Hanging on (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2) (18 page)

I punched a few people for that comment.

“And now Jessica’s friends.” William allowed all the guys to have a good look before he went on. “Since she so kindly introduced mine, I’ll give a stab at hers.”

“Good thing he doesn’t know us that well,” Clare muttered.

“He knows a few stories,” I said under my breath.

William’s smile was jubilant. “A few stories, yes. Let’s see—that’s Clare.” William nodded her direction. “She’s from Ireland and has the attention span of a knat. She can also probably drink as much as Adam.”

Adam looked at her in surprise. “I dunno, Willie. There ain’t much to her.”

Claire just shrugged. “We train ‘em young in Ireland.”

“We’ll see.” Challenge was on. Adam would get a rude surprise. Claire would end up so drunk she couldn’t stand, and while Adam would surely beat her—the man could hold his liquor something fierce—he would absolutely get drunker than he meant to. She’d keep going even though half dead, and he would definitely give up. Growing up in a place that had the mentality, “Eating is cheating,” the Irish knew what they were about.

“That's Lump,” William continued. “No one knows why she’s called such a feminine name, but if her martial arts experience is anything like her name, she fights as dirty as her name sounds. Also, as Jessica says, Lump is the classic LA beauty, which I can only assume means
dense
.”

Lump looked at William in surprise, her mouth dropping open.

Adam said, “Aw man, that ain’t right. I’m sure—“

Adam was interrupted by every girl, including Lump, laughing uproariously.

Flem pointed at her and said, “Only funny ‘cause it’s true!”

All the guys had uneven smiles, hesitant to laugh at a woman they’d just met, but understanding the humor. Or maybe just slightly unnerved that we were so wild and carefree about showing it; they knew me, and were slightly afraid of me, and now I was multiplied by five. Dangerous.

When our laughter died down, for the moment, William went on with Flem. “Flem, another delightful name, is one of our own—of sorts. She’s from Arkansas, but she hates when you mention it.”

Big smiles from the men this time.

Moose smirked. “You know what they say: literacy ain’t everything.”

“Now, you know,” Adam said, trying to be the good guy again, “Arkansas ain’t like it used to be. There’s three million people now…”

Flem looked at Adam with a relieved smile, until Adam continued.

“And I hear they’re up to, what, fifteen last names?”

I nearly threw up I was laughing so hard! Flem had her hands on her hips, trying to hide her smile while shaking her head.

Adam stepped closer and threw an arm around her shoulders. “All in fun. Don’t take no offense. Ask Jessie-girl, we’re a bunch o’ fools.”

“
Tools
, Adam," I clarified. "You’re a bunch of
tools.”

Flem’s humorous outrage turned to startled when she felt Adam’s body. A second later that look became one of pure pleasure. The wicked grin was back.

“Next is Jane. Book worm. Apparently sweet, though I heard a story where she once made a grown man cry.”

“
You told him that
?” Jane exclaimed.

“Aw lads, that was pure
class!
” Claire said, remembering.

“It wasn’t my fault!” Jane defended. “He had it coming! He was trying to arrange a ménage-a-tois with Lump and Jess. I merely reasoned that a man like him had no hope of ever getting one girl to willingly see him naked, let alone two hot ones!”

“And last, my girlfriend Jessica, who is as pure as a saint.” I got a lot of scoffs for that one.

I also noticed he called me his girlfriend! It was the first time that name had been breached. I looked up in surprise and met penetrating, deep blue, twinkling eyes. He winked at me, and looked back to the group.

Okay, so that’s that, then.

I was exploding with thrilled butterflies. On each beating wing sat cupid, piercing my heart with a million tiny, love soaked arrows.

“Down girl,” William whispered in my ear.

“Ew, you guys are gross.” Jane rolled her eyes.

“I’ve been sayin’ the same thing for
months!
Did anybody listen to
me?
Noooo,” Adam said, having stepped back from Flem.

“Like I said, you whine,” I admonished.

Chapter Ten

“Can I get y’all a drink?” Adam asked, squinting at me, “It’s usually the only way to shut her up.”

“Always the gentleman, Adam,” I said over the chorus of yes’s.

We told him what we were drinking and he left to get it for us. I went to help him, patting William on the butt as I walked by.

