Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(88)

"Uh... No, actually. I work on a farm. I get all my exercise there and through pick up football games now and again."

"Uh huh. Farm boy, huh? Hm." He turned to me. "How about you? You into Muoy Thai like your friend Lumpy?"

I shook my head. "I am a gym go’er and a dancer. Not much into hitting people."

"Too bad. I would love to get you in the rink." He looked down my body and gave me a crawling sensation. William didn't move a muscle, but I could tell he'd just lost his sense of humor; it had something to do with him holding his breath and clenching his teeth.

Thankfully Lump chose that time to come downstairs on legs for days, to meet a weasel of a man. I wasn’t a great judge, and I could admit that, but from my perspective the groove she thought she found was a bit lopsided.

And then her date whistled at her. Like she was a street walker.

The incredulous look on William’s face was actually quite funny. I would have laughed if I wasn’t worried about the look of murder on Gladis’s. She was not above throwing things, as Lump and I found out the hard way. I was worried that the bottle of wine might end up alongside this moron’s head!

“Betz,” Gladis said, scowl smoothed over into a pleasant, though sardonic, smile “ your date was just telling us he would like to get your female friend in the rink.”

Lump looked at me with a shock of jealousy. Odd. And completely unlike her. I put my hand in William’s.

“I told him I didn’t like to hit people,” I said calmly.

“We could train her, Lumpy.,” John intoned.

“She isn’t one for fighting,” Lump replied blandly. “Should we go?”

Everyone mutely nodded. John quickly drank the last of his drink and followed Lump out. I kept my face blank, like William was doing, and winked at Gladis. She shook her head and told us to have fun.

Lump and John took us to a crappy steakhouse. John drove an old SUV of some sort that was boxy and uncomfortable, but who was I to judge? I was a kept woman by the friend of my boyfriend. I didn’t really have a pot to piss in.

He blared rock tunes the whole way there, though, making conversation impossible. The only thing we could do was focus on the ride. And strangely, having talked to him for that short time, I was fine with being jostled like I was in a sack over someone’s shoulder.

Once there, William reached the door first and held it open for everyone. The first to enter was none other than John. He nearly pushed Lump out of the way to get in. Memories! I had to remember to remind Lump about that idiot Johnny. He totally did the same thing one time! Ha!

Of course, it was only funny now because I had a great guy with manners. It probably wasn’t all that funny to Lump-O.

After Lump made it through, I stopped in the doorway and offered William to go in, as a joke. Face in dead pan, he jumped in front of me, making sure to gently push me out of the way, and tried to close the door in my face.

“Ass!” I shouted. William slowed down immediately with a satisfied smirk and lifted his arm so I could duck under. He let his hand rest on the small of my back as we walked in.

The place was a mediocre, at best. The atmosphere was non-existent and noisy. Plants were fake, waiters were bitter, and the décor was weird. For the first time that night I saw that Lump had a crinkle in her nose. She wasn’t used to expensive places, but L.A. had great cuisine and one rarely went to a chain on a date. In some neighborhoods, finding a chain restaurant was a chore. This place wouldn’t stand up to her scrutiny.

Now I knew what my face looked like with Randall! We were definitely high-maintenance! Poor William.

The indifferent hostess seated us in a booth in the back. We ordered a bottle of wine to split and everyone chose steaks. It was then that the conversation started. Unfortunately.

“So... John. What is it you do?” I asked politely.

“Sales.”

“Oh? What kind of sales?”

“I sell products on the open market.”

“Uh huh. Hmmm.” I nodded like I knew what that meant, suspecting it meant nothing.

“What do you do for fun?” William tried.

“Muoy Thai, baby!”

“John is one of the best in the class,” Lump informed us proudly.

“Little Lump-O here can hold her own. Most girls aren’t worth shit. But Lumpy can handle herself. And me!” He ended that comment suggestively.

“Ew,” I mumbled.

“Will.” John looked across the table, straightening up as he did so. “We should get in the ring. Throw some punches around. I would like to see what a big guy like you can do.”

Chapter Eighteen

William smiled politely. “I am not much of a fighter, I’m afraid.”

“No, huh?” Did John just preen a little? Confidence boost, maybe? “Well, maybe we can bring it out of ya. Throw the fists around and see what happens.” It sounded like he was suggesting playing catch.

“Maybe,” William said in a noncommittal tone. He would not be baited, thank God.

The food arrived quickly. I thanked God for that also.

I was trying desperately to give this guy another chance. Sure, he sounded like the biggest tool alive, he was acting like a tool, he smelt like a cheap tool, but maybe he wasn’t, in fact, a giant tool. Or douche. Or useless pile...