Page 42 of Walk on the Wilde Side
We walk in silence to the car. Thanks to the damn kiss, one that I won't forget no matter how hard I try; we can't even talk like friends. It's all awkward and weird and it sucks.
"Thanks again," I say coolly and climb into the car. I start it up and take off. He's still standing on the sidewalk, watching me with that intense blue gaze as I turn the corner to head home.
nineteen
Zander
The pizza bites didn't go down as smoothly as I expected. Neither did the beer. That was because I had something major stuck in my craw. I kissed Nev. I had no fucking right to do it, just like I had no right to do it over a decade ago when we were just out of high school, but a moment of weakness overtook me. I'd been tamping down the urge to kiss her for years, and there was something about that moment in the shop, alone, her needing me—a rare occurrence—that made me think I could kiss her. But I had no right. Nevada wasn't just any woman; she was Nevada fucking Mason and everything about her was too good for me.
Ronan and Colin practically turn over the wobbly, pine table as they sit down fast and hard. "Well, well, well, big brother," Colin says as he reaches for the last pizza bite. "You can wipe that glum expression off your face."
"Not glum. Just tired," I protest.
Ronan shakes his head and takes a picture before I can stop him. He holds the screen my direction. "Nope, that's definitely glum. What's the matter? No pussy lined up for the night?" Ronan claps me hard on the shoulder and then shrinks back and gives me an apologetic smile. "Oops. Didn't mean for that to come down so hard. Anyway, your troubles are over."
"Don't have any troubles except the two of you eating most of my pizza bites."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll buy another tray," Colin says dismissively. He leans closer to me and turns his face toward one of the tables across the room. "See those three delectable sweeties over there?" He waves and smiles. They wave back. "They're coming back to the cabin with us for a game of strip poker and whatever else follows."
"Whose cabin? Dad's?"
Ronan laughs. Ronan and Colin are both between jobs, so they've moved back into the main cabin. It works for me because I don't have to look in on Dad as much.
"No, you glum little dickface. We're all going to your cabin for the aforementioned game of strip poker."
"I don't think so. I'm not in the mood."
Ronan points at me but looks at Colin. "Told you he was glum."
"No, I told you he was glum."
"What the fuck? Both of you go away. You're extra fucking annoying tonight." Jameson canceled on the pizza bites and beer. Rio came home from school with a sore throat. After the stupid fucking thing at the sandwich shop, I should have canceled, too, but Ronan called to let me know he and Colin were going out for pizza bites. Mostly he called because the two of them are dead broke, and they needed me to pay for their bites and beer.
Instead of leaving, Colin places a dramatic hand on my arm. "It's all right, big brother, you can tell us what's bothering you. Think of us as a two-sided therapy session."
"Yeah, big guy, what's got you down?" Ronan asks. "You never turn down a game of strip poker with the right players." Ronan looks across the room. "And that brunette better be a terrible fucking player cuz I'm having all kinds of thoughts about her naked."
"Well, some of us work. You two have probably been home all day playing video games. I've been out on an excavator."
"Not like you're digging those holes yourself," Ronan says and then looks like he wants to take the comment back … and fast. "Besides, you think taking care of our old man is a piece of cake? Since the heart attack he's gone full slave driver. 'Ro, take out the trash, would ya? It stinks worse than you.'" Ronan's impression of Dad is spot on, so it's hard not to smile.
"Ah, see, little whippersnapper." Ronan points at my mouth. "I've turned that frown upside down. And I'll bet a game of poker with three half-dressed women will make the smile permanent."
The door opens, and Kinsley walks in. I hold my breath waiting to see who will walk in behind her and release it when her friend Veronica steps inside. My gaze is glued to the door till it closes. No one else follows.
"So, no strip poker?" Colin asks again.
I shake my head. "Feel free to play as much as you like, but I'm heading home to bed after this."
"Well, fuck. C'mon, Ronan. Let's go figure out something else to do. Thanks for nothing, glum old man."
I lift my glass of beer in a toast. "My pleasure. I aim to disappoint."
Kinsley makes a beeline for my table, and again I'm asking myself why I decided to come. Harry and his damn pizza bites.
"Hey, big guy, what the heck happened at the shop? My sister was, as usual, discreet and quiet about all of it."
I look at her. "What do you mean? How do you know anything happened?" I ask defensively.
