Page 51 of Intangible
“Do I also get felt up?”
“I don’t know. Show me your tits.” Everyone jumped when Randall slapped both hands down on the table in front of him.
“I swear to God!” he said, looking down the table at Knox. “They revert to the age of fifteen when they all get together. Are we done? I have a business meeting in half an hour. As long as I’m in town, I might as well try to get some things done.”
He stood, motioning the others to leave as well. When the apartment was empty except for the three of them, Memphis let out a big breath. Knox sat down in the armchair with a smirk trained on Memphis.
“What?” he asked.
“He’s right. You do act like a teenager around them.”
“I know. I don’t know what our problem is. It’s stupid. I bet you’re glad now you didn’t have to put up with me growing up.”
Knox only shrugged. “Would have livened things up. I don’t think it would have been so bad. I could have used the help to restore my first motorcycle.”
“I didn’t know you were into motorcycles. It makes sense, though. What was your first one?” Memphis sat on the couch, pulling Thayer down next to him. “Did you know about this?” he asked her. Murphy jumped on the couch, resting his head in her lap as she softly stroked through his fur.
“I did. You should see the beauty he rides now.”
“Okay, so tell me about this fantasy life where I helped you restore your first one,” Memphis said. Thayer felt herself relax into Memphis’ side as she listened to them discuss Knox’s motorcycles. Murphy started snoring next to her as she felt her eyes grow heavy. She vaguely registered the fact that their deep voices became quieter as she slipped into a deep sleep.
When she woke up an hour later, Murphy and Knox were gone. She had slid down until her head was resting on Memphis’ lap with a blanket pulled up to her shoulders.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, stretching. Memphis put down the book he had been reading. “What are you reading?”
“Just something Knox tossed me before he took Murphy for his walk.” Thayer looked at the cover on the book, it was a romance.
“At first, I’ll admit I scoffed, but finally decided what the heck. I couldn’t reach my phone without disturbing you, so what else did I have to do? Turns out, it has a pretty decent storyline, although I do question some of the more acrobatic sounding sex. I considered myself reasonably athletic, but I’m almost positive I couldn’t pull some of it off without breaking something.” Thayer laughed.
“Although I’m not opposed to rereading those parts just for purely scientific reasons, of course.”
“Of course, for science,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“My real question, though, is why was it on Randall’s bookshelf?” Turning the book over, he studied the cover.
“That’s your question?” she asked with a grin.
“Yeah,” he said, tossing the book at the bookshelf. Miraculously, it landed on the top shelf.
“I don’t know what is keeping Knox, I’ll go check.” Standing quickly, Thayer’s head thumped back down on the couch. When she sat back up, Memphis had already grabbed his jacket and was slipping out the door.
* * *
“What are you doing out here?” Knox asked, walking up to the door with Murphy at his heels.
“Sort of wishing I smoked,” Memphis answered. He had made it as far as the bottom of the stairs before sitting down. He had watched Knox tossing a ball to Murphy in the park across the street for half an hour. It was quite possible the dog actually preferred his brother over him now. Memphis shook his head at the thought of having a real blood brother.
“Did you finish the book? Is that why you’re hiding out here? Where is Thayer?” Knox asked.
“She’s fine, and I’m not hiding. I just needed some air.”
“I’m sure you did after reading that book. I finished it last night after you went to bed. There’s some hot shit in that thing. It’s the same stuff Thayer reads on occasion. Thought you would want to know what you’re competing against,” Knox said with a wicked smirk.
Memphis shook his head. “I don’t think I’m good enough to do some of that.”
“Shit, I’m a pretty big man and I don’t think I could do some of it. Maybe if I found someone who weighed about ninety pounds. I’m afraid if I did, though, I’d rip her in half. I don’t think any real man is that good.” He slapped Memphis gently on the back, laughing as he keyed in the code to go upstairs.
“Might be worth the back surgery to try though.” Memphis made sure the door was secure behind him before following Knox up the stairs.
