Page 36 of A Slice of Love

And I don’t want it righted any time soon.

But, per the usual lately, I’m shit out of luck.

It’s like she catches herself, all the bad memories we share slamming into her at once, and her mouth falls into a thin line. Her body language shifts, shoulders going stiff.

Just like that, she’s walled off her heart from me.

She rushes toward the door, but Julian blocks her from making a hasty exit. I try not to laugh as she glares up at him, considering their size difference and all.

I don’t have to be sitting close to them to know they’re talking about me. It’s obvious from the glances they both keep sending my way.

Whatever Julian says seems to pacify her, and the tension sitting in her shoulders dissipates.

“I can’t believe Julian Schenn gets to fuck her,” Drake says as Julian and Frankie make their way past our table and pop into a booth two seats down, all eyes following her swaying hips. “Shit, man. Of all the guys out there, she picks the part-time cocksucker to take that sweet virgin pussy. I’m jealous as fuck.”

“In high school I secretly hoped I could get a go at her—really stick it to that bitch Principal Callahan for getting us suspended for those games—but nobody could get the girl to talk. I can’t believe she looks like she does now.”

Drake points to Wilson. “Agreed.”

“I dunno,” Hill chimes in, leaning back on the bench. “She was too shy for me. I like my ladies wild. Loose.”

“I’ll take virgin pussy over loose pussy any day.” Drake takes a swig from the beer bottle he’s clutching. “What about you, Schwartz? Ever wanna fuck Frankie Callahan?”

My jaw begins to ache from clenching my teeth so hard and I work to school my features, because there is no way I’m about to let these morons in on what transpired between me and Frank.

I don’t answer his asinine question, instead pushing myself from the booth and standing over the end of the table, glowering down at the idiots before me and wondering how I was ever friends with such dickbags.

“I think I better get going.”

“What? Bailing so soon?” Wilson asks.

“Yep. I’m meeting some friends.”

“Anyone we know?”

“Actually, yeah, and I just want to clear the air about something real quick.” I lean down, pressing my hands on the table. All three guys gather closer like I’m about to spew some deep, dark secret. “If I ever—and I mean fuckingever—hear any of you washed-up, sorry sacks of shit talk about Frankie Callahan again, I’ll staple your balls to a tree stump in the middle of the fucking town so everyone can see how small your dicks really are.”

They all stare up at me, stunned into silence.

“And one last thing… I bet Julian Schenn can suck a mean cock. I’m sure you can ask your dads for confirmation.” I tap the table twice. “Fun chatting with you all.”

Without another glance in their direction, I make my way to Julian and Frankie’s booth.

“Hey, guys. Sorry I’m late.”

Slice Six

Frankie

“Did you just tell those morons I suck their dads’ dicks?”

Julian’s stare is enough to send most men cowering.

But not Jonas.

He stares back, unaffected. “Yep.”

His bravery stirs something in me I haven’t felt in far too long.

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