Page 11 of Hear Me Roar

“Just go along with it. We have to be sure they can’t see us through the pass through,” I murmured, spinning her around to face the counter once more. And then I slapped her pert little ass, tumbling a soft yelp off her lips I knew carried into the livingroom.

“You like that, don’tyou?”

“Oh yeah…” she said with exaggeratedpurpose.

I rammed my hips against her, which in turn rattled the cabinets, adding the perfect sound effect to our mock-porno.

“Right there… Don’tstop.”

“Oh my fucking God,” Reyna howled. “You can’t beserious!”

“You better be joking, fuckface, or I’m gonna whoop your ass!” Luis belted out right behindher.

I would've kept going, but Hazel started cracking up, immediately giving us away. Her laughter was contagious and, all too soon, I found myself laughing right along with her. It was moments like these I loved, the ones where she was so light and free of her past. Gone was the vanquished, fearful girl who believed she was only worthy of solitude, and in her place, was a vibrant, exuberant woman who fought fiercely and loved passionately. She’d come a long way since we first met, and knowing I had something to do with it only reassured we were made for eachother.

With Luis and Reyna going off on us not thirty feet away, Hazel spun around to face me again and placed a soft kiss to my lips, smirking as though she'd been reading my thoughts. Then with lithe grace, she snatched the plate of limes off the counter and pulled out the bottle of Patron from the freezer before making her way back to ourfriends.

“Are you guys really that gullible?” I heard her ask as I grabbed the shot glasses she forgot. Apparently, we were getting shitfaced tonight and I missed thememo.

“Fuck you. Shit was banging, you were moaning,” Reyna said indisgust.

“Fake moans, bitch. Don't act like you don't know how to doit.”

“Probably not. Reyna is a born-again virgin, remember?” Luisteased.

“Jump off a cliff,” Reyna barkedindignantly.

“She is not,” Hazel came to her defense, scooting over to allow me a spot beside her on the couch. “She's just not a slut likeyou.”

“Hey, I take offense to that! I'm not a slut, I just embrace the single life. I'm not tied to the same pussy if I don't want tobe.”

“Exactly, which makes you a manslut, and being so familiar with the lifestyle should mean that's the last thing you want for your sister when you know how assholes like youoperate.”

Luis rolled his eyes. “I'm not saying I want her to live up the hoe life, but she’s always alone. She hasn't gone on a date inyears.”

Hazel’s eyes went wide as saucers as she turned her attention to Reyna. Even my expression wasbaffled.

“We’ve been through this…” Reyna said, fidgeting in herseat.

“We most definitely have not. Before you left, you told me you had a date with that guy fromGNC.”

“What guy from GNC?” Luis asked, both confused andintrigued.

“She didn't tellyou?”

“No, she didn't. Who is he, Rey? Are you still seeinghim?”

Reyna shook her head, keeping her line of sightdowncast.

“Why not? Whathappened?”

“Nothing.”

“Something had to havehappened.”

“Nothing happened,” she gritted out, prompting Hazel to reach out for herhand.

“Rey, whathappened?”

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