Tequila.
I stood.
“Let me get this out before it get’s really crazy in here.” The guys forgot the chicks and forgot Dollie and her tits. They gave me their attention and their respect and I appreciated it more than they knew. It was part of the reason I had the strength to leave. Our connection went beyond the club.
Don’t tell my dad, thought.
I looked at each one of them. Mattie with his goofy schoolboy grin, J Dub with the baseball hat he took off. Snatch who should be modeling on some fucking runaway instead of stealing shit. I was at a loss for words. There was nothing I could say they didn’t already know.
“Thank you guys.” I said and nodded.
They all nodded back and downed their shot. I did the same.
“That’s it?” Derrick said with fake disgust on his face.
I laughed.
“Yeah, I though we were going to get a Oscar-worthy speech.” J Dub chimed in.
“Yeah, something like, I love you guys.” YoYo stood up and dramatically clutched his chest. “More than you'll ever know.”
“You are the wind beneath my wings.” Mattie sang as he draped himself on me.
“Shut the fuck up.” I pushed him back on the couch.
I cracked up along with the guys.
I grabbed my beer, but stopped mid sip when I spotted Grace moving around the perimeter of the room. She watched me intently.
While Matt tried every chance he got to get in her pants.
She always turned him down.
I never tried. Not because I didn’t want her. I did, I was afraid of her. Afraid of what she could do to my heart.
As it is she had a starring role in every one of my jerk off fantasies. I may have called a conquest or two by her name, but only when I was drunk.
I chuckled at myself.
She leaned against the wall and waited.
I took a drag of my beer and met her gaze.
She wanted to look away, but couldn’t. She squirmed as if I was holding her in place. I imagined her panties getting moist as she took me in. When I didn’t approach, she pouted, turned and headed toward the back stairs.
Grace was one of the few women who had free rein of the clubhouse. She had all the guys’ protection. Besides, if anyone laid a finger on her, they would lose the finger, along with the hand, and I’d rip their cock off and let them bleed out in the middle of the floor for days as an example for the others.
Don’t believe me. Try me.
“We ready to get stupid gentleman?” Mattie said as he took another shot.
“Matt," I pulled on his shirt. “Sit down for a second, I want to talk to you.”
“That’s our cue.” Derrick said.
“Listen, to him.” Red chuckled as he thumped his chest with his fist. “Brotherly advice straight from the heart.”
I flipped him off.