Page 40 of Saving Pookie

As I climb off the table, I notice the weight of my dick has shifted to the right, poking at the white fabric. Hard. I cast a suspicious glance at the camera that's still flashing red. Surely they wouldn't air my boner, not after Talon lectured me about popping Viagra before work shifts.

The whole crew is in the dressing room, Tamra and Avalon included. And by "the whole crew," I mean everyone except Kolter, who is still missing in action. I'm starting to get worried. He hasn't returned any of my texts, or anyone else's that I'm aware of. Whenever the topic is brought up to Mr. Pink or his brother, they wave off our concern, which is somewhat comforting. Still, I can't help but wonder where he could be every time I see his empty chair.

I wait for Tamra and Avalon to stop gossiping in the corner, wait for my crazy ex-girlfriend to move to apply a fresh coat of pink lipstick in the mirror. I step over to Avalon and whisper to her as I pass, "Your best friend is a real piece of shit. Can you help find her a new boyfriend so she'll leave me the hell alone?"

Avalon responds with a giggle, clearly amused. She's not the type of girl to get involved with drama. I've never heard her argue or raise her voice. Even when she and Maverick break up every other month, they remain completely cordial.

The next person I spot is Gunnar, who admires himself in the mirror. He flexes his guns and kisses his biceps. I should give him a heads-up about what I said outside. I approach from behind, finding his gaze in the mirror. "Hey, buddy."

He turns around and parks his thick ass on the counter, the hem of his tight white briefs cutting into his thighs. "What did you do?"

Quite the accusing tone. Alas, he would be right. I did something. Rather, I said something I shouldn't have. Not because it wasn't true, but because it was being filmed. I scratch at the back of my head and grimace. "I may have said some things in the heat of the moment. Some things you're not going to like."

His knuckles turn white as his grip tightens on the counter. "What the fuck did you say?"

I try to play it off as if it's nothing by shrugging. "Just called you a momma's boy."

"I'll beat your fucking ass," he growls.

Now that he's wound up, I can't help but poke the bear. It's a fucking flaw of mine. This mouth... Just never quits, ya know? "I also said something about not cutting it in the military⁠—"

Both of his brows lift in unison. He's making a list, checking it twice, and when the time is right, he's going to give me a thrashing. "Anything else?"

I play with my bottom lip with my fingers, debating if I should just let him hear the last part for himself. My mom always said honesty was the best policy, but my dad always cautioned that honesty was the key to broken hearts and divorce. To be fair, I'm pretty certain he only ever said that because he was a philanderer who slung his dick around the Laguna coast as if it were a fishing lure for secretaries.

I let out a breathy sigh and confess, "I might have said you are terrified of commitment because you're too much of a hoe."

He tongues the inside of his cheek but settles on an amused chuckle. "That one's fair."

Now that I've said too much, I bolt away from him and run straight into Boone. "You have a wet spot," I say to him, pointing at his white undies.

He drops his gaze, the shadow of his head falling over his hairy chest. He finds no such white spot because he does not have one.

"Made you look," I snicker, taking a seat on the counter beside Dixon's chair.

Dixon grabs his pink cowboy hat, places it on his head, and spins it in a half circle to line it up properly. "They got me working downstairs again."

"At least you're not going to get wet." I elbow him in the shoulder playfully. "Is Mike coming tonight?"

He passes me a knowing smile, his eyes flipping to the side. "You know he wouldn't miss wet underwear night for the world."

"I know." I lean over him and whisper, "I always catch him staring."

He peels his gaze upwards to meet mine. "I love you, but sometimes you should just shut up."

"These lips were made for smacking and that's just what they'll do." I hop off the counter, the bottom of my boots scuffing over the floor. "Have you seen Pookie?"

He lets out a groan and bows his head. "Your new best friend is upstairs."

I jerk in place, taken aback by his tone. "What are you talking about?"

He does a half turn, lowering his arm over the back of his chair. "Tamra's gone and told everyone you have a new best friend. She says you took him to the tracks."

I let out a simper. "She told you that?"

"I'm glad someone's making friends with the new guy." He rises to his feet, stretching his arms out over his head. When he's done stretching, he pats me on the shoulder. "I just don't want to be replaced as your best friend."

And then he's gone, leaving me standing in place as he gathers the troops and they all leave together. The troops being Maverick, Avalon, Tamra, and Dixon, who are all working downstairs for the party while Gunnar, Boone, Pookie, and I work the wet bar upstairs.