Page 110 of Silent Damage

“No! Why would you ask that?”

“It’s a sex club.”

I roll my eyes. “There’s also a bar. We’ll have drinks and chill.”

“Torren chills?” he asks.

I don’t know if chill is the word I’d use. “He lightens up when he’s had a few drinks, and Felix is hilarious. I really like him.”

His eyes narrow. “You do, huh?”

The tone is pointed, to say the least. “You’ll like him, too,” I add.

He folds his arms across his chest. “I will, huh?”

His eyes bore into me, narrow and suspicious. “What?” I ask.

“I don’t believe for a second this is some random hey-let’s-hang-with-your-friends bullshit. I think you have a plan that you’re not telling me about.”

“I have no plan.” He looks at me incredulously, and my face heats up. “Look, just do this, alright?”

“No.”

“Asshole!”

“Tell me the real reason, and maybe I’ll go.”

I groan, scrubbing my hands over my face. “Fine. Everyone will be there. Okay? The whole gang, and I want them to see you with Torren, so they leave you alone.”

“I knew it! I told you before—”

“Jason, this is a good thing to do. I’m sure of that.”

“No! I won’t. I won’t let Torren scare people into respecting me. I’m gonna make a name for myself—”

“You can still do that—”

“Without your best bud scaring everyone into doing it—”

“It won’t be like that,” I argue.

“The fuck it wo—”

“I’m not asking you to do this,” I exclaim with a stomp of my foot. “I’m telling you. You’re going out with the three of us on Friday, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. So, stop bitching and get over it.”

Silence.

He looks at me wide-eyed, then smirks. “You know, for being silent for two years, you sure found your sass real quick.”

A surprised laugh escapes me. “Shut up,” I mumble.

“Is this the door we’ve opened? You sassing me all the time? I think I liked it better when you didn’t talk.”

I grab the beer can out of his hand and splash him with it.

“What the—”

“You love that I’m talking again.”