Benefits of Friendship (Black Mountain Bikers 1)

Jayda looked up at Jazmyn and then around to the others, who were all watching the movie still. “No, he’s not checking up on me. He’s just chatting.” She put the phone down beside her and said, “Actually, he wanted to know where you were at the moment.”

“Me? Why would he want to know where I am any time?” Jazmyn scoffed and put the last bite of chicken in her mouth as she turned back to the movie. She suddenly didn’t want to discuss Drake anymore.

“I’m not sure. He just wants to make sure that you’re here, I guess. He’s sending Gage Swift down with an electrical wire we need for those flickering lights upstairs.” Jayda raised her eyebrows at Jazmyn.

“What? So, he’s sending Gage with wire. What’s that got to do with me?” She knew what she’d like it to have to do with her. Gage Swift was about as hot as the running gears of hell itself. She wouldn’t mind letting him burn her either. A small smile pulled at her mouth and she couldn’t make eye contact with Jayda.

“Uh-huh. Well, my guess is that Mr. Swift wants your company while he’s here working on those lights. Maybe the man has the hots for you, Jazzy.” Jayda winked and the others intoned with murmurs and catcalls.

Jazmyn giggled. “Well, he can have the hots for me if he wants to; that doesn’t mean I return the feeling.” She stood to throw away her Styrofoam box.

Pepper said, “Sure thing, Jazzy. I saw how you looked him up and down the last time he was here. You looked like a starving dog eyeing a T-bone steak.”

They all laughed. Jazmyn shot Pepper a hateful look and dropped her trash in the can.

“Yeah and who among us hasn’t looked at those guys that way at least once?” She sat in the over-sized chair again, pulling her feet up into the seat with her. “I have to admit that Gage Swift is pretty hot, indeed.”

Madison said, “Hear, hear!” She pounded her hand against her thigh, nodding in agreement. “Why don’t you get you some of that, then?”

“That hasn’t offered itself to me yet, that’s the main reason why.” Jazmyn turned to the movie, her mind on Gage and not the movie at all.

Jayda slid from the couch and stood. She leaned close to Jazmyn’s ear and in a low voice, she said, “If he’s even half as educated in sex as Drake is, you are in for the treat of your life.” Grinning, she patted Jazmyn’s shoulder and walked across the room.

Jazmyn couldn’t get Gage out of her head after that comment. “If I did get some of that, I wouldn’t tell any of you about it.”

Pepper said, “You’re afraid to get with him. You’re afraid that you two won’t have a fulfilling relationship that you can write home to mommy and daddy about. That’s it, isn’t it?”

“Hey! That’s not it at all and that’s a low blow even for you, Pepper.” Jazmyn put her feet on the floor again and eyed Pepper angrily.

Pepper held up her hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. It’s just that you’ve always been the goody-goody of the group and you always find a way to look down on the rest of us and our low morals.”

“Oh, hell no I do not. I never look down on any of you, no matter what you do. I don’t think anyone’s morals here are low. I actually admire most of you, Pepper. You’re just being an ass today for some reason. Didn’t you get laid last night?” Jazmyn was mad enough to fight. She’d been part of the group since college, just like all of them. She’d never thought of herself or her choices in life as being goody-goody and she didn’t appreciate Pepper calling her that in such a demeaning way.

“Well, okay, then. Now we’re getting somewhere, Jazzy. I get laid whenever I feel the urge; when was the last time for you?”

“That’s none of your business. I get it whenever I want it, too. I’m just not as horny as you, obviously.” Jazmyn immediately regretted the words, but it was too late to take them back.

“That’s what I’m talking about. You look down on us because you’re too afraid to go out and get laid when you want it. We’re no different than the guys of the world when it comes to wanting and needing sex, all right? We agreed to live freely a long time ago and I just don’t think you’ve ever really lived up to our credo.”

“That’s ridiculous. I have always lived freely, doing what I want, when I want, and with whom I want.” The lie tasted bad on her tongue, but she couldn’t admit to the whole group that she was sexually repressed and she was afraid to go out and just have sex for the sake of having sex. Her family had ingrained it into her that a woman should act a certain way when it comes to sex—like it or not, some of those enslaving, repressing, depressing rules and strictures had made such an impression that she couldn’t shake them easily; some not at all.

Pepper nodded. “Then you should hook up with Gage. He’s all non-commitment and stuff. He’d be good practice for you, Jazzy. You’d be amazed at how much more relaxed you’d be and how much happier you’d be if you’d just go get it every now and then without always planning a wedding and a family just because you’re shaking the sheets with some hot guy.”

“I might just do that, Pepper. And I don’t plan that shit just because I’m having sex with some guy.” She scoffed, her anger turning to embarrassment. How had Pepper picked up on any of that? If Pepper had, had the rest of them, too?

“All right. Let’s make a bet, then. Come on.” Pepper scooted to the edge of the couch and held out her hand to Jazmyn. “Let’s shake on it. No money, just our word as women, as friends.”

“What are we betting on, Pepper?” Jazmyn eyed Pepper warily as she moved to sit by Pepper on the couch.

“I bet you don’t get laid by Gage without some kind of relationship. I bet that you won’t just have sex with him to enjoy having sex without any sort of commitment.” Pepper grinned wide—a very toothy, confident, and cocky grin that Jazmyn didn’t like at all.

The others oohed and ahhed, waiting in anticipation.

Jazmyn grabbed Pepper’s hand and shook it hard. “You bet your skinny little ass that I most certainly will ride the lightning without commitment. I’ll rock Gage’s world and mine. We’ll have so much sex it’ll make all of you green with envy. I’ll do things to him they haven’t even thought of before.”

Pepper fell to laughing and shook Jazmyn’s hand hard. “Whoo! That’s my girl, Jazzy! I knew you had it in you!”

Jazmyn, called out and turned loose now, said, “Mm. Not yet I don’t, but I will have soon, Pepper. I will have soon, girl.” Feeling feisty, she stood and walked to the bar.