Page 101 of Pucking Them
Yet I live for these weekly Friday meetups with my brother, his husband, and my best friend. They keep me stable, even when my stalker ex-husband is back in Freedom, the twins are being targeted through the press, and someone mysterious is watching us from the shadows.
Yet Merchant’s Inn is familiar and safe.
My nose wrinkles at the scent of smoke and stale beer. The bar is crowded and throbbing with loud rock. The locals are dancing on the sticky floors, beneath posters of Emo bands, trying to forget their worries about their rent, lowered wages, and hunger from rising food prices.
Merchant’s Inn is at the heart of the working side of town.
Neve is the outcast who turned around with afuck youand showed that she could become a success story, while letting her freak flag fly.
Now, every one of those freaks have somewhere that they can forget the world for at least one night of the week.
Including me.
Cody is wearing glittering golden eye makeup. I need to borrow it sometime. It’s beautiful.
Both Shay and Cody are better at applying makeup than I am. I should ask them to create a list of tips for me: The Glow-up Is Tactical.
I hum thoughtfully.
It could become another whole merchandising line: Make-up for Players Because Game Face Matters.
Shay glances at me. “What are you smiling about, love?”
He is pressed against me in the leather booth. His arm is slung around my shoulders.
Shay’s leather jacket, slashed crimson t-shirt, and smoky eyeshadow with Khol liner is stunning.
He definitely can contribute to my merchandising idea.
“Nothing,” I lie, leaning to kiss him.
I warm with joy that I can openly show affection to him like this. For months, we have had to hide our relationship in public.
Shay’s eyes glitter with the same happiness. “I love you.”
I kiss him harder.
“Hey, enough PDA.” Cody clinks his beer on the stained table. “I asked you to guess. Want to make it a bet?”
Of course. My brother is also King of Bets.
I’ve learned my lesson on that.
I break the kiss, ignoring Shay’s moan of disappointment.
I narrow my eyes at my brother. “Get behind me, Satan.”
Cody’s eyes gleam with delight.
Michael wraps his arm posessively around Cody’s shoulder. “Calm down, Code. Don’t break your beer. You’ve been looking forward to that drink all week.”
Michael has deeper shadows than normal under his eyes. He normally looks exhausted from his twelve-hour shift at the hospital, which he finishes before coming out. But now, he appears moments from slipping into sleep.
Michael is in his late thirties with ebony skin and salt and pepper hair. He’s dressed in a casual tan suit that’s open at the neck.
Cody relaxes against Michael’s chest.
“Good point.” Cody takes a deep swig. “I’ll give the reward for free then. You have one guess. If you get it right, then I’ll…” Cody cocks his head in thought. “I’ll sing any song of your choice at our next karaoke night.”
