A Wild Ride (Jessica Brodie Diaries #3)(19)

“William, don’t interrupt; we are negotiating. Ten hours?! You are dreaming, girl! Doing favors for you take longer than they should because of your extreme lack of organization. I'll go to five, no less.”

Lump’s jaw clenched.

“Seriously,” I went on, “I’m constantly involved in your schemes, and they never work out because you get bored and give up. I am not in a hurry to do this. And you will get your lazy ass to the bar by your own two feet, and fly, to pick up food,” I looked at William, “by your own car or feet, crawling if need be. Your guy, which you have yet to cement, isn't the one needing a favor. No dice, Betsy. Go bark up another tree."

The boys' faces were now worried.

"All the times I have helped you, Jessica Lynn. All the times I’ve got you out of fixes. All the men I have beat off you, or the women I have tripped to make you look good, and you can't bend your free time a tiny bit? Eight hours. I'll ask for eight hours, which is a normal day’s work. Don't even tell me you are going to work as hard on my stuff as you do your job! And my guy might not count, but heralding a waitress should. That is an irritating thing to do."

"You are still under the impression I haven't forgotten about the smoothie shop, Betsy Anne. I am not going past six hours. Not an hour past. And f**k you—your ass to the bar, or you can lick my twat." I started to get up. My face was getting red, I was shaking, I was almost foaming at the mouth.

Lump knew me, though. She stood up, too, anger crossing her face and her fists balling. "You are a worthless friend, Jessica. A dirty worthless friend! I’ll kick your twat if you think I am going to side-step a waitress to go to the bar and go down past seven."

William and Adam got up in a hurry, arms ready to come between us. They were the only ones ready to intercede. The rest of the guys in the area, which had gathered around to watch the fireworks, had smiles a plenty. They were hoping to see a cat fight.

"A dirty worthless friend that isn't going up from six, a proper waitress flag and order, or your worthless lazy ass walking to the bar. Throw down if you want, but I'll get at least one eye and have you lookin' like a pirate, eye patch and all." I leaned in to her, ready to do battle.

She tensed all her muscles, staring at me with hate.

Then her face broke and she started chuckling.

"Bitch," she said, sitting back down. "You always get the better end of the deal. And a pirate?"

I laughed. "You only say that because you don't have to work for yourself. I am more kind-hearted then you give me credit for!"

"Willie, relax," Lump said with humor, sipping her drink. "We were just negotiating. She is a damned tight ass—you have to threaten her to get anything!"

“Them girls is crazy!” someone muttered as he wandered away.

William looked back and forth between Lump and I with candor. "Are you fooling?"

"Willie, don't put it past 'em. Your lady there can argue the teats off a nursin' goat," Adam said, sitting down and going back to his beer.

"Ew," I remarked. "I hate goats."

William just sat down and shook his head. "Paul’s right, women are crazy."

"You got that right, man!" Moose said from down the table.

All the girls got in an uproar and started talking at once. We fell back into laughing and joking.

After the alcohol had been liberally consumed the steady stream of women started. Our crew of girls were back and forth between the dance floor and our table, and every time we returned there was a new selection of women in our area. None of them talked to us, and we didn’t bother noticing them.

As the night train thundered toward mid-night, the guys in our area became less conscious of those that were acceptable to hit on, and turned to our crew of girlfriends. It was one time when Lump, Candace and I were on our way back from the dance floor that we were stopped by two guys that were in the VIP group, but that we didn’t know.

Candace squeaked past quickly, but Lump and I weren’t paying enough attention until it was too late.

“Hey ladies.”

“Hey,” Lump shot back, feigning disinterest and looking around. It was habit for hers, and unfortunately usually made men try harder to secure her attention.

“How y’all doin’ tonight? Saw y’all on the dance floor. Looking good.” The sandy haired guy took a step toward Lump. The other guy, slightly taller but the same mediocre appearance, walked around me, eyeing my body.

It just got crowded fast. These guys were a little too drunk, and a little too used to women throwing themselves at them tonight. VIP status was going right to their heads.

“Guys, we’re residents. Step off,” I said firmly, though still in a friendly way. It was talent.

“Residents, huh?” the guy circling me said, much too close. He was starting to piss me off. Also, make me nervous. I was no longer all that great with strange guys in my personal space, thank you Dusty.

“Yeah, residents, as in I’m Willie Davies’s girlfriend. This is my friend. Seriously, step off.” I dropped the friendly.

“You’re Davies’s girlfriend?” the jack-off close to me said as he thankfully took a step back. “Oh shit, you’re that gal that got that bull. I saw that lil’ rascal not long ago. Feisty f**ker. Nice work.”