Page 15 of For the Night
We healed eventually, though, didn’t we?
So would Penelope.
“Okay,” I said. “I understand.” It did sting, but I refused to give up. “If you were serious about the drink, I’m in. I would love to get to know you, at least.”
Small as it was, her smile looked more genuine now. “Getting to know each other sounds good.”
Two pizza slices and three drinks later, we had a whole new atmosphere in the pool area. The guitars had been replaced by Shay’s Bluetooth speaker, Lucian and KC had taken their boys to bed, Colt had returned to his two, and Greer had wheeled out a cart with drinks and snacks.
I could also sense the difference in the Tops’ behavior when they were faced with subs who weren’t Littles. It was Shay, Lane, Archie, Tate, and me left on the subbie side. Throw in Penelope, Ash, River, Reese, Greer, Kingsley, and Ty…? Things just turned more…wolfish. A layer of “fun-loving Daddy” was peeled off to reveal primal cores.
The current hot topic was whether the brats were up to something, if they’d planned a prank or whatever, which all the Tops were convinced of. Being the brilliant girl that I was—one with a task—I discreetly recorded the conversation on my phone.
“Bullshit,” Reese laughed. “You were gonna reveal somethin’ on the cruise, and then you changed your plans.”
“I swear we didn’t!” Shay insisted. “Macklin talked about pranking Ash, but he decided to do that another time.”
“I knew it!” Ash exclaimed. “That fuckin’ brat, I swear. I’mma talk to Walker after the weekend. This can’t go unpunished.”
“This can’t go unpunished,” Lane mocked. “Sir, do you hear yourself? You’re all obsessed with this so-called prank.”
I took a sip of my cider to withhold my laughter.
This was fucking gold.
Tate and I exchanged a brief look, and we shared the same tiny smirk. I bet he was recording too.
Ash slid his stare to Ty. “What are your boundaries on outsiders putting your boy in his place?”
Ty smiled. “Clear-cut. If he dishes it out, he can take it back, but any escalation goes through me.”
Lane scowled at Ty.
Ash was pleased. “Good to know.”
Tate turned curious. “Are you two open?”
Both Ty and Lane shook their heads.
“Maybe down the line with a long list of boundaries, but we’re happy with what we share with Macklin and Walker,” Ty elaborated. “The only play I’m lookin’ forward to one day is Lane going nuts with Shay, Macklin, and you.”
“Fuck yeah.” Reese was clearly on board, and it sounded like it was something they’d discussed before.
Tate smirked and cuddled deeper into Kingsley’s embrace. “That’ll be hot.”
“The tatted-up primal boys—no doubt,” Reese said. He nudged Ty. “Hopefully down in Florida, eh?”
“Absolutely. Back to the island.” Ty and Reese bumped their fists.
I scrunched my nose.
This was such a dick show.
Sufficiently tipsified, I leaned on the armrest and spoke for only Penelope to hear. “So I get the love you have for these guys—you’re basically family—but does it ever get to be too much?”
She’d had a few drinks too, so maybe that was why she chuckled and casually leaned toward me as well. “Both yes and no. No, because I love watching them interact. Fuck soap operas—I’d rather catch an episode of this never-ending battle of the wits. And yes, because obviously, I alienate myself when many of the private events are catered to men. But…” She trailed off and emptied her wineglass. Then she released a breath and smiled a little hollowly. “For the longest time, it wasn’t an issue because I had Ella. Now I’m supposed to start over? I don’t know how to do that.”
Okay, I drank more. I freaking guzzled that cider like my life depended on it.