by TJ Klune
“Nah.”
“I could just go home.”
“Nah.”
The guys opened the doors and slid from the truck.
I didn’t move.
Rico leaned his head back in. “Get out. Or I’ll shoot you. I’m carrying.”
“You wouldn’t.”
His eyes narrowed. “Try me, Gordo.”
Rico had gotten scarier since he’d found out about werewolves. I almost believed him.
I got out of the truck.
People waved at us as we headed inside. It was the price of living in a small town. Everyone knew everyone. I was the guy who fixed their cars, who sometimes ate in the diner. I was a townie. The same with the guys. Sure, Chris and Tanner had left for a while, but they’d come back, the world too big for them. Rico had already been working for me. Chris and Tanner had followed shortly. And after that, they never left.
But that’s all we were to them. The guys from the garage. Townies.
I wondered what they would think if they knew everything.
I nodded in response, not wanting to stop for even a few short words. I hoped we’d find some dark corner, get a couple of pitchers, and get out of here in an hour or two. If I’d really wanted to, I could have begged off, but it’d been a long while since we’d done this, just the four of us. We’d tried it once after the death of Richard Collins. We hadn’t spoken much, staring down at our beers, the guys still too pissed at me for leaving.
But then life had happened. We got busy. The pack. The garage. Rico met Bambi. Tanner started taking some business classes online so he could do more with the shop and pack finances. Chris began grilling Elizabeth and Mark on all things wolf related, trying to find out as much as he could about a world that he hadn’t known existed for most of his life.
I saw them every day still. But we all had other things going on.
Well, they all had other things going on.
I was doing my best to ignore the obvious, working too much and sleeping too little.
“My baby!” a woman shrieked.
“Mi corazón,” Rico purred as his arms suddenly became full of blonde hair, flowery perfume, and fake tits.
Bambi was… Bambi. She was a townie who had worked at the bar since she’d graduated high school, which, unfortunately, wasn’t as long ago as I would have liked. She was a small-town girl who slung beers to a mostly male crowd, pretty and a little rough around the edges. Her nails were a bloodred, as were her lips, and she wore a revealing pair of shorts that probably got her more tips. She had a towel over her shoulder as she put her arms around Rico’s neck, peppering his face with sticky kisses, leaving lipstick on his cheeks and chin.
Tanner looked horrified.
Chris was amused.
Rico had himself an armful of Bambi.
I rolled my eyes.
A man I didn’t recognize was stumbling by behind her. For a moment I thought he’d keep on going.
Instead he pulled his hand back and slapped Bambi on the ass.
She tensed.
I sighed.
Almost quicker than I could follow, she whirled around, grabbed the man by the arm, and twisted it up behind his back. He squawked in pain as she kicked the backs of his knees, forcing him down. His beer bottle shattered on the floor. People in the bar fell silent as she pulled his arm up behind him almost to the point of breaking. “Touch me again without my permission,” she said, her voice high and sweet, “and I’ll rip off your balls. Understood?”
The man nodded frantically.
“Good,” she said, kissing his cheek. “Now get out. And if I catch you in my bar again, I will end you.”
She let him go and he pulled himself up, only to be met by two large men who worked for Bambi as security. They took him by his arms and led him out of the bar.
The music picked up again.
People began talking loudly.
“I love her so goddamn much,” Rico whispered in awe.
“Yeah,” Chris said. “Question. Once she comes to her senses and breaks up with you, what’s the appropriate amount of time in the bro code to wait before I can ask her out?”
“Six months,” Tanner said.
“Make it seven,” Rico said. “Just so I have enough time to mend my broken heart. And when you do, always remember that I got there first.”
“Gordo,” Bambi said, a knowing grin on her face. “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. These degenerates finally dragged you out, huh?”
“I’m wounded,” Rico said.
People underestimated Bambi. Her name. Her looks. The fact that she owned a bar when she herself was only a few years past legal drinking age. But she was almost as terrifying as the wolves and smarter than most gave her credit for.
