Page 38 of Knight
I turned it on, and adjusted the temperature, then gave it a liberal coating of cooking spray.
Joyride helped himself to a can of Coors from the six-pack Ghost had left on the porch.
“I’ve got some Goose Island IPA inside if you’d rather have that,” Hollywood offered.
Joyride wrinkled his nose. “Not a fan of the IPA shit.”
I laughed. “Even the rich kid turns up his nose, Holly. Might be time to admit your taste is crap.”
Hollywood didn’t fire back as usual. He just sighed. “It’s seeming thatway.”
Somehow, I didn’t think he was really talking about beer. I’d always wondered if there might be more than friendship cooking between Tex and Hollywood. It was tough to tell because Tex could be such a dick about making inappropriate gay jokes. I was torn between him being a homophobe or a closet case. Hollywood had never given any sign he was into men. He had an ex-girlfriend and a young daughter. That didn’t mean much, though. There were plenty of men who were bi or pan—or, in prison, sexually fluid because of their limited options.
Ghost returned with a plate of steaks nicely seasoned with a peppercorn rub. I took it from him and slid them onto the grill one by one, relishing thesizzleof cooking meat.
“I hope you like your steaks medium rare. When my roommate gets home, you’ve all got to clear out.”
“Don’t want to spring a bunch of felons on him, huh?” Joyride said.
“It’s not like that. Aiden had his first day at the hospital. He’s probably stressed enough without a bunch of strangers in his space. We’re still adjusting to living together, you know?”
“Shit,” Hollywood said. “I totally forgot Tex was supposed to move in with you. Damn, he fucked you over too.”
I nodded. “Yeah, but it’s okay. Flynn’s brother needed a place to stay.”
“That’s a lucky break,” Hollywood said.
Was it? I wasn’t sure yet. Aiden had seemed a little uncomfortable after I’d stupidly barged in on him this morning. I’d been half-asleep, and it’d taken too damn long for me to realize I was staring at him like a creeper.
He was obnoxiously gorgeous, though. It was just damn hard to look away. He was slender, but not fragile. His features were delicate—soft, but not feminine—but his bodywas harder. He wasn’t rocking six-pack abs, but he was tight and toned.
And I shouldnotbe thinking about how badly I’d wanted to rip that towel off him this morning.
Aiden had made it clear that he didn’t want to relive our hookup in Omaha. It would be a terrible idea, even if he did.
But I’d never been much good at resisting a terrible idea. If I had, I never would have run after Puck that night. Probably never would have hooked up with him or joined the Serpents either, for that matter.
I was the fucking king of bad ideas.
“Hey, where’s Matteo?” Joyride asked out of the blue.
“Probably at home with his pretty fiancée,” I said. “He doesn’t join us for beers. Not professional enough for the director of the program.”
“Shit,” Joyride said. “You mean I didn’thaveto come?”
Ghost snorted. Hollywood broke into a laugh. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head.
“What?” Joyride asked, a defensive edge to his tone. “What’s so funny?”
“You’re such a goddamned brat, that’s what,” Hollywood said.
Joyride gave us all a glower that would rival any teenager pissed at his parents. That just made us laugh harder.
“Shit, kid.” I pulled the tongs off the side of the grill to flip over the steaks. “You sure as hell had to come.”
“Why?” he demanded.
Hollywood gestured toward me. “Matteo might lead the program officially, but Knight here is our den mother.”
