Page 5 of Monster
I had been well and truly played.
“It’s ok.” Manda carried on, ignoring my glare completely. “Your dad will understand, we can do damage control and…”
My father would never understand, and as for damage control? We were well past that.
This was war.
4
MONSTER
I didn’t get nervous,not ever, but as I slipped through the gate and into Fang's backyard, I felt something twinge in my chest. I just wasn’t sure why. I had been to dozens of these gatherings. Sure, back then it was only the older generation that had families to bring, but still, it wasn’t like I was an outsider.
I knew everyone there.
It was just…it seemed everyone had a partner but me. Not true by a long shot, but that’s how it felt. I had always maintained that I was happiest alone but that wasn’t exactly true. I was happiest with my brothers. They were the only family I had. And now I had to share them.
My feelings were childish. Angrily, I brushed them aside, plastering my face with a smile. It was a forced one that didn’t quite reach my eyes. Social gatherings were always hard. I couldn't always keep the mask in place. But I would have to. I didn’t have a choice. There were women and children milling around everywhere.
Heading straight for the cooler where I could see the beers nestling between lumps of ice, I almost collided with a familiar face.
“Iris,” I grunted out a greeting and instantly regretted it when her face fell. Pulling her in for a quick hug, I caught Cyber’s eye over her shoulder. My heavily tattooed friend frowned slightly, a clear warning that my hug had gone on long enough and I let her go. Keeping her at arm’s reach, I gave her the once over. “You look great, Iris.”
She gave a girlish giggle. When I had first met her, Iris didn’t laugh at all, she very rarely even smiled. But that was before Cyber had got their kid back, before they had worked things out. Being happy suited her.
Cocking her head to the side, she studied me in return. “Thanks, but I’m the size of a fucking whale already.”
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to lie to her face. Her pregnancy was showing. Her stomach filled out the front of her T-shirt, even her face seemed rounded. Although that might have been just because she was eating more now.
Iris was one of the few women I counted as a friend, but looking at her, I wasn’t sure when the last time I had seen her was. A few months at least. Before everything that had happened with Gypsy and her crazed stalker. I might like Iris, but I was one crappy friend.
Looping my arm around her shoulders, I squeezed her for a second. “Well, I think you look hot.” I chuckled.
“You do, huh?” Cyber’s gruff voice sounded from behind me, the jealousy in it as clear as day.
Chuckling, I threw a wink over my shoulder. “Not as hot as you though, baby.”
Iris started giggling, and once she started. It didn’t seem like she could stop. Holding onto her sides, she wheezed. It was only when a snort erupted from her nose that she straightened. A blush creeping up her cheeks. “And on that note I’m going to find the girls. I think I’ve embarrassed myself enough for one day.”
I glanced at Cyber. He was a big man, heavily muscled and tattooed all over. He was one scary son of a bitch. But there was nothing scary about his face as he watched his old lady waddle off. He looked at her with puppy dog eyes and a smile on his face that could only be described as contented.
I was happy for him.
I think.
“You really love her, don’t you?”
“Yep, her, her temper, the way she snorts when she laughs.” Reaching for a beer, he laughed. “Yeah, I love her. Now come on, let's grab a beer. We haven’t had a drink together in ages.”
I wanted to tell him that was because he was never around anymore. But something stopped me. I’m happy for him, I told myself silently. Happy for all of them.
Maybe if I kept repeating it to myself, I would actually start believing it.
* * *
It had been a good day,a better day than I had been expecting. Sure it wasn’t the kind of party I was used to, but I had to admit to myself that I liked the chilled-out vibe of this one. Maybe it was because our host was my favourite little hippy. Gypsy wasn’t really a hippy; she was a doctor by trade. Her name wasn’t even Gypsy, not really. But everyone called her that. And honestly, she seemed to prefer it.
With the sun setting between the houses, I kicked back finally. Everything was mellow, the music low and chilled. Cradling my beer between my knees, I finally gave the first genuine smile of the day. This was more like it, I thought.
