“It obviously doesn’t mean as much to them though, does it?”
“Uncool, Bethany.”
“Shit, it was. I’m sorry. Just, did you ever think maybe you’re putting too much emphasis on the romance, making sex more than it has to be? Sometimes, it can just be fucking. It doesn’t always have to be about making love.”
Gen shook her head but Bethany kept at it. “You dated Mike nearly two months before you put out. Do you think for one minute he said goodbye to you with a hard-on and went home? No, he went out and found pussy. He was cheatin’ on you before you were intimate with each other, so when you finally were, it wasn’t a huge leap for him to keep cheatin’ on you.”
“So, you’re saying it’s my fault the last three men I’ve dated cheated on me?”
“No, that’s on them, not you. Just saying that your mom put this idea of how things have to be to get a man, and it may have been true a long time ago but it’s counterproductive now. Guys want to know if you’re compatible, they aren’t interested in playing games.”
“Well, I’m off men for good, so it doesn’t matter. You gonna help me get shit-faced Friday night to celebrate, or not?”
“Abso-fuckin-lutely.”
For some reason, Bethany’s use of the ‘f’ word made Gen think of Keith, which made her think of him making Gen beg him for an orgasm, which made her wish she didn’t have her gun so she could order a rum and Coke.
* * * *
Gen called Cassie on the way home and invited her to Operation Shit-Face. Cassie congratulated her on the sale and said, “Tyler has arranged for us to have a limo through Drake a few times when we’ve gone out. Get with him and see if they charge much more than another service. They probably do, but he has this thing about Viv not going out without someone to protect her, so he may pay for the driver and then you’ll just have the limo charge.”
“I’ll call him if it means Viv can go, but I’m still paying for all of it. This is my treat.”
“God, you’re as stubborn as your brother. Call Tyler. I’m about to call Viv.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, now you’re being funny. Talk to you later.”
Tyler immediately said he’d handle the limo, to which Gen said, “No, this is my treat. Just tell me how much.”
“Here’s the thing, Gen. Because of my job, I have some enemies. Most of them know if they hurt someone who belongs to me, they’ll pay and it won’t be pleasant, so Viv’s probably safe. Her brother also has a dangerous job, and she’s felt the backlash from that once. We kept her safe but I had to take her out of town to do it. She doesn’t go out without her gun unless she’s with me or someone I approve of. If she’s drinking, she won’t have her gun, which means if she wants a girls’ night out without me, I have to provide protection. It’s fine.”
Gen’s eyes watered at his words. Cassie, Sam, Viv — all were so lucky to have found their true loves. “You’re a good guy, Tyler.”
“I’m actually another one of those good guys who has to do bad things, though my bad things are usually sanctioned by the government and not frowned upon. Still means I’m questionably a good guy.”
Gen wasn’t sure what to say to that, so she asked, “Have things calmed down with Rolling Thunder? Not much shows up on the news.”
“There are now days of peace interspersed with days of war. Things are better but I’m not sure they’re completely safe just yet. Probably safe for loved ones at this point, though — not like it would’ve been at the beginning.”
“What changed?” Gen hadn’t been exposed to that world, and was curious. Or, that’s what she kept telling herself.
“Someone the RTMC cared about got hurt. The MC made an example of the person responsible. It wasn’t pretty but it’s a lesson no one else wants to experience. Someone had to get hurt in order for them to make an example, though, and I wanted to make sure it wasn’t you caught in the middle. Glad you followed my advice.”
“Actually, Keith told me Aaron had a talk with him after you talked with Aaron, and he was gonna think with his head instead of his… ummmm… yeah. And he said he expected a date once he was sure things were safe.”
Gen didn’t think she’d ever heard Tyler truly laugh, but he took a few seconds to do so now, and then said, with a chuckle still in his voice, “Like I said, he’s a good man. Glad he saw the light and kept you safe. I’ll get with you tomorrow to let you know the driver’s name, and get the addresses to pick everyone up and drop them off.”