And for whatever reason, she adored Rico. I wouldn’t cross her, but I did question her taste in men.
“Against my will,” I assured her.
She clapped her hands. “Good. I’m glad it worked. The table in the back is ready for you guys. Sit down and I’ll bring a couple of pitchers.” She kissed a dazed Rico on the cheek before she pushed her way into the crowd, hollering at people to get the fuck out of her way.
“Don’t know what she sees in your ugly mug,” Chris said, shoving Rico.
“My Latin flavor,” Rico snapped back, a goofy grin on his face. “She got tired of white bread.”
Tanner rolled his eyes but started leading the way toward the back of the bar.
Sure enough, there was an empty booth in the back, a folded card on the table saying it was RESERVED (DON’T SIT HERE IF IT’S NOT MEANT FOR YOU, ASSHOLES) in girlish pink script. She confused me greatly.
Rico shoved me onto the bench first, then slid in next to me. Tanner and Chris took the other side. Chris pulled a small notepad from a pocket lining the inside of his jacket. He opened it, putting it on the table before him. He frowned, patting his outside pockets, before pulling out a stubby pencil that looked like it’d been gnawed on repeatedly.
“Okay,” he said, opening the notepad to a fresh sheet of paper. “The meeting to get Gordo laid can now commence.”
And it had been going so well.
“What,” I said flatly.
“What is Gordo looking for in a man?” Tanner asked, sitting back on the bench.
“He needs to be a little mean,” Rico said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Can’t be sensitive, because Gordo is an asshole and would make sensitive people cry.”
“Seriously,” I said. “What.”
“Uh-huh,” Chris said, writing something down on the notepad. “Needs to be mean. Got it. What else?”
“Has to have facial hair,” Tanner said. “He has a kink for facial hair. Gotta have that beard burn on his asshole.”
“What in the fuck are you talking about—”
“Should probably be taller too,” Rico mused. “Gordo likes ’em big.”
“Hairy and fat,” Chris muttered, hunched over the notepad.
“Not fat,” Rico said. “Well, not that there’s anything wrong with being heavier.” He squinted at me. “You okay with some meat on the bones? Some cushion for your pushin’? I know you’re versatile. Why I know that, I don’t care to think about.”
“I am going to murder all of you,” I promised him darkly.
“He likes them a little wolfish,” Tanner said.
“Wolfish,” Chris said, pencil scratching along paper.
“Able to hold their own in a fight,” Rico said.
“Probably has to know about his my-arms-glow-in-the-dark secret too,” Tanner said.
“They don’t glow in the dark—”
“That’s true,” Rico agreed. “And should be someone he’s comfortable around. Someone he knows.”
“Right, right,” Chris said.
Bambi appeared as if by magic, holding a tray with two pitchers and four frosty mugs in one hand. She set it expertly down on the table without spilling a drop. She smiled at Rico as she set the mugs in front of us and the pitch
ers in the middle of the table. “What are y’all up to?”
“Trying to get Gordo laid,” Rico said cheerfully.
“Ooh,” she said. “Man or woman?”
“Man.”
“I’m on it,” she said before she disappeared from whence she’d come.
I angrily poured myself some beer. It was more foam than liquid.
Rico took the other pitcher and began filling the remaining mugs. “What else?”
“Is anything else necessary?” Chris asked, frowning down at the notepad.
“I think that pretty much narrows it down,” Tanner said.
“Okay,” Rico said. “Hit me with it.”
Chris picked up the notepad and held it close to his face, squinting at the words. “Okay. Based upon our criteria of being hairy and big and wolfish and knowing about how Gordo uses Force lightning because he’s pretty much a Jedi—”
I furiously choked down foam.
“—that leaves us with two choices for Gordo to get laid.”
“Awesome,” Rico said. “That makes our job so much easier. Who are they?”
“Carter or Mark Bennett.”
I sprayed foam on the table.
Rico patted me on the back. “Good choices, though I feel one is more obvious than the other. Pros and cons?”
