Page 18 of Grudge Puck
Because guys like Beau didn't settle down. They didn't have to. They had a golden ticket in life, and they wouldn't give it up for someone like me. And that's why he wasallowedto get away with being such a massive dick.
But deep in my heart, there was some small part of me, some nugget of my soul, that so badly wished Piper could be right—even if I hated myself for being so weak and vulnerable. So patheticallyhuman.
Just then, a second later, I spotted the booth in the back of the club. And that idioticnugget of my soulwas crushed out of existence, squashed like a troublesome bug.
Oh God.
I tapped Piper on the shoulder and discreetly pointed out the smarmy athlete in the dress shirt and suit jacket.
“There's my boyfriend, Piper.”
Beau Bradford hadn't changed at all. He sat with his arms around not one, not two, not even three—butfourgirls. Four. All of them young and bright-eyed and vying for his attention, their boobs damn-near spilling out of their tiny dresses.
Piper finally spotted Beau, and a hand went straight to her mouth with surprise. I could see the regret in her face—surely now she understood what we were dealing with. But did she see the role she'd played in getting my hopes up?
Stewing with resentment, I turned around to high-tail it out of the club. But Piper grabbed me by the hand and stopped me.
“Wait. One drink,” she said. “We came all this way. We might as well have one drink.”
I blew out a heavy breath. “Fine. One drink.”
I put a hand up to hide my face and let Piper lead me to the bar. There, she 'accidentally' bumped into the men standing next to us and struck up a conversation. They offered to buy us both a drink, and Piper happily accepted.
“Now listen,” she whispered to me. “You're going to play along and do what I say.”
“Why?”
“Because I think I know you and Beau better than you know each other.”
Oh, give it up already … I don't like the guy. I don't care.
Chapter 6
One of a Kind
Beau
The light was dim and the music loud and everyone had to shout to be heard at Club 1 OAK. We relaxed in the VIP lounge in the back of the venue, in a huge circular booth made out of plush velvet.
Yeah, so I had a moment of weakness. After dinner, I got bored while killing time at the hotel. I ended up reinstalling MeatMarket on my phone and messaged back a handful of those girls to meet us here.
And here they were. I had two girls on my left, two girls on my right, and both my arms around their shoulders. As the night got later, the girls scooted closer and closer until their warm bodies pressed against mine. After the first drink, theirhands started moving under the table and out-of-sight. They traced their finger-nails up and down my thigh as a silent competition played out between them.
Normally, a little tease like that is enough to get me hard. I'm not ashamed of it—touch me like you want me, and yeah, I'll grow some wood. The girlsalwayseventuallynotice the bulge running down my trousers—and then it's just a matter of time before they start secretly touchingthatunder the table, too.
Tonight, though?
For whatever reason, it wasn't working. I guess I wasn't all that excited. I dunno, maybe Hunter was right. My head was in the clouds all day for some reason and I couldn't figure out why.
“BEAU!” Vinny yelled. The boys were embroiled in some kind of debate that I was supposed to be paying attention to, apparently. “You're awfully quiet over there. What do you think?”
“… About what?”
“Christ! Aren't you listening?”
I took a sip from my vodka-water and gave him a careless shrug.
The girl on my left jumped in with a giggle. “Can't you see? His mind is elsewhere.” She ran her fingers against my stomach, fondling the ridged texture of my abs through my shirt. Then she whispered in my ear. “You looksostrong andsexy tonight, Beau.”
