“She made it back to town okay, didn’t she?”
“How’d she get back?” Lamar asked.
Neal filled him in on what he knew and all that had transpired at the courthouse that morning. “I got the impression that Donna Dee knew,” Lamar remarked when Neal was finished.
“Donna Dee vouched for us,” Neal said. “She knew damn well that Jade knew what she was in for when she got into the car with three half-drunk randy bucks. Maybe we should have invited Donna Dee to our little party, too.” He grinned and smacked his lips. “Although I can’t see her being as good as her friend Jade. I’ve never had pussy that sweet before.”
Lamar lowered his eyes to his hands, which lay limply in his lap. He had a compelling urge to wash them.
“Donna Dee was pissed at Jade for screwing you,” Neal said to Hutch. “You could almost see the steam coming out of her ears. She’s really got the hots for you. Why don’t you be kind, Hutch? Give her a sampling of what you gave Jade.”
Hutch’s large hands balled into fists. His face regained its color. In fact, it turned beet red. Hutch’s temper was reputably short around everybody except Neal, but there was a first time for everything. Lamar held his breath with fearful expectation.
Evidently Hutch thought better of antagonizing Neal any further. His hot color subsided and he relaxed his fists. “I’m going home now.” He stomped across the room. Before he reached the door, Neal blocked his path.
“I’d be real disappointed if my two best friends turned out to be squeamish chickenshits.” He included Lamar in the warning look he gave Hutch. “Jade stirred up a hornets’ nest this morning, but it’s all over now. My old man called a while ago and said she had notified Fritz that she’s decided against pressing charges. That’s as good as an admission that she was asking for it.” When neither responded, he said, “Well, isn’t it?”
The two boys glanced at each other indecisively. Finally, Lamar mumbled, “Whatever you say, Neal.”
“Okay then, relax, will you?”
Hutch said, “Daddy’s put me on a curfew for the next couple of weeks. See y’all later.”
After he left, Neal raised his hands high above his head a
nd stretched, yawning expansively. “My old man yanked me out of bed before sunrise this morning. I’ve been lazy all day.” he picked up his beer and drank the rest of it in one swallow. “You want to go shoot some baskets or something?”
“No, I’ve, uh, got to get home, too.” Lamar rose to his feet. Awkwardly, he fidgeted with the zipper of his jacket, slid his hands into his pockets, took them out again. “Is my mother going to find out about this, Neal?”
“Why?” Neal smiled like an alligator. “Scared?”
“Damn right,” Lamar admitted with a weak laugh.
Neal slapped him between the shoulder blades. “She won’t find out. And even if she does, so what? You got laid. Big fucking deal. No pun intended.”
Suddenly he grabbed a handful of Lamar’s buttock and whispered softly, “You shot quite a load into her, my man. I was damned proud of you.” He squeezed the flesh before releasing it, laughing in his characteristically careless way.
Lamar said goodbye and made his way to the staircase. The high ceilings of the house made him feel small and caged. He paused momentarily to draw a steadying breath. As he leaned against the balustrade, he realized that he was sweating profusely again. Perspiration had beaded on his upper lip. His palms were slick and cold with it.
He experienced another startling realization: his cock was hard. Very hard. Talking about his sexual prowess the night before had done it. He didn’t know whether to gloat or to be sick again.
Chapter Six
Gary Parker ambushed Donna Dee Monroe at her car in the student parking lot just after the three-thirty bell. His suspicion that she had been avoiding him was confirmed. When she saw him, she almost dropped her books.
“Gary! Wh-why aren’t you running track?”
“I want to talk to you, Donna Dee.”
“About what?” She tossed her books into the backseat and slid behind the wheel, eager to get away. Gary reached through the door and yanked out the ignition key.
“Hey, what—”
“I want to know what’s going on with Jade.”
“Jade?” she echoed.
“Jade. You know, Jade Sperry, your best friend.”