Unscrewed

by Ren Alexander

  Simone nods toward the pool tables, and I see Wilder poised to knock his ball into a corner pocket. Tesco glances up from the table, noticing Simone and me. As Wilder straightens, Ricky elbows him, and he looks our way. His grin falls as arms wrap around his torso from behind. Wilder’s hand goes to one of the smaller hands around him as a woman moves to his side. Not just any woman. Hadley.

  Fuck.

  What the hell is she doing here?

  Simone tugs at my hand. “Here we go.”

  I pull on her hand, and she stops. “Did you know Hadley was going to be here?”

  She shrugs. “Finn mentioned he might bring her since Val offered to babysit tonight. She deserves a night out with her husband, doesn’t she?”

  “Yeah. Sure.” Not at all. Hadley’s hair isn’t in her normal ponytail, and she’s wearing a short denim skirt with a lacy shirt, reminding me of the underwear she wore with me that allowed my accidental, on-target shot to drip through.

  Simone asks, “She didn’t mention she might come here with Finn tonight?”

  “No.”

  “I can’t believe Ricky’s alone.”

  She drags me to their pool table and picking up his beer bottle, Tesco says, “Well, well, well. Look what we have here.”

  Hadley walks over to us, and Simone jumps to hug her. “I’m so glad you came, Hadley!”

  Simone returns to my side and to my hand. Hadley tries to maintain a smile, but it’s preoccupied as she stares at our joined hands. “Me too. Are you two together?”

  Simone bumps her arm against mine. “Sometimes.”

  Visibly taken aback, Hadley says, “I didn’t know that.”

  Simone asks, “Finn didn’t tell you Ricky saw us together at the gym?”

  “No.” I guess we weren’t that big of a deal after all.

  Simone releases my hand and goes to Tesco, who is clearly checking her out. Hadley moves closer to me as Wilder glares from his place at the pool table while talking to Simone. Hadley asks, “What about your date with Rhonda?”

  “What about it?”

  “You’re seeing Simone behind her back?”

  “So? She’s not my girlfriend. Neither are.”

  Hadley nods but appears more confused. “Are you sleeping with Simone?”

  “What’s it matter to you?”

  “Because I thought you were giving Rhonda a chance.”

  “I did.”

  “Barely. But...Simone?”

  “What’s wrong with her?”

  “Nothing. But she’s...”

  “Does it bother you or something?”

  “No,” she answers fast, frowning at me and then at the floor.

  “That’s good because your husband doesn’t seem to care.” Coming up behind her, Wilder puts one arm above her tits and the other below them. He may as well grab them since he’s puffing out his chest and basically marking her with his piss. His left hand drops and picking up her hand, he rubs his black-and-silver wedding ring over hers. I want to slash my wrists. Or his.

  His mouth goes to her ear, and when he talks, Hadley giggles. But then whatever he tells her forces away her laughter, and she bites her lip as her eyelids droop. She all but fucking moans.

  Jesus H. Christ.

  Before I’m able to escape, still holding Hadley against him, Wilder asks, “What’re you doing with Simone?”

  “We’re just here together. You said she’s a big girl.”

  “She is.” Wilder’s glare obviously tells me he wants to say more but has to refrain in front of his wife.

  When I glance at Simone, she quickly looks away, but then turns her attention back to me, grinning. And I don’t know why because she’s basking in Tesco.

  Wilder again whispers in Hadley’s ear, this time making her gasp with a giggle. Irritated and needing to shove someone off the James Monroe Building, I make my way to Garrison, who’s listening to Ricky explain pool to her. Putting my arm over Simone’s shoulders, I pull her closer to me. Ricky frowns, annoyed. Even better. “You play pool, Rodwell?”

  “Once or twice.”

  Simone ducks out from underneath my arm, and I watch her go to the bar. As does Ricky, who says, “Damn. She looks different. Grown-up.”

  “She’s not a kid anymore.”

  “You know what I mean.” I don’t. Tesco sucks in a breath, and when we can’t see Garrison past people, he mutters something about being careful with that one. He then says, “You two aren’t serious. I should grab my turn.”

  “She’s not a game of pool.”

  Tesco grins as he looks past me, making me do the same. Hadley and Wilder are far enough away that Ricky says, “I know she’s not. But you know, best bud’s little sister. I can’t really play around with her.”

