Page 26 of French 75
Whipped.
“So…” Everest begins as we start to serve ourselves. “What’s new with everyone?” He looks beside him at Butch. “Anything new with you?”
Butch shrugs as he digs into some pancakes. “Not much. Davis wants to bring in a new security guard.”
“Really?” Knox asks, his brow furrowing. “Why?”
“Don’t know,” Butch grunts through a mouthful of pancakes. “It’s not like I can’t handle our shit.”
“You’re a wonderful bodyguard and bouncer,” I tell him honestly. “I don’t know what Davis is thinking.”
“He’s concerned about—” But Max cuts himself off and shuts his mouth. His eyes widen as he looks around the table, then ducks his head. “Never mind.”
Butch raises a curious eyebrow at him. Even though he doesn’t say anything, it’s obvious this is something he’s going to bring up with his boss later.
“Skylar, how about you?” Everest asks with a sweet grin. “Seeing anyone new lately?”
The sudden reminder of my last failed date hits me. At the time, I really thought Frank was great, but now I still feel like an idiot for ever going out with him. Still, I don’t let anybody see my shame and embarrassment, continuing to smile. “Not currently, no. But who knows? The right guy could be right around the corner!”
“Anyone would be better than Ricky the Dicky,” Everest mutters, shaking his head. “God, I’m so sorry you had to deal with that asshole, Skylar. He was so rude to you.”
I nod.Yeahhhh, Richard really wasn’t super great to me. But he tried to be patient! Sometimes it’s just hard when you’re dealing with me. I tend to be a lot sometimes.
“Or how about Jeremiah?” Rhys adds as he cuts his omelet. “His secret wife?”
Okay, ouch. Sore subject, but I guess it’s on me for telling everyone about it. Jeremiah was so perfect. He was handsome and successful and—come to find out—married. He wanted me to do it with his wife but, no offense to the ladies, I definitely don’t swing that way.
“Terry was my least favorite,” Butch says with a scowl. “That fucker drained your savings account.”
But he needed it because his grandmother was having experimental heart surgery… Okay, in hindsight, maybe I shouldn’t have believed that.
A discussion begins about every one of my failed attempts at dating. Boyfriend after boyfriend is thrown around. Everest and Knox know about a few, but Max looks so lost. After a second, he clears his throat. “Um, so, dated a few assholes then?”
My cheeks heat at that. I didn’t think they were assholes at the time! They all seemed… I guess maybe saying they were nicegets a little old, right? I don’t know how to respond to that, but I fumble for a response anyways “I… Well… The thing is?—”
“Can we drop it?” Cassius snaps, resting his hand on the top of my thigh and nearly squeezing the blood out of the limb. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“We’re not trying to be dicks,” Rhys genuinely defends. “We want Skylar to find a nice guy, is all.”
“Maybe someone he never expected in the first place,” Elton says, but it’s almost posed as a question with an obvious answer that I don’t know.
“Someone who treats him right.” Butch looks me straight in the eyes as he says it. “Someone loyal and dedicated.”
I don’t like this. I feel like everyone is talking around me. I get flustered and drop my fork, gulping when it feels like I can’t swallow.
It’s because you’re stupid.
Nobody is ever going to love you.
How could you ever even love yourself?
“Oh! Look! I’m getting a call!” I shout, shooting out of my seat as I wave my phone in the air. “Everyone, I’m going to go outside to take a call! Please, keep eating without me!”
I’m thrown questioning looks but run away before anyone can say anything further. I just need a little time-out. Just a second of peace. A second to believe that I’m not the idiot who falls for the wrong guy again and again andagain.
Feeling so very itchy, I slam myself against the balcony ledge. My arms almost ache, and I resist the urge to scratch my skin. I don’t… I don’t do that anymore. It’s behind me. But I need… I can’t… I don’t?—
“Sunshine,” Cass calls out, racing toward me. “Are you okay?”