“Carter is young,” Tanner said before belching. He wiped his mouth. “Could probably get it up more than one time in a night. He’s also probably eager to learn. A real crowd-pleaser, if you know what I mean. Kids are always eager.” He grimaced. “I wish I hadn’t phrased it like that.”
“And he’s big,” Rico said. “And we know he’s hung because of all the times we’ve seen him naked. Because werewolves. Which does wonders for my self-esteem.”
“Big penis,” Chris said, writing on the notepad.
“And he’s a second to Joe,” Tanner said. “Which means he’s a real go-getter.”
“Good point,” Rico said. “Cons?”
“He only sleeps with women,” Chris said.
“So far,” Tanner said. “But didn’t Kelly say wolves were all fluid? Maybe he hasn’t yet found a man to rev his engine.” He looked at me. “Maybe he shouldn’t start with Gordo. He’s more of a work-your-way-up-to. Or a last resort.”
I pointed my mug at him. “You’ll be the first to die.”
“And while he’s young, he might be too young for Gordo,” Rico said. “Gordo tends to like them a bit more… mature. Actually have some grass on the field, you know?”
“And you’ll be second,” I growled at him.
“I also haven’t detected any sexual chemistry between the two of them,” Chris said. He glanced at me. “Did anything happen on the road? One night, maybe, when you two were feeling a little bit lonelier than usual, maybe you gave in and he sucked your—”
“I’ll save you for last,” I warned him. “While the screams of the others still echo in your ears.”
“Let’s move on to Mark,” Rico said. “Pros and cons?”
“There’s a history there,” Tanner said before chugging the rest of his beer.
“Is that a pro or con?” Chris asked, filling my empty mug. Less foam this time.
“I don’t know,” Rico said. “Gordo, is that a pro or con?”
I wiped my mouth, enraged.
“I’ll put it in both,” Chris decided.
“He’s Gordo’s type,” Tanner said.
“He pretty much defined Gordo’s type,” Rico said.
“Do you know how long it takes for a person to suffocate?” I asked them. “Usually around three minutes. I can make it one and a half.”
They ignored me. “And he’s big,” Tanner said.
“And hairy,” Chris added. “Except for the top of his head.”
“All that chest hair,” Rico said. “Man, being in a werewolf pack with mostly men must be like a buffet for the gay guys.” He kicked me underneath the table. “Is it a buffet for you? All that man flesh on display?”
“Too bad Jessie’s not a wolf,” Tanner sighed.
“That’s my sister,” Chris snarled at him, trying to stab him with the pencil.
“Elizabeth is hot for an older lady,” Rico said. Then his eyes widened. “Please don’t tell her I said that. I don’t want to do an Ox versus Richard Collins impression and see my insides on my outsides.”
“Wow,” Tanner said. “Too soon, man. Too soon.”
Chris shook his head at Rico, obviously disappointed.
“Lo siento,” Rico said. “It felt wrong as soon as I said it, but I was already committed. Won’t happen again. Where were we?”
“Mark and Gordo,” Tanner said.
Chris nodded. “So far we have so many more pros than cons.”
“Cons,” Rico said. “Cons, cons, cons. Oh! I got one. Like, they broke up and stuff for reasons Gordo has really yet to explain, even though he’s Mark’s mystical moon magic mate, or whatever. And he hasn’t told us why neither of them have pulled their heads out of their asses since Gordo got back, even though they sometimes stare at each other like they want to choke on some dicks.”
I glared at him.
He shrugged. “What? You know it’s true.”
“Choke on some dicks,” Chris mumbled, writing exactly that on his notepad.
“I’m not telling you shit,” I retorted. “In fact, you’re all fired. And you’re kicked out of the pack. And I never want to see any of you again. Ever.”
Rico nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, I’d probably say the same thing if I was you and surrounded by friends who are much smarter.”
“Why can’t you just leave this alone?”
“Because we’re your buddies,” Tanner said. “We’ve had your back longer than anybody else. We’ve earned the right to call you out on your shit.”
“Jessie told me that you were getting pathetic,” Chris admitted. “She said ever since Mark met Dale—ow, who the fuck just kicked me?”
