Page 10 of Grace of Spades
"I take it that was part of the Bitch Brigade?" I ask.
"Yeah, that's Addison." She says as we pay for our lunches and find a seat. I manage to sit with my back to the wall without suspicion. "Are you really okay with me being gay?" She says nervously.
"Why wouldn't I be? If it's who you are, it's who you are." I shrug. This poor girl must deal with some serious shit.
"You really are my favourite person." She mutters with a devious smile. "What did you say to her?"
I smile sweetly and bat my eyelashes and repeat myself. She sprays her apple juice across the table laughing. I hand her a napkin and start helping her clean up while we laugh.
"Hey Kennedy, what's so funny?" A deep voice asks. I look up and see grey eyes in a rough handsome face. He has a strapping figure with broad shoulders and distracting thick arms. He's not the one speaking but he sends me a crooked smile that makes my heart pound anyway.
"Grace was just telling me a joke." She lies smoothly. I try to suppress a smile as I take a bite of my french fry.
"I don't think we've met. I'm Alek and this is my buddy, Keir." Keir's friend smiles.
"Hey," I say with a smile looking at both of them.
"Do you mind if we join you ladies?" Alek asks. I shrug and look at Kennedy.
"Sure, have a seat boys!" She grins gesturing to the table like Vanna White.They each take a seat on either side of us and set down their trays of food. Alek has a burger and Keir has a slice of pizza. The pizza smells like heaven.
"I didn't know they had pizza." I wish I had.
"They don't. We left and picked it up. Same with the burger." Keir mutters quietly. I see Alek and Kennedy stare at him in shock out of the corner of my eye. I decide to ignore them.
"Where? It smells better than Theo's." I grin. He chuckles.
"It's from Russo's. Where's Theo's? I've never heard of it." He asks.
"Little place downtown. So much grease." I laugh. "And you can get a slice and a can of pop for two dollars." He chuckles.
"Yeah, Russo's is like forty bucks for a small pie."
"Jesus Christ," I mutter causing them all to laugh. I don't know how that's funny. That's fucking bullshit is what it is. I mean, it's a pizza! Better be gold plated.
"So what are you ladies up to tonight?" Alek asks.
"Kennedy is slumming it with me tonight before I have to meet my grandparents," I say easily trying to ignore the gilded pizza beside me.
"Slumming it, eh?" Alek chuckles.
"Yeah, I have to see some friends downtown," I nod munching on another fry.
"Downtown? Isn't that a little rough for a little thing like you?" Alek teases. I know he doesn't intend to be mean but it makes me bristle.
"We'll be fine," I say shortly.
"Are you sure? Maybe they should come with us." Kennedy says gently trying to diffuse the situation. I smile at her and nod.
"It's all good. I'll go another day." I shrug. Maybe I'll just call Rudy at the gym and let him know and he can tell Ray. Yeah, I'll do that. It’d be another full day with everything else going on tonight anyway."What did you want to do?" I ask.
"Want to go see a movie?" She suggests looking a bit pink.
"Sure... oh wait, I gotta check with Andras. He called in the cavalry this morning because I went for a run." I chuckle. I pull out the phone Andras gave me and text him.
Me:Yo! Kennedy wants to go to a movie after school. Is it okay if I go with her?
Andras:Sure. Come by the house after school. I'll have Ruby give you the debit card I set up for you.