  “So don’t.”

  “I wouldn’t. But... Shit. Little Simone is now a bona fide babe.” I already know that. I don’t have a response I can share, and Ricky nods at the table. “Take over for Wilder. He’s kind of busy. Stripes.”

  “I guess so.”

  “Scared?” Tesco taunts me. “I’ll try to go easy on you.”

  I blow out an exaggerated breath. “Thanks.”

  I watch Ricky take his turn as I contemplate my move. Garrison returns and hands Ricky a bottle of beer out of the three she’s holding. She doesn’t need to try anymore. They’ll be fucking in the parking lot. Thinking of that sickens me. Simone can do whatever the fuck she wants. I don’t want to be a part of this act anymore.

  She then hands a beer to me. The cap is removed, but I say, “Uh, thanks.” It’s just another drink she wasted on me. I set it down on a ledge, hoping she doesn’t notice me not drink it.

  Garrison stands next to me as we both watch Wilder kissing Hadley’s neck while holding her hips close to him. Simone mutters, “Tell them to fuck in their car or go home and do it.”

  Ricky says, “He’ll probably nail her in the bathroom or in his back seat. That’s why he wanted her wearing a skirt.”

  Motherfucker.

  Fuming, I pick up Wilder’s abandoned pool cue and assess the table’s green bed. Spotting a golden opportunity, I drag the cue ball over the worn cloth to where I want it and look behind me to make sure I’m clear. When I do, Hadley’s gaze holds mine, but since Wilder’s is also on me, I return my focus to the game at hand. Decided, I call, “Eleven and 14, side pocket.”

  Ricky laughs. “No way in hell, man! I have three balls blocking those.”

  “Really?” I say, arching an eyebrow at Tesco as I bend, leaning onto the rail made out of fiberglass, no doubt. “We’ll see about that.” Though it’s hard to concentrate when I have Hadley and Simone scrutinizing me, I take the shot. I stand up as 11 and 14 bank off two of Ricky’s lame-ass balls before dropping into the side pocket.

  Leaning the cue against the wall, I smirk. “Oops.”

  “What the hell?” Ricky yelps.

  I shrug. “Beginner’s luck.” Gramps used to play pro, and Uncle Dale was a pool shark. They taught me a thing or two. I’m not about to relay that information, revealing all my secrets. Idiot.

  Ricky’s attention returns to Simone’s show-and-tell boobs and with Wilder’s so-called nonchalance for who his sister dates, it’s the perfect time for another fuck you. Taking Garrison’s hand, I lead her to the edge of the dance floor at the beginning of a slow Chainsmokers song.

  When I put my hands on Simone’s hips, her hands go to my shoulders. “You were... Holy hell, Greg. You just owned Ricky. His face...”

  “His face was between your tits.”

  “It was?” She looks down at her chest and then back up to my face. “I didn’t notice.”

  I roll my eyes with a brittle laugh. “That’s why we’re here for fuck’s sake. You’re supposed to notice these things.”

  “I guess so. I just don’t think he’s interested. Probably because his best friend is my brother.”

  “He’s into you.”

  Garrison’s eyes widen. “He is? What did he say
?”

  Even though the music is loud, I whisper, “He thinks you’re hot.”

  Her grin is instant, and so is my irritation. “No way. He didn’t say that.”

  Sighing, I shrug. “He did.” And I hate I didn’t lie about it.

  Simone’s gaze slides past me. “He’s watching us. All three of them are. What now?”

  Regretting having to do this so Tesco will fuck her, I did make a deal. She kept up her end. It’s my turn with her now, just as Officer Dick Lick alluded to having his.

  Simone’s blue eyes meet mine and inhaling her scent, I lean down and drag my nose and lips down the side of her face. Her breathing instantly grows loud and sharp. She tilts her head, and I kiss her neck. Her pulse batters my lips with each kiss I give her. As I move back up, her voice vibrates through my mouth, but I don’t know what she said. My hands go to her ribs, holding her as my palms sweep against the sides of her tits and their nakedness fills my mind. Lifting my head to take a breath to calm the dizziness, I make eye contact with Hadley on the other side, who slightly shakes her head and then turns to Wilder. Why is she pushing me to Rhonda but doesn’t want me hanging out with Simone? Wilder must be rubbing off on her. In a lot of ways, that asshole.