“We agreed not to mention his name!” Rico hissed at him. “Que te jodan.”
“You didn’t have to kick me. Your boots have steel toes, you dick!”
“Jessie said you were grumpier than normal,” Tanner said, glaring at Chris.
“I’m not grumpier than normal,” I said. “I’m always like this.”
“Eh,” Rico said. “More or less. But it’s gotten a little worse. The wolves are starting to feel it.” He looked over his shoulder before leaning forward. “You know,” he whispered, “through their feelings.” He wiggled his fingers at me.
“You’re all fucking stupid,” I said. “And the next person that opens their mouth will find out what life is like without testicles.”
They all stared at me.
I stared back at each of them in turn to make sure they knew I was serious. Magic didn’t work like that, but they didn’t know it.
As much as I wanted to smash their faces onto the table, they were only looking out for me as they always had. Tanner had been right. I’d known them longer than almost anyone. They’d been there through the worst of it, even if they hadn’t known what was happening. The destruction of my first pack, being left behind by my second. Mark asking his Alpha for permission to court me. Mark giving me his wolf. Me giving him an ultimatum and Mark choosing his pack.
Mark, Mark, Mark.
They’d tried to keep Dale from me. Like I cared. Like I was fragile. Like the very idea of Mark with someone else would be so devastating, I wouldn’t be able to function.
I’d lived more of my life without him than I ever did with him.
It didn’t matter to me. Mark could do what he wanted.
I didn’t give a shit. Just because I hadn’t been with anyone else in years didn’t mean a damn thing. It was—
“Oh fuck,” Chris said, eyes wide. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“What?” Tanner asked, looking out into the crowd. “What are you—oh shit. Um. Gordo! Hey, Gordo!” He slapped the top of the table. “Hey, man. Look
at me! Look right at me. So, let’s talk about something different. Like… um. Oh! Are you still thinking of opening another garage? That would be great. Just… great.”
“What the hell is wrong with the two of you?” Rico asked, eyes narrowed.
Chris jerked his head like he was having a seizure, eyes darting back and forth.
Rico looked over his shoulder. He made a weird noise in his throat and started coughing.
I turned to see what they’d been staring at.
“No!” Tanner said, kicking my shin.
“What’s your problem?” I growled at him, reaching down and rubbing my leg.
“Nothing,” he said. “My bad. Totally didn’t mean to do that. Just… hey! Gordo!”
“What?”
“How are you? Really. I feel like we haven’t talked in long time. You know?”
“We went to lunch today,” I reminded him. “Just the two of us. For an hour.”
“Right,” Tanner said, nodding furiously. “So nice of you. Did I say thanks for that? Because that was just… nice. I appreciate—oh my fucking god, why is he coming over here? Is he insane?”
Rico twisted in his seat, getting onto his knees on the bench. “Vete,” he hissed. “Vete!”
“Who the hell are you—”
“Hey, guys. How’s it going?”
Mark Bennett stood next to the table. He looked good. His head was freshly shaved, and his beard had been recently trimmed. He wore a sweater I’d never seen before, a maroon V-neck that clung to his arms and shoulders. His jeans were tight around his thighs, and he towered over me. There was a pulse of packpackpack somewhere deep inside my head, and whether it came from him or me, I didn’t know. The humans could feel it, but they couldn’t broadcast it. So it had to be from one of us. There was something more, something that felt green and blue, but I couldn’t latch on to it, couldn’t parse through it before it pulled away as quickly as it’d come. It was a thought—an idea—but he’d taken it back. We’d learned early on how to shield ourselves from members of our pack. No one was privy to everything in our heads. I could push. A question sent out like the ripples on the surface of a lake. And maybe he’d answer. But I didn’t think I wanted to know.
Especially when I saw a man standing next to him.
He was thin, with pale skin and dark eyes. His hair was artfully messy. He looked to be a little younger than me. He smiled nervously down at us, lips twitching. He was standing close to Mark, their arms brushing. He looked ordinary next to Mark. Most people did.