Page 12 of Role Play

Chapter Ten

Aidan

“Let me get this straight," Zane said as he picked up a slice of pizza. "You heard her pleading for help, but you didn't knock or call out her name. You just bulldozed the door. Fucking classic." He took a bite and fought a long string of cheese that kept his mouth tethered to the pizza.

"See, I knew I was going to regret telling this story the second it left my mouth."

Chase reached for another slice. "C'mon, buddy, you should never worry about telling embarrassing stories when you're with friends."

I wadded up my napkin and tossed it on my plate. "You're right. I should go find some friends right now."

Trey tossed some parmesan on his slice, and I knew he wouldn't be happy until he put his two cents into the mix. "Zane brings up a good point. Why the hell didn't you knock or yell her name?"

"I told you I thought she was being strangled. She's a good actress. And she's cute," I added unnecessarily.

"And now, she's conveniently inside your apartment," Zane added. "Well played, my giant wrecking ball of a friend. Diane was telling me that new honey milk massage oil is awesome. You should take a bottle home tonight." Zane winked. "Give her a little five star treatment."

"Considering I haven't kissed her, or, for that matter, done anything more than gawk at her breasts displayed nicely under a t-shirt, I think the massage oil might be a bit of a jump. Especially after I scared her off with dildos on our first dinner date." I sat back. "Jane's different. I don't know the details, but I think she just came out of a bad relationship. I'm going to have to move slowly, if at all. I'm not even sure if she's interested. I did, after all, destroy her front door." I shook my head and rubbed my face. "I feel like such a fucking dimwit. But she was cool about it. She could have made a huge stink and screamed and cried and told me she was going to call the supervisor and get me evicted."

Trey sucked hard on his mostly empty soda. "That's what I would have done if I saw you lumbering through my door."

"Yeah, that's because you're a sensitive flower. Jane handled it all with grace and humor, and that's why I'm determined to woo her."

The word woo caused Chase to spit out his mouthful of soda. I flipped the top closed before he destroyed the rest of the pizza.

"Damn, you're fast when you're protecting food, Swift." Zane laughed. "Guess that's why your name is Swift."

Chase had recovered from his soda spit. "Did you all catch the big news of the day? Our giant boy is interested in wooing a woman. Looks like the biggest tree in the forest is about to fall."

"Sounds that way," Trey said.

"Just because you three saps follow your women around like lovesick puppies doesn't mean I'm following suit. Someone's got to keep the reputation going. And like I said, I don't know if she's even interested in me."

"But you're so fucking irresistible." Zane reached over to pinch my cheek, but I blocked him with my forearm.

"Someone's feeling extra invincible today," I said to Zane.

He leaned back and patted his chest. "Yep. Tried out that new sex wedge last night, and I thought Raini was going to lose her fucking mind."

Trey dropped the crust of his pizza on the plate. "That explains that fucking grin that's been plastered on your face all day."

I got up from the chair. "Well, lovely lunch but I've got to head back to the warehouse and do real work while the three of you sit around here and look pretty."

"How's Heath working out?" Chase asked as I walked to the door.

"He's an England. Need I say more?"

Chase looked at Trey and Zane, who looked just as confused as him. "Yeah you kind of do."

"The women keep bringing him donuts and cookies. They are all competing for his attention."

"Ah yes, the England family curse," Chase quipped.

I opened the door. "Yep, it's pretty fucking annoying." I walked out thinking that maybe if I hung out near Heath more, then some of that curse would rub off on me.

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