You have plenty of guys to help. You can put your stuff where ever, and however you want. You’ve seen the bronze goat statue—I’m not picky.”

“I know, but… let’s just wait until after you get back.”

“Why? Why wait?”

“Because I’ll be lonely. I’ll be moving into an empty, William-less place. At the cottage I’m at least close to Gladis. I have someone to hang out with.”

William sighed. It was a damn good argument. I knew by the frustration on his face. Which meant I’d won. For now.

“Fine. But when I get back, you move in.”

My turn to sigh. “We’ll talk about it.”

“Jessica, I just don’t understand—“ His phone cut him off, thank God. He looked at the name, debated answering it, then did. “Yeah?”

I used that opportunity to escape to the bathroom. When I got back, William was sitting, staring out the window. He waited for me to sit down before he said, “Adam and Betz are on their way. But this conversation isn’t over.”

“What are they up to?”

“Did you hear me? This conversation—“

“I know, I know. I was sitting right here, I heard.”

“Okay, just so you know.”

The honeymoon period in our relationship was long gone. It made Adam and Lump really irritating some of the time, because they were still going through theirs.

William took a sip of his coffee and said, “They were debating going out to breakfast, so they were calling to see if we wanted to go. Told him we were here. Invited them. Adam offered to let us talk, instead. Told him you’d probably torture him for it. In a nutshell.”

“How long are you planning on being in a bad mood?”

William laughed despite himself and leaned back. “You’re just so stubborn about some things. I love you; I want you around always. I want all your stuff in my place. I want to see you when I get home and not have to worry about what stuff I have where. I just…I want you to move in.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just another Davies mad that he isn’t getting what he wants.”

William laughed again, his eyes sparkled as they caught the morning sun, beaming that pure, beautiful blue at me. “I will get what I want.”

“Says you.”

“I’ll probably have to sacrifice a limb for it, but I’ll get it.”

It was then Lump walked in, followed by Adam. Thankfully they had stopped glowing every time they had sex, but this morning they both looked really tired, which meant—I let my head fill with buzz.

“Howdy-do ladies and gents,” Adam said, completely relaxed.

“I am not going to enjoy being your guys’ third wheel,” I muttered.

Lump sat next to me and grabbed my coffee. “I’m much more awesome than you are. You’ll love it.”

“Fat chance. Adam, can you get your woman a coffee so I can have mine back?”

“Yup. Willie?”

“Refill. Thanks.”

“So, what are you two bitter about?” Lump asked, finishing my coffee for me.

“Adam, make that a full round,” I yelled.

“Ahead of ya,” he shouted back.

“William isn’t getting his way as quickly as he wants.”

“Uh oh. That explains his constipated look. And, pray tell, what does he want?”

“Talk to you later about it.”

“Her to move in. Finally,” William said, staring at me.

“Ah.” Lump looked for her next round of coffee.

“Don’t you think it’s about time?” William asked Lump.

“She’ll talk to me later about it.” Lump had a fair idea of my hang-ups. And she also knew that this was a situation where she would need to take sides, and as one of her oldest friends, and a woman, that side would be mine. Although, if she didn’t agree, it would be worse than having William on my case.

Although, if things kept on the way they were, she would soon be in my boat, with the same circumstances. She’d definitely side with me. Then wait to see how it unfolded in anticipation of her future problems.

Changing the subject, and ignoring William’s frustrated stare easily, Lump said, “Gladis has been acting funny lately.”

“I know, but how specifically?” I asked, grabbing my coffee and nodding at Adam.

“She had a clear shot to hit me with a banana, but she didn’t even bother. She said she wasn’t in the mood. When is she not in the mood for a game?”

“Crazy game y’all are playin’,” Adam shook his head.

William had got her twice, so far, and both times when she was kissing or cuddling Adam. She nearly knocked Adam flat on his ass the second time to get away. Adam hadn’t moved fast enough, though, being too heavy, and William took that round. It was hard to tell who was madder; Adam for getting pushed, or Lump for getting impeded and losing that round to William.