“Need help?” I asked Adam good-naturedly as I approached the bar.

“Nah, you’re alright. Enjoy yer friends.”

I ignored him. “You never told me you were going to make a play for me...”

He was surprised but tried to hide it. He shook his head.

“Look,” I said, “I will just bring it up when I get drunk, so I thought I would do it sober. I hope I didn’t treat you badly or anything. I didn’t know.”

“Jessica, no, of course... Willie was into you long before I even saw you. Given the opportunity, sure, who wouldn’t go after a beautiful girl? And you are, you know. Beautiful. One of the most beautiful girls I ever seen. I wanted to tell you that on occasion, but didn’t want you to take it wrong-like. But you made your choice like Willie did. I knew that. But yeah, if he passed, his loss... so to speak.” Adam blushed and shrugged.

“Were you gearing up for it that night at Froggy’s?” I pushed. I wanted this all out on the table. I didn't want any closeted feelings or anything that might crop up later and put a damper on our friendship. Or worse, his and William's.

Adam shrugged again. “Maybe. Just gettin’ to know you, was all. You’re a handful. Pure evil on occasion, then sweet as pie the next second. Too much of a whirlwind for this country boy. It worked out like it shoulda. Willie needs a strong hand to keep him in line, and you need a guy that won’t backhand you.”

“Oh my God!” I exclaimed, slapping his arm.

He laughed and hugged my shoulders. “Nah, you know I’m kidding. But yeah, it worked out like it shoulda. You and Willie fit like a glove. I was just admiring the real estate.”

“Cool.” I nodded with finality. It was like I’d thought. I wasn’t what he wanted. Granted, he didn’t seem to know what he wanted, but he was right—while he was strong and tough and manly, he was a pushover at heart. I would walk all over him then feel badly about it. William at least made me work to get what I wanted, which made it all the sweeter when I eventually did.

“I wanted to clear the air,” I said, watching the bartender make our drinks. “You are a good guy, Charlie Brown. And besides, now you got even prettier girls you can hook up with. Lump makes me look like a street corner girl.”

He shook his head. “I mean, yeah, all you girls is pretty! But that girl...Lump? Queer names y’all got. Lump is damn pretty, sure. Not denyin’ that. But she ain’t any prettier‘n you if you wanna know the truth. Don’t mean nothin’ by it. Just callin’ it like I see it. You are just as beautiful, each of you in your own way.”

I scoffed at him.

“I think a lot of that happened when you started gettin’ close to Willie, though,” he said, contemplative. “Seems like he lit some kinda spark in you‘r somethin’. Him, too. Spark I mean, not beauty.” He waved his hand in front of his face. “Listen to me! I sound like a gay from San Francisco with all this feelings ‘n crap.” He shook his head.

“Wow, that was not very P.C. of you, Adam. But thanks.” I leaned on my tiptoes to give him a kiss on the check. I grabbed three drinks in a pyramid so I could carry them. “Shall we?”

He nodded, slightly relieved and definitely embarrassed.

When he was grabbing drinks I looked at him again. If it wasn’t for William, I would have counted myself lucky to get Adam. He was all kinds of good. Tall, handsome, hardworking, a gentleman, a lot of fun to be around, and someone you could count on. Yes, I might walk all over him, but I was a head-strong jackass. If he got a more even-tempered girl with a dose of patience, she’d get a great guy in him. I really hoped he’d find it.

Back with everyone, we toasted and drank. More men joined us, since the girls were starting to get their flirt on, but the dance floor was starting to fill up and dancing was necessary. I grabbed Flem by the wrist and pulled. She grabbed Claire who pushed Lump who glared at Jane who in turn glared at me.

“Dance!” I yelled.

“Hot men!” Jane yelled back.

Steve—I think that was his name—beamed. He thought he was getting some.

He was wrong.

I pulled harder, noticing Moose nudge Adam and point. They were no doubt pleased I was getting my aggression out on the girls rather than them. Little did they know, I was just getting practice. I’d be back annoying them soon enough, with more force!

With a little more pull, I got the ladies, one and all, on our way to the dance floor. We left our area with a trail of boys in our wake. We walked along the railing to the stairs, looking down at what we would encounter, or back at what was left behind.

