Page 4 of Diesel's Perseverance
“Okay? She’s more thanokay.”
“Just so you know—for the next time you wanna pick up a chick—stop sounding so desperate. Fuck, dude, it was pathetic.”
Rags glared. “I was doing it for you.”
“Bullshit. Anyway, I don’t need you getting chicks for me.”
“I know that, but you’ve been acting fuckin’ weird lately, and it’s freakin’ me out. Wheelie and Throttle notice it too.”
“Notice what? And why the hell are you guys discussing who I fuck and who I don’t? Are Throttle and Wheelie bored with their ol’ ladies already?”
“No,” Rags said quickly. “You just seem off or something. Like tonight. You coulda had that brown-haired chick and Sandy, and you didn’t give a shit about either. What the hell, dude? We’re worried about you.”
Diesel threw back the rest of his drink, enjoying the warm, smooth burn down his throat. “I’m good.”
“You couldn’t get enough fucking when you got outta the pen.”
“Obviously, but now it’s outta my system. I’d like something more than just a quick fuck and on to the next one.”
“You got a special lady you haven’t told me about?”
Diesel shook his head. “Nah.” He sighed and leaned back against the chair. “I haven’t heard from Freddy in two weeks. It’s not like him not to return my phone calls.”
“Did you call his chick? What’s her name?”
“Myla? Yeah, I called her, but she must’ve changed her number.” A frown pinched the space between his brows. “The one I have is from a while back.”
“Maybe she broke up with him, and he’s nursing his wounds. My brother did that when his girlfriend dumped him. He didn’t talk to my sisters or parents or return my call for weeks.”
“Yeah, that’s probably it. I know he’s real stuck on Myla. She’s pretty cool. I dunno, for the past year or so, Freddy seems like he’s hiding something. I get the feeling he’s doing shit that’s way over his head.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. He was always wanting to be a big shot. When I was in high school, he always tried to tag along with me and my friends, but I didn’t want him around. We’re three years apart, a big difference in school years. I always used to ditch him.”
Rags laughed. “Sounds like something I would’ve done if my little brother wanted to hang out with me.”
“Yeah. Probably, it’s what you said about breaking up with Myla.”
“He’s just licking his wounds and doesn’t want to tell you she kicked his ass out. You know how it is? We got our pride.”
“And egos.”
“I don’t have any ego issues,” Rags said.
“You’re such a bullshitter.” He laughed. “You ready to head out? I gotta be at the car wash by seven in the morning.”
“Okay.”
Diesel watched his friend guzzle the rest of his beer, then pushed up from the table. He glanced around and noticed the crowd had thinned out a bit. The college guys he’d taken to the cleaners and their chicks had left.
“Aren’t you gonna say goodbye to Sandy?” Rags asked.
“No, but go ahead if you want to. I’ll be outside.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Diesel opened the front door. “It means I’ll be outside.” He lifted his chin at Beau and stepped out.
