Page 51 of Good Girls Beg

"Next time I'm watching a documentary, I'll invite you to watch it with me," Hel said. "These two idiots talk the whole time."

"Because it's obvious who did it right from the start," Fade scoffed. "It's always the ex. Doesn't matter if it's ex-husband, ex-boyfriend, or ex-wife. As soon as they mention the ex, you know they're guilty."

"Or the babysitter," Oak said softly.

Fade's, derisive smirk faded somewhat. "Or them," he added.

I glanced over to Oak. Why had he said that? His expression was harder than a brick wall. Completely closed off. His gaze was back on his almost-finished breakfast.

The whole vibe of breakfast went from congenial to somber. Darker. What did I know about Oak Bennett? Not enough, apparently.

He glanced up at me. A flash of anger crossed his face, as if he was annoyed at me for hearing what he'd said. Or annoyed at himself for saying it.

I offered him a smile, but he looked away again. His whole body rigid with tension.

If a kindergarten teacher was good at something, it was diffusing a situation. Turning everyone's attention in a more productive direction. These weren't children, most of the time, but the theory was the same. Not to mention, it worked well on drunk customers too.

"I hear Scarlet Felony is playing at Vertical next weekend," I said. "I might see if Lyra will go with me." The change of subject seemed to help. The mood softened a little, the air easier to breathe.

"I'll make sure we're on the guest list," Hel said, as if that settled the matter. We were all going.

How did I feel about them coming too? I had brought it up, but only to lighten the vibe in here. I guess it could be construed as an open invitation for them to make plans to go to the nightclub as well. Whatever, as long as I got to spend some time with Lyra and fit in a dance or three, maybe a couple of drinks. Their presence might be almost tolerable. Ish.

The question was best left in a 'take each moment as it comes' basket for now.

"I might pay a visit to Horizontal while we're in the area," Fade remarked. "It's been a long time since I had a decent fuck."

If I wasn't looking at Hel, I would have missed the flash of annoyance on his face. Did he disapprove of Fade paying for prostitutes, or was there more to it than that? Fade mentioned being into men as well. Did he and Hel have something going on? If they did, apparently it wasn't exclusive. At least not as far as Fade was concerned.

"You'd have to get it up first," Oak muttered.

Fade stopped toying with his lip ring and said, "Fuck off. I can get it up just fine."

"If you say so," Oak said, letting his spoon drop into his bowl with a clatter.

"Do you want me to prove it right here?" Fade asked, placing his hands on the table to the sides of his plate, as if he was about to push himself to his feet.

"Don't you dare," Shannon said, flipping the last of the pancakes onto a plate for herself. "I don't want to see your dick."

Fade sat back and grinned. "Sure you don't."

"If I wanted to see a microscopic organism, I'd look under a microscope." Shannon picked up a bottle of maple syrup and spread it around her pancake.

"Microscopic, my ass," Fade said with a snort. "She's scared because she's never seen one as big."

"I have many different emotions when it comes to you." She picked up a fork and waved it in his direction. "I can assure you, scared isn't one of them. Neither is impressed."

I put a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud. The woman didn't take an inch of shit from them, and she gave back everything she got. With interest.

She said I might be good for them, but so was she. I doubted there was anything they could do that she wouldn't call them out on. Employee or no employee.

"She's jealous because she hasn't gotten any dick in years," Fade said.

"Not that you know of," Shannon retorted. "Then again, I don't tell you about my exploits when I'm not here."

"When are you not here?" Oak asked. He seemed genuinely confused.

"I know it seems like I'm always here." She smirked. "Believe it or not, I do leave once in a while. For example, someone has to go shopping and buy all the food you assholes eat. Did you think it was teleported in? Or created by magic, maybe?" She rolled her eyes.