Page 55 of Big Balls
“You’re Ethan’s best friends.” My tone is under enthused, even to my own ears. Well, so much for playing it cool.
Sebastian shrugs his shoulders in a way that should seem normal, but I swear he’s the kind of man who irons his underwear, and there is absolutely nothing casual about him. “Usually we are, but we’re taking a break from him at the moment.”
At his words, my interest is definitely piqued. “Fine. If you aren’t here on his behalf, then why is my working class living room filled with enough billionaires to buy an entire island nation?”
Sebastian looks carefully at me. “Do you play poker?”
I point at the ratty couch that was upholstered in the late eighties. “Why don’t you have a seat and tell me what you’re doing here.”
None of them sit, though, because they are the type of men who don’t want to sit down when they’re invited to do so.
I sigh and then I sit down instead. “Look, I’m exhausted. Can you please tell me why you’re here and then leave?”
Tate nods. “Okay, Zoe, here’s the thing. Ethan is a dirtbag who could not possibly have messed this up any worse than he already has.”
My eyes trace over his face, then I check on his two friends. But they all appear completely serious. If they’re trying to play games with me, they are better at feigning sincerity than I am prepared to deal with.
It’s probably better if I assume they mean it for now, until I figure out where the trap is here. This definitely feels like some sort of problem waiting to happen.
I wait. They wait. We stare at each other for a few heavy moments, then Sebastian speaks up.
“We need to talk to you about Ethan, Zoe.”
I figured as much, but I’m not interested in anything like this discussion. “No thanks.” I make a hand-dusting gesture. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to unpacking so that I can get ready for work tomorrow.”
Sebastian smiles, but it’s a dangerous and predatory looking smile. Feral, with too many teeth showing. “You haven’t even opened your suitcase. I’ll bet you were lying there in bed thinking about how much you want to punch Ethan in his mouth.”
I blink twice, then my own mouth curves into a smile. “No, you’ve got it all wrong.” I fold my hands together into a little knot. “It wasn’t his mouth.”
Jackson barks a laugh and the other two men look over at him. “What? It was funny.” He straightens his tie. “I can definitely see why he’s like this over her.”
I don’t mean to flinch, but I do at the casual intimacy of his words. Because he’s talking about Ethan Alexander being a certain way over me, and I am dying to know how he is but I am absolutely not asking.
I put up my hand like a traffic cop manning the crosswalk. “You three are supposed to be his very best friends. And if I know how private he is, how much Ethan needs people to not be talking about him, then you do, too.” I look at them each in turn, as if they are naughty kids who need a time out. “I’m not having a conversation at his expense, no matter what he did.”
A look passes between them, but before I can figure it out, Tate speaks up again. “How about we don’t talk about him, then? What if we talk about you instead?”
My eyes narrow. “No thanks. I don’t talk to strangers. Especially ones who shouldn’t know my new address and yet show up uninvited to discuss the worst human being in the world.”
Sebastian laughs, and it’s a downright sinister sound. That man definitely has some issues.
“If this doesn’t work,” he says, his eyes gleaming, “then you come see me. I’ll make sure you have whatever your heart desires.”
Both the other men give him a look of absolute disgust, but it doesn’t seem to even register with him. Tate shakes his head. “Just ignore Sebastian. It’s the only way.”
I almost laugh despite myself but settle back down and look at the men still looming over me. “At least sit down before we have this entire conversation, okay? I don’t like having you all staring down at me.”
The men arrange themselves around my apartment. Two at my tiny kitchen table and Tate on the floor with his legs folded up beneath him.
“Is this to your satisfaction then?” Sebastian’s voice makes it all seem really filthy, even though all I asked for was for them to sit down. I can definitely see why Tate suggested that I ignore him.
I keep my focus on Tate, pointedly ignoring the little barb from the peanut gallery. Tate’s smile widens when he figures out what I’m doing, and he turns to Sebastian. “She really is perfect.”
“Sheis sitting right here, still wondering what three degenerate playboy bachelors are doing in my apartment without having been invited here.” I tap my foot against the worn orange carpeting.
Jackson clears his throat. “It’s like this. Ethan has been absolutely worthless as a person since you broke up with him. I know you could do better, but would you at least call him? He doesn’t even get to be sad in public about this, but he’s moping around the house listening to bad breakup music.
I snort. “What exactly constitutes bad breakup music?”
