Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(45)

Jane rolled her eyes and ignored us. “So, about Little Willie.”

I sighed. Then smiled sinfully. “Nowhere near little. And good in bed! I orgasm almost every time!”

“Shut up!” Lump said quietly with a conspirator smile. We all looked around us.

Guys were loitering close, but not too close. These guys were professionals. They wouldn’t move in until they had a clear shot, and all of us huddled together and sober was a suicide mission.

William was standing off with Adam and Moose at the banister. Adam’s eyes swiveled around our area, around the dance floor, but often came back to us, undecided which girl would get his full attention. Also, by the look of it, undecided which body part he liked best.

Moose looked anywhere but at our group. He was probably fervently hoping his girlfriend would arrive any minute. He needed someone to keep him out of trouble.

William’s eyes met mine with a gentle smile, until he realized he was the object of scrutiny. He straightened up slightly, his smile slipping.

We huddled together again. “In a movie I heard once that the guy played her like a violin. Well...”

“Sex in the City,” Flem said quickly.

“It is really that good?” Jane asked.

“Yes! Seriously!”

“And...” Flem looked at the girls for help.

“...do you really love him?” Lump asked.

I paused. This part was admitting a real involvement in someone. An emotional commitment that might not be reciprocated. It was a scary thing to think it, but even scarier to admit it to your girlfriends that would tell you if you were going down the wrong road. Often times a situation viewed from outside wasn’t as great as when it was viewed from within. I hoped against hope this wasn’t that kind of situation, because I couldn’t think higher of William. I didn’t want holes poked in my perfect relationship.

At least, not until the newness wore off.

I took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. All the girls nodded back thoughtfully. Vigilance would be the name of the game. They would watch him, us together, me without him, and report back their findings.

I didn’t want to hear that he was too good for me. I thought it often enough as it was.

“Alright, if you guys are done judging me, how about meeting everyone else?” I asked, ready to change the subject.

“Hot ones first,” Lump said laughing.

The only people I knew were around William, Brad included. Usually I would wait for the boys to stop talking and acknowledge us, but as that was already the case, I let fire.

“Okay, usual suspects first,” I said, pointing to Adam. “This is William’s right hand man, and probably the most protective of the bunch. Also the biggest whiner. Adam.”

Adam scowled slightly, but with so many pretty girls staring at him, he quickly resumed lamb eyes. He nodded, not having a hat to tip.

“And Moose. Might be the biggest, but easily the softest of the bunch.”

“Softest?” Moose roared. He curled up his massive arms to display his giant rack of muscle. He then turned around and gave us a show of his back muscles, which miraculously, showed through his loose dress shirt.

Lump’s eyes were as big as saucers.

“Or is that the soft you meant?” Flem asked with a wicked smile, eyes pointed downward.

Adam and William started guffawing, slapping Moose on the back. Moose caught the meaning and his face went bright red.

“Would you guys all stop acting like fools?” I said in exasperation. “Nicest. Okay? That work for all your egos and daydreaming centers combined?”

Moose finally realized that all the girls were looking at him sexually, thanks to his muscle display, and his face got even redder. He tried to shrink back, but a guy that size didn’t shrink anywhere.

“Your face matches Brad’s shirt,” Adam said, still laughing.

“Speaking of Brad, he is the least Texan of the bunch, for good or bad.”

“Good,” Flem commented, eyeing Brad. It was his turn to develop a blush.

“Everyone else I don’t know very well, so I turn it over to William,” I said, leaning against his warm body.

He slipped his arm around me and continued the introductions. There were ten more guys, attractive, but not as hot as the three I introduced. One great thing—Brad was newly single. He finally gave up on the girl that wouldn’t move closer, deciding he didn’t intend to move to her. I’d never met her, but based on what all the guys said, she was a giant bitch. Bigger bitch than me without the good qualities.

I punched a few people for that comment.

“And now Jessica’s friends.” William allowed all the guys to have a good look before he went on. “Since she so kindly introduced mine, I’ll give a stab at hers.”

“Good thing he doesn’t know us that well,” Clare muttered.

“He knows a few stories,” I said under my breath.

William’s smile was jubilant. “A few stories, yes. Let’s see—that’s Clare.” William nodded her direction. “She’s from Ireland and has the attention span of a knat. She can also probably drink as much as Adam.”

Adam looked at her in surprise. “I dunno, Willie. There ain’t much to her.”

Claire just shrugged. “We train ‘em young in Ireland.”