  Simone’s arms hug my neck and this time her lips go to my throat. And then her tongue, lightly licking me. Fuck. She can’t be doing this to me in public, game or not. It’s turning me on, especially knowing Hadley is watching.

  Simone drops her right arm and her hand goes to my belt buckle, tugging like she did at the ball field, and my dick hardens more, but I don’t know if it’s because of Hadley or her. Simone’s mouth goes to my ear, nipping at it, her hot breath blowing on me. “Do you think he’s jealous?”

  I swallow, wheezing, “I don’t know.” Something better happen from all this agony.

  Garrison moves, drifting her lips close to mine. “How far do we take this?”

  Again, I answer, “I don’t know.”

  “Rhonda kissed you.”

  “Yeah. She did.”

  “I bet she didn’t do this.” Garrison drops her hand to my fly, and she scrapes her hand up and down my zipper, teasing my aching dick as she did in front of Morgan at the diner last year. I told her nothing below the belt, but I don’t want her to stop.

  But this time is different, even if it’s the same fucking game, pretending we’re something we’re not. Because this time, it’s a game I don’t want to play. Not thinking, my lips brush against Garrison’s and maybe it’s the voyeuristic aspect of Hadley watching, or maybe it’s because Garrison is summoning my throbbing dick, but I kiss her. Not scripted. Not planned. I go slow, but she whimpers and kisses me harder, resolute. And I can’t keep up.

  Out of breath, I pull away from her and Simone blinks up at me. “Jesus Christ, Greg. Did you kiss Rhonda like that?”

  Having lost my damn voice, I shake my head. Her hands go to my neck, and they tremble against me. I stare at her neck, the one I just kissed as part of a fucking ruse. Simone asks, “Do you think they believed that?”

  I thought I did.

  Clearing my throat, dazed and confused, I still say nothing as I peer over to the pool tables. Only now, there’s a brunette standing close to Ricky, who seems to have lost interest in pool since she’s practically grinding herself onto him.

  Shit.

  Before I can warn her, Simone sees him. She stiffens in my arms, putting pressure on the stiffness in my jeans. She whispers, “What’s wrong with me?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s him.”

  Simone looks up at me. “If you were him would you want me?”

  “Simone. Jesus.” My reaction is probably a little inconsiderate. “I’m not him, thank fuck.”

  Her grip on me loosens, and she steps out of my hold. “I need to go.”

  I take her hand, but she jerks it back. Grabbing it again, I hold it tight as we head for the door. Letting go of her hand so she can exit first, I glance over at Tesco, who manages to tear his attention away from the flavor of the hour to watch Simone leave. I force a smirk, hoping he catches my drift that I’m the one she’s leaving with.

  Simone goes outside, and Wilder stops me with Hadley next to him. “Where’re you going?”

  “Taking your sister home.”

  “She just got here.” As Wilder shakes his head and peers over at Ricky, I glance at Hadley as her eyes water.

  I mouth, “What?”

  Wilder turns back to us, asking, “And what the hell was that display out there?”

  “Foreplay.” I laugh, trying to be convincing, and Hadley walks away from us. With Wilder clearly not enjoying my joke, I mutter, “Later.”

  Outside the cold air punches my face, but not as hard as what I just experienced. Seeing Simone with her arms wrapped around herself next to my truck, I unlock the doors on the way, and she jumps into the passenger seat. Starting the truck, I turn on the heat since Simone is practically huddled into a ball. I told her to wear a jacket.

  I drive back to my apartment, neither of us talking. I didn’t think tonight would end like this. I really thought she’d be going home with Tesco, the way he eye-fucked her a dozen different ways and then after what he told me. I guess he’s not ready for Simone. What a stupid asshole.

  Parking in front of the cement stairs and next to Garrison’s car, I shut off the truck, making the cab deathly quiet. Eventually, Simone sighs. “I need to pee before I leave.”

  “Okay.”

  We go upstairs and thankfully, without Flo’s sales pitch. The door sticks when it’s cold, so after unlocking it, I shoulder it open. Delightful.

  Going in, Simone frowns. “It’s not the same here without Birdy.”

