Page 41 of Sharkbait
Mabel bolts from her stool and gives me a too-tight squeeze. “I’m sorry! Is that what raw dogging means? No condom?”
“Uh, yeah!” I say.
“Gotcha. That makes total sense now that I think about it. I always thought it was a position and a vibe thing. So I totally thought it applied here to this situation. You know, because you guys were sorawand intense, and you did it doggy—”
“Got it, Mabes!” I cut her off. “But yeah, no. That’s not what it means.”
“Gotcha. Consider me corrected.” She returns to her seat and wraps an arm around Wally. “Life, am I right? You learn something new every day.”
A silence descends on all of us. I avoid eye contact with anyone and everyone.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Calliope holding back her laughter.
James slides two IPAs onto the bar.
Ralph glares at him.
I lean closer to Ralph and speak low. “For the love of God, do not make a big deal about this. I am a grown woman and don’t need my big brother being weird and macho on my behalf. Remember where that got us last time?”
A whole year of not speaking to each other.
Ralph‘s shoulders visibly relax.
He takes a deep breath.
I slide his beer closer to him.
He doesn’t say a word, but he still eyes James over the rim of his glass while he takes a sip.
“Can I, uh—can I get you something to drink?” James asks me.
I stare into my menu like it’s the most fascinating thing I’ve ever seen and ramble, “Water will do. I had way too much champagne already tonight. Besides, we’re not staying longanyway, and I should probably hydrate.”
“You got it.”
He pours me a glass of water and goes to place it down.
I reach for it too fast and end up with my fingers touching his.
I snatch my hand back like I’ve been burned.
“Sorry,” he says.
“No, I’m sorry. My bad.” I pause and finally look up at him. “It was all... my bad.”
James’s brown eyes search mine.
“So!” Calliope breaks the silence. “How was it?”
I shrug. “It was fine. I’ve had better.”
Ralph chokes on his beer.
Calliope laughs and pats him on the back.
James’s eyebrows furrow.
“I meant the champagne! Not the sex! The sex was fine! I mean, better than fine! It was probably the best I’ve—”
