“Hey, what brings you here tonight?” I ask, taking a seat next to her.
“I need to get laid,” she blurts out, and I choke on my drink.
“Give a girl a little warning before you say shit like that!” Jade is my only girlfriend around here, and we’ve never had any type of conversation like this before.
“I’m sorry but I haven’t been with anyone since Reece and I think it’s time.”
“Wow, that’s a long time.”
“I know. So I figured I would come here because Reid and Ryan would screen whoever I was interested in. And if I end up in a ditch, you guys would know who killed me,” she says casually.
“Alright, you aren’t gonna end up in a ditch. Isn’t there someone you already know?”
I clear my throat when she looks towards Ryan and Reid. “Don’t even go there.”
She laughs. “Just playing with you. Is Xander here?”
“Yeah, don’t go there, either.”
“What are you to up to?” Ryan says, taking a seat.
“Jade’s trolling for penis,” I say, giggling.
Ryan doesn’t look amused. “I’m sorry, what?”
A flush works up Jade’s neck.
“She has needs, Ryan.”
“Yeah, so don’t wanna hear this,” he says. I glance over at the bar and see a woman standing there, staring at Reid.
“Who's that woman trying to get Reid's attention?” I ask Ryan, almost wanting to laugh at her blatant attempts.
“Oh, that’s Tilly. Everyone knows Tilly.” He says this like it isn’t a good thing.
“I don’t know Tilly,” I say dryly, taking in her frizzy blond hair and heavier set figure. She kind of looks like she’s been electrocuted.
“Tilly’s well known around town. She likes to go after taken men.”
“Taken men?” I repeat slowly, surely I misheard.
“Yeah, she doesn’t discriminate. Young, old, doesn’t matter what they look like, either. She just likes them to be married or in a serious relationship,” Jade adds.
“You’re joking?”
“Unfortunately not,” she replies solemnly.
“Likes sloppy seconds, does she?” I chuckle.
Jade shrugs. “Doesn’t matter to her.”
“No seriously, why would a woman want that?” I ask, genuinely puzzled. I try my best not to judge, but come on!
“My guess? Low self-esteem. Makes her feel good about herself that she managed to tempt someone that belonged to another woman. Usually a better looking woman than her.”
“I don’t even know what to say right now,” I mutter as I watch her plump her breasts in Reid’s direction. He doesn’t even look her way.
“Yeah, best part is, she’s married, but her husband is never at home, couldn’t care less about her. I think he realized what he married, but it was too late, cos they have three kids. So he just leaves her to her own devices. So she’s got extra time on her hands, and nothing better to do.”
“Every town has a home wrecker,” I say absently. “Her poor kids. They must be embarrassed as hell.” I would be. Who wants everyone in town talking about their mother and the men she chases after just for a little desperate attention? “She doesn’t care about age?”
“Nope," Ryan says. "She’s been with a twenty one year old, last I heard.” He's such a gossip, I love it.
“And how old is she?” I ask.
“Mid-thirties.”
“Doesn’t anyone tell her husband?” I wonder out loud.
“He’s got something on the side, so don’t think he really gives a shit about her.”
Wow, lovely family. Once again, poor fucking kids.
“She also likes to kick up men’s protective instincts by playing the victim, saying her man ain’t treating her right and hinting of abuse, saying how bad things are for her at home,” Jade says, taking my drink and taking a sip.
“And guys go for her? They cheat on their girls with her?” I gape.
Jade purses her lips. “She’s easy. And strokes their egos.”
I roll my eyes and divert my attention back to Reid. Tilly is now leaning across the bar and smiling a come hither smile. Reid ignores her, and I can’t help but laugh. She turns to glare at me, and then starts to talk to the girl next to her, who also turns to look at me. She even points once. I grin, all teeth.
“They’re talking about you,” Ryan says, pointing out the obvious.
“I know.”
He eyes me curiously. “I thought you were the kinda girl that would get in her face right about now.”
“A tiger doesn’t lose sleep over the opinion of sheep,” I say, flashing Ryan a mega-watt smile.