Page 92 of Light in the Dark
Lainey rolls her eyes. "Whatever. I'm just lightening the mood."
I send Layla an appreciative smile—I've got no problem with Lainey's humor, I'm just not in a place to laugh. Sighing, I address the group. "I appreciate you all being here. I'm not sure there's much point in hanging around right now, though. The doc said she could be unconscious for up to twenty-four hours. Hopefully less. I guess for now just head home and I’ll let everyone know when she's awake and ready to see people."
Nyx claps me on the back. "I never met the girl, man—I'm just here for you." He squeezes my shoulder. "I popped by the salvage yard on my way here and checked out your FJ, by the way. They had to cut the roof away to get her out, and it's mangled to hell and gone."
I wave a hand. "Least of my concerns, Nyxie."
He grins at me. "Wasn't finished, bro. I can totally fix it. It'll just be…permanently topless."
"Like your bartender girlfriend?” Riley teases.
Nyx gives him a no-look middle finger. "Fuck off. Barbie is not my girlfriend. We're just friends with benefits. And she's not permanently topless."
"Those tops she wears barely count, man."
Nyx smirks at him. "You're just jealous that I get to play with those F-cups and you don't."
Riley splutters. "F? Jesus."
Noelle cups her own breasts, looking down at them in shock. "And here I thought I was well-endowed. My god, does she wear a back brace?"
Lainey snickers, glancing at Layla. “Each one has to be bigger than both of ours combined."
"Her name is Barbie?" Cole says. "For real?"
"Barbara Yanetti," Nyx says. "She's talked about a reduction, but she never does because she's worried she'll get tipped less."
"That's fucked up," Layla says.
"Like for real," Lainey adds. "That's the most sexist bullshit I’ve heard in a long time. I need to have a chat with the poor woman."
Nyx chuckles. "Go for it."
"You'd be okay with her getting a reduction?” Lainey asks.
Nyx shrugs. "Not my body, first of all. Second, she's not even my girlfriend so it's not like I get a vote anyway. And third, even if she was my girlfriend or whatever, yes, I would be. If it would make her life easier, she should do it." He arches an eyebrow at her. "What, you think the only reason I hook up with her is her tits? She's a great girl. Funny as fuck, laid back, easy to talk to."
Lainey shrugs. "Not a wild leap of logic, Nyx." She arches an eyebrow. “If she's so great, why is she just a friend with benefits and not a girlfriend?"
He rolls a shoulder. “We’ve talked about it, but neither of us is looking for a relationship right now, and we agreed we wouldn't make a good couple anyway. We fight a lot. If we lived together, it'd get volatile."
“You gonna keep seeing her if you ever do date anyone?" Lainey asks.
Nyx gives her a puzzled look. "What is this, Lainey? An inquisition? No, I would not. We both agreed a long fuckin' time ago that if and when one of us starts seeing someone seriously, we'd cut off all contact. We've both been cheated on."
I shake my head, throwing up my hands. "As interesting as all this is, I need to get back to Ember's room."
"Mind if I tag along?" Riley asks.
"Nah, 'course not," I answer. I turn to Cole. "I just wanna—"
He stops me with an uplifted hand. "Nope. Just doing my job. I'm here as your best friend. You'd be here if the situation was reversed."
Nyx shoves Cole playfully. "Hey now, asshole,I'mhis best friend."
"You'rebothmy best friends," I say, cutting off a thirty-year-old argument before it can start. "Jesus. When will you two let that shit go?"
Cole shoves Nyx. "Who are you callin' an asshole, asshole?"
