Pucked Up

“I don’t get your obsession with my body hair.”

“I don’t get why we have body hair in the first place. On our heads I can understand, but the rest of it seems so u

“It’s protection.”

“Maybe for you it is. I’m sure yours is made of titanium and makes you bulletproof, but for women around the world it’s yet another source of u

“She takes care of her business.”

“Really? Wow. I was almost positive she was a natural girl.”

“I don’t think anyone’s natural these days.”

“Truth. Look, I gotta go. Alex has the Scrabble board set up, and I’m going to kick his ass.”

“Have fun with that.” Scrabble is my least favorite game in the entire world. “Thanks for the advice and your usual overshare.”

“No problem. I don’t know if I’m the best person to ask for advice on relationships, but I’ll help where I can. Su

“What if that’s not enough?”

“You can’t control other people’s feelings. All you can do is put yourself out there and hope she’s going to feel the same way.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“You’ll move on. But you can do this. Relationships are scary. Especially new ones with guys who have seriously questionable reputations for being womanizers. Sometimes it’s easier to go back to what we know because it’s familiar and comfortable rather than put ourselves on the line. If you want this—if you want her—it’s you putting yourself on the line, not the other way around. Call me tomorrow if you need to; Alex has a workout scheduled at nine in the morning. I’m pla

She hangs up with a screech and a giggle.

I went into this weekend with a plan to get past third base with Su

Robbie and Violet are right. I need to step up my game. Otherwise I might lose Su

CHAPTER TWELVE

BIG BETS AND VAGUE MEMORIES

After the call with Violet, I find an all-you-can-eat buffet and gorge. Then I drive to Toronto to pick up Randy. While I’m waiting for his flight, I mess around on social media. Bushman has been tagging Su

I add comments to the posts on her wall, so Bushman knows I’m watching his ass. I want to message Su

Randy’s all smiles and “fuck yeah, camping!” when I pick him up. I try not to let my crap mood ruin his. He reclines his seat and adjusts his baseball cap. He’s like a walking billboard for Chicago.

“So? How was the weekend with Su

I struggle to maintain a neutral expression. “It was good.”

“Just good? Come on, Miller, give up the details. You’ve been radio silent all weekend. Did you finally get some action or what?”

In the past we’ve traded bu

He’s chopped me in the shins a couple of times in the past month when we’ve played rec after workouts. He also got me good in the kidneys. That one hurt. I was sore for a couple of days. If he knows I’m sexing with Su

The GPS pipes up and tells me to get on the 401 East. I follow the signs, avoiding an answer.

“Miller?”

“’Sup?”

“You go

“We had a good time. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Oh, shit. You didn’t bang her? How fucking blue are your balls right now?” He pulls out his phone.

“What are you doing?” The traffic here is nuts. People cut across lanes without even looking. There are signs everywhere and assholes going ninety in the slow lane, then cutting in, forcing everyone behind them to slam on their brakes.

He’s thumb typing, and he hasn’t shut the sound off, so I hear every a

“What the hell for?”

He stops typing to talk. “Because I owe him a case of beer.”

“For what?”

“I lost the bet.” He’s got that cocky grin going again.

“Bet?”

“Yeah. I bet him a case of beer you’d be able to get Su

I slap his phone out of his hand, knocking it to the floor. In the process I swerve and cut into the lane next to me. A chick in a sporty BMW honks and flails her hands.

“Dude! What’s your damage?” He goes to pick up his phone, but I crossbar him with a forearm to the neck.

“Text Lance and I’ll leave you on the side of the highway.”

“I won’t. Jesus, man, what’s going on with you? What happened? Did you and Su

“Su

“I know that.”

I run a hand through my hair and give him the side eye. “You wa

Randy settles back in his seat when I withdraw my arm. “I know that, man, but you know how Lance is; everything’s a game for him.”

“You’d think it was obvious at this point that I’m serious about Su

“Right? Who keeps seeing the same chick for three months if it isn’t about more than fucking.” Randy looks out the window and rubs at his beard. “I know I sure as hell wouldn’t.”

I don’t say anything while Randy fiddles around with the radio and finds a station he likes. He’s big into country music.

Here’s the thing: I know I shouldn’t say anything, but like Randy said, I’ve been waiting for months to get to this point. I can’t give details to Violet, because that shit’s awkward and weird. I mean, mostly she’s like a girl version of Randy, minus all the whoring and the equipment below the belt, but stepsister or not, we’re quasi-related, and we’re close. I can’t go there. However, Randy’s one of my closest buddies, and old habits die hard. I should be able to trust him not to run his mouth.

“You can’t say anything to Lance.”

He stops messing around with the radio. “I won’t. Scout’s honor.” He holds up two fingers and gives me a cheeky-ass grin.

“I’m serious.”

“Sorry. I can’t help it. But yeah, I won’t say anything—not to Lance or anyone else.”

“So Su

“So you did get some action?”

I smile. It’s enough of an answer.