Viper (Fallen Angel #2)(15)

Getting to my feet, I looked around the table and said, “How about we crack open something a little stronger than beer, yeah?”

When the rest of the guys nodded, I glanced down to Halo, who said, “Vodka?”

I reached across him for another chip from his plate and popped it in my mouth, and Halo’s lips tugged up at the corners. “Maybe another bag of chips, too,” he suggested.

“Anything you want, Angel,” I said, and winked before I stepped around him and headed inside.

As I rummaged through the walk-in pantry, trying to find a flavor of potato chip I liked, the sound of one of the terrace doors opening and closing had me sticking my head out to see Killian walking across to the kitchen.

I went back to the task at hand, and when I spotted a package of salt and vinegar chips on the top shelf, I reached for them.

“Couldn’t keep your hands off him, huh?”

Chips now in hand, I turned to see Killian standing in the pantry’s doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and his shoulder up against the doorjamb, and I knew I could play this one of two ways.

One, I could pretend I had no idea who he was talking about, or two, I could just own that shit—and with the way I’d had Halo groaning under me last night, there was no doubt in my mind who I owned.

I opened up the bag of chips and stuffed my hand inside, and as I brought one up to my mouth, I stopped and looked Killian in the eye. “I told you I wouldn’t be able to.” Then I crunched down into it.

“Fuckin’ hell.” Killian laughed, shaking his head as he shoved off the door and walked inside the pantry. “I should’ve known better. If anyone could get a straight guy to fuck him, it’d be you.”

I shrugged. “Who said I was the one getting fucked?”

Killian’s feet came to a stop, his mouth falling open, as I shoved my hand back into the bag of chips.

“You’re kidding.”

I shook my head, enjoying this a little more than I probably should’ve. “I’m not.”

Killian looked as though I’d smacked him over the back of the head with a two-by-four, and when he finally regained use of his motor skills, he managed, “Jesus.”

Not shocked or bothered by Killian’s response, I shoved the bag of chips against his chest and then looked around the pantry again. “Here, hold these, I’m trying to find the barbecue ones.”

“Uh, don’t try and change the subject, V.”

“I’m not. I’m just trying to find the fuckin’ chips.”

“So that’s the reason you were in a shit mood the other day. What’d Halo do, tell you no?” Killian reached behind my right shoulder and pulled a package of barbecue off the shelf, and then held them out to me.

As I snatched them out of his hand, I shot him the finger. “How about none of your fucking business.”

“Okay, okay.” Killian glanced over his shoulder out the pantry door. “So, you and Halo, huh? That’s a severe case of opposites attract.”

“It’s a severe case of sexual fucking chemistry is what it is. And really, it’s your own fault. You put him in front of me.”

“Uh huh. Well, I’m glad the two of you worked your shit out, because I was about to kick your ass the other day.”

“Whatever. You know I can take you any day of the week.”

“And you know I won’t let anything fuck with this band. You included.”

I rolled my eyes, but knew Killian wasn’t bullshitting. If he thought for a minute this thing with me and Halo could fuck shit up, he’d call us out in a hot second.

“Right,” Killian said. “Well, you gonna come back outside and eat with the rest of us? Or do you need Halo to come in here and feed you?”

“You know, you almost sound jealous, Kill. That’s sweet.”

Killian flipped me off as I brushed by him and headed back out to the kitchen area to track down drinks. As I began looking through the cupboards, first the top and then the bottom, Killian came up to lean against the counter beside me.

“Jealous? Uh, no, I stopped thinking you were hot back in middle school when you hung my underwear up the flagpole. But you do know that the two of you aren’t foolin’ anyone, right?”

I glanced up at him from where I was crouched down by his feet. “Um, news flash, we weren’t trying to.”

“No?”

I shook my head. “Nope. We just weren’t telling you.”

“That’s the same thing, moron.”

After locating a bottle of Ketel One, I got to my feet. “Not really. I could’ve lied right now.”

“Yeah, and like I would’ve believed you. You’ve been feeling him up every chance you’ve had in the fucking pool. Not to mention disappearing at the same times, eating off his plate, getting his refills. What’s next, V? You gonna take him on a date?” Killian scoffed, but then shoved me in the arm. “Wait—you already took him on a date. The Nothing…”

I screwed my face up at the thought. Killian had lost his damn mind. I didn’t do dates. “That wasn’t a date. We’re fucking, not dating,” I told him, as I also grabbed a bottle of whiskey. “You’re an idiot.”

Killian let out a loud bark of laughter. “No, you are, V. Oh my God. You are so fucking stupid, my friend.”