Never Been Kissed(59)

I roll my eyes, disentangle myself from his grip around my shoulders. Funny how I never noticed all this before, how much the guys are affectionate with me. Something warm slithers through my chest, and I catch myself grinning at Tommy.

“How about you get me a drink and stop asking me dumb questions?”

Tommy shakes his head and smiles at his feet. “Yeah, sure. Corona’s, good?”

I nod, finally stepping up to Katie. “Jesus, he’s delicious. The boys are going to have to beat their chests extra loud ‘cause he’s an outsider, and way, way, way better-looking than all three of them combined.” Katie bites her lip, and her dark eyes fill up with mischief. “Hunter MacLaine just raised the testosterone level to the stratosphere.”

I watch as Hunter is surrounded by my four boys, all nodding and talking to him at once. Hunt looks odd in my group of friends – taller and bigger than all of them, demanding a presence even in his jeans, and wrinkled t-shirt, while the rest of them are wearing expensive denim and button-down shirts. God, Hunter would look amazing in a suit and tie. The image makes me want to sink to the floor, and something in my lower belly clenches. I bite my lip, and hope I don’t moan.

“Yeah,” I breathe. “You think he’s okay with them?”

“Obviously. The boys’ll be perceptive, and then we’ll discuss tomorrow. They know how to gage a guy, and what his intentions are. They’ve all gotten ass before with the sole intention of getting a girl into bed for one night only. They know what to look for, trust me.”

“I don’t want to leave him to the wolves, K.”

She shakes her head and snorts. “They’re more like puppies, anyway. But ankle-biters so that when they want to, they can cause some serious damage.”

I’m still laughing when Tommy comes back with my beer. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, kitten. So who’s this guy you brought?” Tommy smacks his lips and licks them when he’s done sipping his beer. I used to think about that mouth quite a bit in the past. Now, all I can dream about is Hunter.

I take a sip, wishing I had a slice of lime, but guys don’t think of these things when they have friends over. “I really wish I never answered your question about what my type was. You’ve been holding it over my head for five years now.”

Tommy chuckles, and I’m again struck with the contrast of the two men; Hunter and my buddy. I think I was into Tommy because he was the only who ever paid attention to me, teased me, and my stupid brain thought it was affection. Hunter’s starting to show me different.

“Who would have thought, kind, sweet and quiet Sera would harbour such dark desires for a thug?”

I stiffen and I flash my teeth. “He’s not a thug. He’s a good person. He’s sweet and kind.” I bite off my words, saying them through clenched teeth.

Tommy stares, blinking slowly. Then his frosty blue eyes light up. “Does he have tattoos?”

“Yes,” I say, still clenching my teeth.

“Piercings?”

“Yeah.” I fidget, shifting my weight from foot to foot.

“So he’s not clean cut, aka a thug,” and Tommy salutes me with the neck of his beer like that’s the end of the conversation. Asshole.

“You’re ignorance astounds me. Jesus, Hunter’s my friend, Tommy. Don’t be a dick.” I’ve grabbed hold of his sleeve, twisting the material in my hand. “Your behaviour is going to reflect on me. I’m asking you, please, tone it down. Alright? For me?” Despite the cold seeping into my hand from the beer, I’m burning with anger, with guilt, with shame and I don’t know why. “This is important to me. Don’t do anything stupid, and try to be nice. Please.”

Tommy leans in and kisses my cheek – odd, even for him. “For you, kitten. I’ll watch my mouth. I can’t vouch for the others though.”

I sigh. “Thank you.” I know the other three are always on patrol for the shit that comes out of Tommy’s mouth. I don’t have anything to worry about from them. I still watch nervously as I go help Teresa in the kitchen, setting out paper plates, cups, forks and knives. Hunter seems to be alright.

I stuff a cherry tomato in my mouth, while I contemplate going over to the gang just to see what Hunter will do. Will he put his arm around my shoulders? Will he keep me close?

I watch Alex move to the living room wall, and buzz the delivery guy for Chinese food, while there’s a commotion with the guys searching their pockets for tip change. Soon Styrofoam boxes are arranged on the two tables they’ve set up, and the boys argue where to put what, and which way the line should go to pick food from. First world problems.