Mercy (Salacious Players Club, #4)(11)

He laughs. “Technically, it’s a wedding, but thanks.” We fill the silence with small talk, and he seems a little more relaxed now, as if he just needed to get that part off his chest. I still can’t picture him up at the altar with Charlie, but I’m going to choose not to think about it anymore.





Rule #5: You’re kinkier than you think.





Beau





Someone nudges my arm, and my eyes pop open. I’m staring up at the popcorn ceiling of Dash and Brody’s apartment. I must have nodded off after those hits off the joint. I lost count of how many times it made its rounds.

Brody’s offering me another, but I shake my head. Why couldn’t the asshole just let me sleep?

With a shrug, he puts the joint between his lips and turns his attention back to the video game he’s playing with Dash. There’s another guy over here that I’ve only met a couple times, and he’s browsing his phone on the recliner, his presence making me uncomfortable. I hate when they bring new people over. I miss when it was just us three.

Well, technically it was four before Peyton went and got engaged. Jesus. Are we at that age already? I’m only twenty-two, and he’s only a year older than me. I’m nowhere fucking near ready to even think about that shit.

And to think Charlie is about to get engaged. If we hadn’t broken up, would I be ready to propose? The idea seems insane to me. I mean…what’s the fucking rush?

“Hey Victor,” Dash says to the guy on the recliner. “You want in?” he asks, holding up the controller.

“No thanks, man. I’m chatting with some chick on this app.”

“Like a hookup app?” I ask. When he glances up at me, I sense a little pretentiousness on his face. As if he’s so much more mature than me.

“No,” he replies with a smug grin. “It’s more than that. It…uh…matches you up with other people who like the same sex stuff you like.”

I freeze, my eyes laser-focused on the coffee table, afraid that if I move, I’ll give everything away. Yeah, I know that app. I know it really fucking well.

“What?” Dash blurts out with a laugh.

“Yeah, it’s called Salacious. You take this kink quiz and based on the results—"

“Are you guys hungry?” I interject. “I’m going to order some pizza.”

Brody stares at Victor. “Like…what kind of sex stuff?”

Victor turns his phone toward the guys, and I have to look away. “This chick I’m talking to wants a guy to degrade her and shit.”

“What?”

“Holy shit,” the guys reply.

“Sounds fucked up,” I mutter, rising from the couch and heading to the kitchen to escape the conversation. I don’t offer up the information to my friends about my dad’s company, and I certainly don’t delve into the relationship between him and Charlie. I keep my shit private.

I watch from the tiny kitchen as the guys abandon their video game to pull out their phones, both downloading the app like it’s fucking Candy Crush or something, and the sight of it grates on my nerves.

Maybe they’d think my dad was some kind of hero for owning a sex club and a kink matchup app, but I know they’d look at me differently if I told them.

“Beau, do you have this app?” Dash asks, his eyes glued to the screen.

“Nah,” I reply, fishing a beer out of the fridge, “not really into that kinky shit.”

The guys laugh, and I clench my teeth. “Did you not hear the part about the girl Vic is talking to who wants him to call her a dirty slut and shit?”

“Excuse me for not wanting to call a chick names while I’m fucking her,” I mumble.

“Dude, it’s so hot though. I get laid so much more with this app. All I have to do is agree to whatever freaky shit they’re into.”

I pause, the beer bottle lifted halfway to my lips. And right at this very moment, I decide I hate this douchebag. With his stupid blazer and leather shoes and cocky attitude. But I especially hate him because even I know, what he’s saying is fucked up. He’s clearly abusing the app.

“Isn’t the whole point of it to match people up who like the same things? Not just give you the keys to the kingdom so you can get more willing pussy?”

All three of them look up at me like I just started spouting Latin.

“So you have heard of it,” Victor replies, his brows folding inward.

“No. I mean…yeah, I’ve heard of it, but my point is…I think the purpose of it is pretty clear.”

“Yeah,” he says with a tilt of his head, “the purpose is to help these bitches get all their freaky needs met, and to put me in contact with them.” He laughs, looking down at Dash and Brody who both join in, and I’m suddenly so irrationally pissed off and I don’t even know why.

“It’s not a fucking joke!” I bellow, and all three of them shut up.

“Jesus, Beau. Relax.” Brody is staring at me with confusion written all over his face, and honestly, I’m fucking confused too. I’m not sure where that came from, but I do know that I need to get the fuck out of here.

“I’m gonna go,” I mutter as I set the beer on the table and fish my phone out of my pocket.