Page 50 of Flock
Animal.
“Then maybe you should have gotten a real dog, not a fucking shower poof,” Dominic fires back.
I can’t help my giggle. I hadn’t expected such a lady dog when Sean introduced me to Brandy, and I gave him hell for it.
“At least she’s amusing,” Dominic sizes me up. “Do you do tricks too?” He stabs into his broccoli.
Sean gazes on at me expectantly and I briefly entertain throwing my plate at Dominic, but I decide not to waste a good steak.
And anyway, what in the actual fuck is going on? I look between them and see no sign of conspiracy, but why is Sean not defending me? Not even a little. I get that he wants me to stand my ground, but where’s the backup? Shouldn’t he at least say something? Using that anger, I turn to a freshly showered Dominic, his dark hair tousled on top of his head, his skin darker from his run. A smug smile on his beautiful bastard face.
“Look, Major Malfunction, I get that you have some sort of personality disorder, but can you, just until I finish my steak, try to play nice?”
Sean throws his head back. “Major Malfunction. Good one, baby.”
“Backseat Betty says you fucked her in your Nova,” Dominic supplies as my steak catches in my throat. I choke it down and grab my water, my eyes flying to Sean. This man will use everything I say against me, every word.
Sean glances toward me with a raised brow and I flit my hostile gaze to Dominic.
“So, you like twisting words, huh?”
“I like playing with simple-minded people,” Dominic sips his beer. “It’s a hobby.”
“Fuck yourself, Dominic, there’s a hobby.”
He tongues his upper lip as if contemplating and then shakes his head. “No, I’d much rather you finish that hand job you were giving me before your boyfriend walked in.” He turns to Sean. “By the way, I wouldn’t get too comfortable with her. She was really reluctant to call you her boyfriend earlier. Between that, her staring contest with junior, and the chub rub, I’m thinking she’s not the girl you should introduce to Mom.”
I slam my silverware down, glaring between them. “Okay, what’s the joke?” I fixate on Sean. “Are you not going to say anything to this asshole?”
“Trust me,” Sean sighs, “it doesn’t matter what I say.”
I surge to my feet. “Enjoy your dinner.”
“Oh, look, she has a breaking point.” Dominic tsks as I gather my purse. “How original.”
I head for the door, hearing Dominic speak up behind me. “I told you she doesn’t have it in her.”
“Give her some time.”
I’m beyond the bullshit and any attempt to understand their exchange when Tyler walks in just as I reach the door. “Hey, gir—”
“Hey, Tyler, I can’t ... excuse me,” I push past him, tears threatening and slam the door behind me.
I’m fuming mad, standing at my driver’s door when I realize Tyler blocked me in. Intentional or not, he’s aware of it by now and not even he is going to make it easy on me. I stand in the heat for what feels like endless minutes before I hear the front door open and close. Sean appears, and I dart my eyes away.
“You plannin’ on glaring at the front door all night, Pup?”
I look up at him to see he’s smiling, which only infuriates me further. “You guys are assholes.”
He dips his chin. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” I round my car, tossing my purse on the hood. “Maybe? What is your game?”
“No games. I told you not to play into his shit and you did anyway.”
“He’s horrible. And what did he mean by, ‘I don’t have it in me?’”
“Exactly what he said. And you’re proving him right.”
