Page 72 of Meant for You

He shrugged. “Just hanging out.”

I’d seen the way Lila had shut him down at the bonfire by the lake. The fact Riff was still giving her the time of day was so unlike the guy I didn’t know what to make of it. The reason we’d gotten along so well when I first moved here was our complete no-fucks-given attitudes. I didn’t have Everly so sure as hell hadn’t cared what happened to me.

It took a lot longer than it should have to get my head on straight and see what I’d been doing with her and at least try to gain some control over it.

Riff hadn’t had an Everly, and he hadn’t given a fuck about control.

“You sleeping with her?” I said, almost positive I knew the answer but needing to hear it with my own ears to believe it.

He clenched his teeth and the muscle in his jaw popped before he shook his head.

“Well, now. Isn’t that interesting?” I said, grinning at him.

“Shut the fuck up,” he growled.

I picked up the drinks. “You like her.”

He scowled.

“Enough to actually stick around and get to know the girl. You think she’s worth it, the wait to get her under you.”

“Keep going and see what happens,” he said.

I chuckled. “Oh, I’d love to see what happens. More than likely the same thing that happens when we get in the ring together. I’ll kick your ass.”

He snorted, because we were evenly matched. He kicked my ass as much as I did his.

“You could try, asshole.”

We headed toward our girls. “You do know it’s okay to spend time with a girl, like talking and shit, with wanting her for more than just a body to warm your bed, right?”

“You sound like a chick,” he muttered, jaw clenching again, his eyes sliding to the object of his affection…obsession. Fuck knew with Grifter.

“You think she’s into you?” I said, batting my lashes.

But instead of laughing, he swallowed like there was a boulder in his throat then cleared it several times. “Fuck off.”

He didn’t know. Another situation Riff rarely ever found himself in. Women loved him, and the women at the club went after what they wanted. Lila with her reading glasses, shy smiles, and those big innocent eyes had Grifter confused as fuck.

I thought she might be exactly what the guy needed. But then I was so fucking loved up I wanted everyone to be as happy as I was.

I handed out the drinks and we sat around the table, waiting for the band to start. “Come ’ere,” I said to Everly, and tugged her out of her seat, pulling her into my lap. I wanted every guy there to know she was mine.

She, Lila, and Trix wanted to dance, so I’d taken the opportunity to get her out of Rocktown for some fun. Grifter, of course, wanted to tag along for obvious reasons.

“So you have any friends you can introduce me to?” Trix asked Grifter.

He smirked. “Not sure you could handle any of my friends, sweetheart.”

She laughed. “You have no idea.” Her gaze moved around the room. “What about him? Mr. Lip Ring.”

“That’s Slots,” Grifter said and took a sip of his beer.

“He’s what…what is he?” Trix said looking confused and horrified at the same time.

“His road name,” Riff said, gaze sliding to her, grinning wider.

“What the hell kind of name is that?” Eves said, then turned to Trix. “You can’t make out with a guy named Slots.”