Page 75 of Satan's Spawn
I appreciate his candor, but I don’t want a target painted on his back too.
“Thanks, Archer, but I’m sure it’ll be okay.” Pretty sure even Felix can hear how unconvincing this statement is from outside the car.
Archer eyes Felix warily, while Hendrix, in turn, eyes Archer the same. As if she’s trying to figure him out.
Movement at our right stops us from discussing any further.
“You made it.” Felix holds his arms out wide, giving me a healthy view of the angles on his sun kissed torso.
Archer unlocks the doors and Felix wastes no time opening mine, holding his hand out for me.
I oblige, allowing him to help me out of the car.
Felix’s eyes go from my face down to the heels on my feet before widening. “You look…” He rubs the back of his neck which I realize is bruised, and adds, “Just…wow. Gorgeous.”
Felix sneaks in a quick peck on the corner of my mouth, a bit abrasive and unexpected, but I keep this thought, along with one about the black and blue on his neck to myself.
“Thank you.” I tell him, trying to control the increasing heat on my face.
Archer and Hendrix make their way out of the Porsche, Hendrix offering Felix a wave and Archer that weird chin jut guys do when they’re unsure if they should shake hands.
Or simply don’t want to.
We stand in awkward silence for a beat before I say, “Well, shall we do this?” Looking around at all three of them.
When the hell did I become team leader?
“Absolutely, we’re gonna have a great time.” Felix sneaks a hand around my lower back without an ounce of hesitation. Not that a guy like him has to worry about first date jitters.
Where girls like me are already sweating at the palms, wishing they could turn around and run.
We walk up to the house this way, Felix holding onto me and Archer flinging a casual arm over Hendrix’s shoulder.
If ever there was a time I felt small, it’s now, because the further we get up the steps to the front door, the bigger this house looks. The pillars alone look like they belong in Olympus, not the state of New Jersey.
“Yo, yo, yo fam whaddup?!” Sampson stands in the doorway with music blasting behind him, his golden brown skin dripping with water as he holds a drink in his hand. “Welcome to mi casa, which of course, is su casa for the day.”
I can tell he’s already tipsy, and a part of me is jealous at how relaxed he is as he ushers us inside the foyer.
Which can easily be mistaken as a grand hotel.
Chandeliers, white marble, gold banisters, and an overhead skylight that looks more like a planetarium than a damn window. Even the furniture has gold accents which may very well be real gold.
All this for a bunch of donuts. Huh. The more you know.
“The party is in the back, but feel free to look around.” Sampson announces, probably for me since I haven’t stopped doing just that.
“Nah nah, I’m ready for a drink.” Archer rubs his hands together, and Hendrix holds up a finger.
“Yup. Or five.”
Felix brings his attention to me, I guess assuming I would be interested. “Want a tour?”
That’s ludacris. Exactly what I want, but ludacris.
“No, no. Let’s head out back.”
With a nod, all four of us make our way through the corridors of the house until we reach glass doors that open onto a several acre backyard. I don’t miss how Felix’s hold on me tightens when we step out onto the paved deck.
