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His eyes were twinkling, “I did.”
“I don’t really remember anything after that,” I admitted.
Will hummed. “It was a fun party, Lou. You didn’t do anything embarrassing. Everyone got home safe. No one puked.”
Phew.
34
Triskele
Boston, MA
Will
“Dude, Louisa wants your dick. How did we not know this?”
“Come on, Brooks. Leave it alone. She was hammered,” Miller said.
She was. But I’d loved every second of living that fantasy for a few hours, because sis was not holding back. I did feel bad about Has, though. I wasn’t encouraging her or anything, but he opted out as soon as Rachel and Jaimie said they were taking off. After that, I let her do whatever she wanted, though. I’m not a fucking saint.
“Wait, you guys gotta fill me in. What did I miss?” Ortiz was pouring an ungodly amount of syrup on his pancakes at the diner. I was on my feet holding Christian Jr. so his dad could eat.
“She got drunk and was on his nuts all night. She couldn’t get enough of him,” Brooks said.
“A drunk girl’s words are a sober girl’s secrets,” Christian said sagely. I smacked the back of his head for Marisol.
“That’s fucking stupid, Ortiz,” I said, even as I wished it were true.
I didn’t want to admit it to them, because I knew what they would say, but I’ve always known Louisa would fuck me if given the chance. That’s never been our issue. We’d light the goddamned bed on fire.
“Was Hasan okay, man?” Christian asked. I shrugged. “You want me to call him?” Ortiz was the nicest guy on the planet. I nodded, and he returned it.
Louisa had been in rare form. Fucking gorgeous, sexy, seductive. I stopped drinking after she basically looked me in the eye and said she fantasized about fucking me during the game we all played. It wasn’t in so many words, but I knew her eye game, and that’s exactly what she was saying.
I’d needed to keep a clear head, especially since she’d been drinking. If I was ever going to cross a line and fuck Louisa, consequences be damned, she sure as shit was going to be sober for it.
“I don’t know how you did it,” Brooks was saying, “she had her hands up your shirt, sitting on your lap, tits rubbing up against you. Bro, I was hard just looking at you guys.”
“Shut the fuck up, Brooks!” Miller cried.
“Yeah, don’t be shitty about it. She was just having fun,” I said, rubbing my hand on the baby’s back.
“Alright, I’m just saying. I don’t know why you aren’t hitting that.”
“Hasan’s in love with her, dude,” Christian said, chewing. “He told Hawkins to stay away.”
“Fuck that’s rough,” Brooks said. “I get it, though. I love that guy. I wouldn’t touch her either.”
My fist clenched involuntarily, and I looked pointedly at Brooks. He put his hands up, innocent.
Miller changed the subject, telling us about a project he’d have to do in one of his business courses next semester.
“I was thinking I could interview Louisa about Never Starve,” he said, “it would be a semester long project. I won’t if you think that’s too much.” He was looking to me for permission. Too much for me to handle. Too much time with someone I wanted that time with. Not that he needed it, but I appreciated that he understood what it felt like to have to leave a woman like Louisa behind, relying on trust to keep you sane.
“I think it’s a great idea. She’s fucking brilliant,” I said sincerely. “But some weird shit has been happening recently—a couple of douchebags hanging around her. Maybe you could keep an eye on her for me?” He nodded, so I continued, “There’s this fucker named Mike…”
The Christmas Market was already buzzing by the time we arrived, lights strung low and glowing against the early dark. The air smelled cold and vaguely fried. Siobhan complained immediately about the wind, Ciara told her she should’ve worn a better coat, and my mom linked her arm through mine like she always did when the ground was slick.
