“Mmm…have you ever had a really good French vanilla or bourbon vanilla?” Shelby squeezes her eyes shut. “Exquisite. I’d go for that any time.”
“See.” Dex nods at Shelby. “Vanilla is a classic for a reason.”
Rooster slings his arm around Shelby’s shoulders. “Yeah, brother. I get where you’re going with your analogy, but stick to discussing ice cream with my ol’ lady.”
“Come on.” Dex dismisses it with a wave of his hand. “You know me better than that.”
“That’s ’cause Dex is asexual.” Rav grins like he came up with something clever.
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter.
“Being community dick isn’t exactly something to brag about, bro,” Jigsaw points out. “It suggests you can’t satisfy a woman so none of them come back for a second round of disappointment.”
“Oh, shit!” Steer snaps his fingers and points at Rav.
“You’re the last one to be pointin’ fingers,” Hustler reminds Steer. “Your dick’s so toxic, I’m surprised it doesn’t glow neon green.”
Shelby slaps her hands over her ears. “Lalalalala. I don’t want to hear ‘bout anyone’s willy.”
Her silly plea is enough to cool the escalating insults that were bound to get someone punched soon.
“I’m just saying,” Dex holds up both hands, then points at Ravage. “Quit yucking other folks’ yum. Not liking something isn’t a bad thing.”
Rooster pulls Shelby into his lap and kisses her cheek. “I dunno. She threatened to mule kick me if I pulled her hair once.”
“Right. Once. I didn’t have to say it twice,” Shelby agrees.
Steer lifts his chin at Shelby. “I can see why, if you wear those cowboy boots in bed, Shelby. They’d put a hurtin’ on a man’s nuts.”
“Maybe.” She kicks one foot out. “Come on over and let’s see.”
The guys roar with laughter, even Rooster, although he keeps sending Steer murderous glares in between chuckles.
“The two of ’em screech like barn owls in bed, so if that’s vanilla, sign me up,” Jigsaw says.
Shelby’s eyes bug and her jaw drops.
“So, so many things wrong with that sentence, my dude.” Sparky shakes his head. “So many.”
“Z makes these horny bear noises.” Murphy lifts his chin and grins at Z from across the room. “I legit thought we had a grizzly problem when we were living next door.”
Z rolls his eyes. “We can’t all sound like a wheezing Yeti.”
“See.” Sparky points at Murphy, then Z. “That’s how you do it. Mock your brother, but leave the ladies out of it so you don’t embarrass them.”
“I don’t screech.” Shelby gives Jiggy a haughty chin lift. “I vocalize my pleasure.”
“Loudly,” Jigsaw agrees. “It was meant as a compliment.”
“You’re sleeping outside next summer.” Rooster wads up his empty coffee cup and launches it at Jiggy’s head.
I shift my gaze to the clock on the wall. “We better head home, buttercup.”
“Sure.”
“I’ll walk out with you,” Trinity says.
“Are ya leavin’?” Shelby races across the dining room, the soles of her boots clunking against the hard floor. “I barely got to talk to ya.” She hugs Serena fiercely. “I knew I drew that Empress card for a reason. Congrats, you two. You’ll have to let me do another reading for you soon.”
“Anytime.” Serena hugs her back. “Thank you again for the shout-out. I’m still seeing new followers from it.”
“Oh my gosh, any time!”
Trinity reaches for Shelby, pulling her into their huddle. “Shelby mentioning my designs has given me a whole new side-business.”
Shelby ducks her head, pink racing over her cheeks. “Gotta support my girls. You’re both hella talented, I’m happy to be the megaphone givin’ ya a boost.” She gasps. “Oh, that reminds me! Rooster is building me this fan-flocking-tastic vanity room. It’ll be a great backdrop if you still want to let me film a tutorial with you.”
“Wow.” Serena’s eyes widen. “Yes, yes. I still want to do that,” she stammers. “If you do.”
“What is this ‘Rooster’s building me’ bullshit?” Jigsaw says, slowly approaching our group. “I think you meant, ‘Rooster suckered his best friend into doing lots of unpaid labor,’ didn’t you?”
“Aw, you know I appreciate it, Jiggy.” Shelby pouts and reaches up to pat his cheek.
“As annoying as he is, he’s good at putting stuff together,” Rooster says, slapping Jigsaw’s back so hard, he lurches forward.
“Easy, fucker.”
Rooster lifts his chin at me. “You two heading out?”
“Yeah.”
The girls go through another round of hugs and goodbyes. It’s another half-hour until we finally make it out the front door.
Outside, under the stars, Serena takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, tipping her head back.
“Are you all right?” I ask.
“Yes, that was…better than I thought it would be.”
“I’m sorry we have to leave.” All these small tastes of freedom are dangerous for me. I can’t wait until I don’t have to worry about a curfew.
Soon, I hope. Soon.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Grinder
A get your ass to the clubhouse text from Wrath had hit my phone about an hour ago.
“I’m here, what’s the emergency?” I push open the war room door. Only Wrath, Teller, Murphy, Dex, and Rock are seated at the table. “I got here as fast as I could.”