  “Yeah.” I toss my keys on the coffee table as Simone goes down the hall to the bathroom. Taking off my shoes, I drop them near the door, thinking of how tonight was a disaster for Simone. If only she didn’t want to land fucking Tesco. He didn’t even notice her until she paraded her tits. Such an idiot.

  When Simone returns, she says, “Thanks for your help tonight.”

  “We had a deal. You want something to drink?”

  “Okay. Just water.” She takes off her boots and sits on the couch.

  Going into the kitchen, I fill a glass for her, wondering how she trusts me enough to do it. That much trust is a luxury I lost. I grab a Dew for me and return to the living room.

  Simone’s quiet again. I hate what Tesco did to her, but it could’ve been worse. I set down the drinks and plop down next to her. When Simone doesn’t say anything for a couple minutes, I sigh. “That cocksucker isn’t worth it.”

  “Why am I not good enough? For anyone?”

  “Don’t say that because of him. He lives his life between his legs. Not everyone’s like that.” Not in public anyway.

  Simone shifts, sitting up on her legs, and moving close, she hugs me. Against my collarbone, she says, “Thank you for being a good friend to me, Greg.”

  My hand goes to her lower back, and without thinking, I lightly clutch her shirt. “I didn’t do anything.”

  Simone lays her cheek against my shoulder while her fingers go to my right wrist, gently plucking at my bracelets. “What are these for?”

  Watching her touching them, I whisper, “They were my sister’s.”

  “Eden?”

  I nod against her, and she again hugs me. Simone’s tits rub against my chest with every one of our breaths. It’s continual torture.

  With her arms around my neck, she stays on me. Her breathing against my skin only adds to the torment. So, when her lips softly kiss the crook of my neck, my heart sprints, unsure of what she’s doing or how I feel about her doing it.

  When I don’t object, Simone kisses lower into my shirt, and I close my eyes, wincing as my jeans strangle my growing hard-on, something I’ve never been able to control in any situation it seems. Simone kisses my ear and whispers, “Greg, kiss me again.”

  “Why? We don’t have an audienc
e.”

  Against my skin, she whispers, “I know.” With that answer hanging heavy, Simone then sits up, staring at my mouth. “I want you to kiss me. For real.” I did kiss her for real. But to her, it was for show. Part of the game. For me, I opened up a fragment of myself I’ve only shown Hadley.

  I whisper, “Why?”

  “Because I want you to.”

  Stalling, I say the first stupid thing that pops into my head. “Maybe you should beg for it.”

  She grabs a handful of the front of my T-shirt. “Please kiss me again, damn it.”

  Struggling not to overthink it, and because maybe I do want to, I sit up more and kiss her, not intending it to be a long one. But I don’t fucking stop.

  Simone pushes her body onto me, and I fall against the back of the couch. Instinct now, I push back on her until she’s against the couch instead. I restlessly kiss her, not fixated on any particular thought except for the taste of her and how her lips feel on mine. But when her hand goes to my lap, stroking my dick through my jeans, that all changes.

  She moans, and her fingers dance around the strained denim. Simone’s hand scrapes over my groin, and she grips my hard-on as much as possible, following the outline. In between kisses, she says, “Fuck, you’re huge.”

  Not having a comment for her, I kiss her again, and she continues trying to jack me off. Her touch isn’t supposed to be hers. And I can only think of Hadley. But how faithful am I supposed to be when she’s fucking Wilder?

  My left hand creeps to Simone’s ribs, having nowhere else to put it. But she picks up my hand and slides it into her top, where I have an instant handful of her tit. She groans against my mouth and having beat off to her before, I move my fingers down, toying with her ample nipple. The feel of it on my fingers hammers my dick. Fucking hell.

  Kissing her more intently, I knead her tit, wanting it in my mouth. Simone rubs my dick more, and the agony isn’t just physical. My old pain and doubts return, smothering me.

  “I’m soaked,” she whispers. “I want your big cock to destroy my cunt.” She lightly giggles and then moans as I move my hips, rubbing my dick into her grip as much as I can, trying to defy the slithering pain. I just want her friction. But as I do, I think of how many men she probably said that to. As Morgan had pointed out regarding Simone, I’m the rebound. Simone couldn’t get Ricky, so now she’ll settle for me.