AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay, alright.” I put my hand on Hunter’s chest urging him to sit back down. Nobody liked a poked bear and he could go atomic if I let this go.
Hunter pointed at him with his beer enunciating each word out of his mouth. “Shut your fucking mouth about Halley Sue.”
“Easy big guy. No need to pop an artery before you get home to Taylor.” I patted his shoulder attempting to distract him.
“Or bust a nut. Geez, Hunt.” Damien shook his head and I didn’t know if this was Damien being stupid or Damien just being his typical Damien self.
“Let it go guys.” I urged them keeping my eyes on both of them.
Damien didn’t seem inclined to listen, as usual and pressed, “So isn’t she more related to you on your mom’s side?”
“Second. Fucking. Cousins.” Hunter groused draining his beer.
“The kissing kind apparently.” I nudged Damien. They made me laugh thinking that maybe my problems weren’t nearly as complicated as I was making them out to be. Damien kept up his dramatics. It was a wonder he played football with us instead of trying out for the theater troupe in high school.
Hunter rolled his eyes. “Damn Southerners.”
“What’s the south got to do with this? You got something against grits?” It was hard to imagine Damien looking indigent, but he did.
“Technically you’re a Yankee.” I tried to clarify.
“No.” Damien shook his head. “I’m a Red Sox fan, but don’t tell my dad. He’ll just bitch when he buys tickets for the games.”
“Damien…” I started to correct him, but Hunter grabbed my arm shaking his head no. He was right; this was probably not an argument worth having with Damien. Wasn’t there a stereotype about blonds? Too bad Damien was as brunette as they came. He was blowing all the molds tonight, and I wasn’t going to get any answers or clarity here playing referee between these two.
“Always have to be the smartass don’t you?” Hunter accepted a plate of appetizers from Remi and shoved a mozzarella stick in his mouth. She brought tall glasses of ice water and quietly slipped away. I didn’t blame her, I wanted out of there too.
“Deep throat that too, Hunt. I can go all night on this.” Damien challenged drawling out the all night as if he was southern himself, and that was my cue to go.
Uh…look guys, that’s great, but you know what, I’m gonna go.” I waved to Andy so I could settle up my bar tab. He waved back like my money wasn’t any good with him.
“So we’re not even going to talk about chicks?” Damien actually looked upset by this and I wasn’t kissing and telling.
“No, we’re not idiot.” Hunter jabbed him hard making him grunt.
“Pussy whipped.” He grumbled dodging a deserved whack from his cousin in the back of his head.
Hunter took a long drag of his beer
finishing it before speaking, “You should probably go and talk to her. That usually works.”
Sure because the way I had left things with her worked out so well.
“I don’t know. She’s–” What would I have said? Younger? A college student? Impulsive? None of it sounded good on the surface, but they didn’t know her. Not that I knew her well either, but watching Ryder West across the bar I knew I definitely didn’t want her near that jackass. The man looked like he was trying to convince a girl of water in the desert, namely, him. He was no oasis that’s for sure, just another cocky asshole.
“Talk, man. It sucks but girls relate to that. Be honest.” Far be it from Hunter to have the pearls of wisdom tonight.
“Were we helpful?” Damien appeared genuinely thoughtful chewing on a mozzarella stick and my eyes squeezed shut attempting to block out whatever the hell the last hour consisted. I tried to answer as nicely as possible, but failed when Hunter smiled shaking his head no. This wasn’t worth the argument.
So I lied.
“Great man,” I clasped Damien’s shoulder. “Glad we had this talk.”
“Let me know if you want to shoot pool next time and we’ll leave this D-bag at home nursing his dateless wounds from the ones that escaped,” Hunter pointed at Damien who grunted.
“Yeah well, next time we can leave Groucho here at home with his nachos.” Damien thumbed in Hunter’s direction.
“Sounds good Blue.” I teased Damien one last time and left Hunter howling with laughter.