“Some serious lookers in that group!” Flem yelled over the music.

“Would it be uncomfortable for you if there was a one-night-stand?” Jane yelled from behind me somewhere.

We congregated at the stairs. Across the large expanse of space in from of me I could see William watching me with a smile, talking to the guys around him. We were still, easily, the prettiest girls in the club.
Easily.
More lookers would definitely come, but they didn’t have what we did—mayhem! Hot and exciting, watch out!

“Don’t touch anyone with a girlfriend. Don’t do more than one in the group. Don’t put yourself on display. Other than that, good hunting.”

“Should we call dibs now, or later?” Lump asked.

“Adam!” Flem and Claire shouted at once.

“Moose,” Lump said with a smile.

“He’s too nice for you, one,” I noted, looking down the steps. “And two, he’s got a girl. Okay, everyone grab banister. These steps hold no prisoners.”

I led with the first sure-footed step, looking for all the world like it was the easiest thing to do, ever.

I continued the conversation, “I would’ve gone for Brad in the beginning if he didn’t have a girlfriend.”

“Ah crap, he’s got a girlfriend?” Jane asked. She must have been last in the progression judging by the slightly distant voice.

“Not anymore. Go for him. He’s cute and nice.”

“Yeah, I need to get laid. I haven’t been out, I haven’t been seeing anyone, and I haven’t had any fun. Seriously, school is kicking my ass. But if I get through, I will probably make
bank!
”

“Money is nice.” I made it to the bottom with a sigh.

“William’s got loads, huh?” Claire asked, next down and looking around the half-full dance floor.

“Yeah. It’s nice, but kind of awkward. I mean, I’ve got not a lot, so he doesn’t really understand life without money. Plus, his mom thinks I’m dating him for his wallet.”

“Eh, mothers!” Lump rolled her eyes.

“Okay, enough talking. I am ready to wipe the floor with your asses,” I declared, grabbing Claire and heading into the fray.

I was easily the most trained dancer among them, but when there are club beats, if a girl knew what she was about, lessons meant nothing. And the girls I was with, even Jane, knew exactly what they had to work with, and they made the most of it! We moved our hips, shook our bodies, and got into the music together. No holds bar.

Sometimes we danced together, sometimes we branched out and danced with other guys. At one point I glanced up toward our area and saw a line of men, leaning against the banister in various forms of relaxation, looking down on us like we were a Las Vegas show. I pointed it out to the girls and, laughing, we put on a helluva show. We didn’t need a dance-off to get attention. And no, that wasn’t always a good thing. Actually, it rarely was.

Still, we went for it anyway. I noticed guys calling more men over, many trying to get as close as possible to William to say something or other. Regardless of conversation, or lack thereof, all eyes were on us, which was why I figured we’d done enough. I knew people here, and what’s more, a lot of people knew William. I didn’t want this talked about negatively.

I waved a finger in a circular motion, calling for the girls to wrap it up. Flem did an extravagant humping of Lump, who pushed her off and slapped her in the arse, and then we flipped everyone off and went back to normal dancing. Just a splash of humor.

Sometime later, when the girls were looking a little flushed and sweaty, I stepped out of the cluster of bodies and off to the stairs. There was still a line of men from our area, eyes still mostly on one or many of us, but they weren’t so single-minded in their staring. I figured that was a good thing. If we’d made too big a spectacle, or were still making one, there would be much more drool.

Flem joined me. “Time to go up?”

“I’m hot. You want to stay?”

“No. I’ve worked myself sober. Hanging out and drinking for a while would be good.”

“Hey,” Lump said, joining us. “Going back?”

“Yeah, that okay?”

“Definitely. Should I get Jane and Claire? They are trying to out-do each other.”

I shrugged. I was in no hurry.

“Oh wait, here they come.”

“Hey ladies, want to join my buddies and me?” It was some ugly man in tight jeans and cowboy boots.

“No, thanks,” Jane said as she walked up.

“I’m fucking
roasting!”
Claire roared, stepping in front of the ugly man and fanning herself.

We all eyed the stairs.

“Why the feck did they make these things so steep?” Claire asked, her hand on my arm.

“Bar. C’mon.” With a determined look, Flem grabbed the banister and Lump’s hand.