Daniel, their prospect, was partying it up as well. What that guy didn’t know was they had all come to a decision that he had earned the right to call himself a Dirty Fucker. Every time Leo thought about the term “dirty fucker”, it always made him smile. He couldn’t help it.
Sipping at his beer, he heard the cheer as Teri walked in the door. Right behind her was Skylar. He saw her blush from where he was standing. Even as she smiled and said her goodbyes, he watched as she made her way toward him.
Many of the club guys thought he still had a thing for Stacey. What they didn’t know was that he had long gotten over Stacey. Well, it was not even the real Stacey they fell for. The woman they had come to see was selfish, jealous, vindictive, manipulative, and wanted them to compete for her. He and Paul didn’t work like that. He had cared for the Stacey he thought she was, the illusion she had created, not the woman she actually was, the real her. Knowing the Stacey he thought he cared for didn’t exist had made getting over her real fucking easy.
Leo and Paul had been friends for a long time, even back before their time together with Ned Walker. They shared a bond that would never be severed.
“Hey,” he said, when Skylar was right in front of him.
Her cheeks were really red, and he saw that she was trying to look everywhere but at him.
“Hey. Did you enjoy your steak?” She frowned, shaking her head. “Forget I said that. I’ve never been good at making small talk, and it looks like I’m still cursed with that.”
“The steak was delicious.” He looked past her shoulder at the crowd. “Not your scene?”
“I don’t feel comfortable with people having sex. It’s … yeah, I’m weird I guess. Some people would love the display that is on. I’ll be in my room.”
He offered her his beer. “Why don’t you come outside and we can talk? You always escape to your room, and you don’t need to do that.”
“You don’t have anyone waiting for you?”
“Nope. Can I tempt you with a candy bar?” he asked, pulling her favorite out of his pocket. He had heard Teri bribing her the other day with one. It was full of peanuts.
She shook her head. “No to the candy bar, yes to the company. I think I need to go to a library or something. I’ve got nothing else to do right now.”
He led the way outside to one of the benches in the far garden of the clubhouse. There were quite a few flowers around, and it was a beautiful sight. He loved it.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“This is beautiful.” She took a seat, and had a sip of his beer.
“We wanted this place even though it was rundown. This house was connected to the diner, and we think this could have been an old whorehouse,” he said.
She burst out laughing. “Really?”
“Well, I like to think it was an old whorehouse. It was a huge home, lots of bedrooms, and we extended it out, and we’ve got lots of land here as well, which is good. We’ve got the room to build if we wish to extend further. The garden rocks as well. Pain in the ass to keep on top of though.”
“It’s a beautiful home. Teri must love it here. She loves anything that allows her to have her freedom. The diner, and then this place, it’s like her own personal dream.”
“Teri’s a good girl.” He knew she could be a bad girl as well. “What’s your story then? In case you didn’t know, Teri’s very secretive.”
“There’s not much to tell really.” She pulled the band out of her hair, letting all the raven locks fall around her face. “We were always close, you know. She’s older than me, and she’s always been my protective big sister.”
He pulled out the candy bar. “Want to share?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m going on a diet.”
Leo frowned, looking at her body. “Why?”
“I want to. This is going to be a fresh start, you know. A new me. I’ve been thinking of looking into staying in Greater Falls long term. I’m hoping Teri won’t mind. I’ve got to talk to her about it. I figured I need a place to stay, so rent money and a job to get the rent money. Teri needed my help tonight, so maybe there’s something for me in town?” She shrugged, handing him the beer. She released a sigh. “I think this could be good.”
He noticed she avoided talking about anything to do with growing up, which again, he found really curious.
“So, what’s your story? Teri told me you and Paul are together? Are you boyfriends?”
Leo burst out laughing. “No, we’re not boyfriends.”
“But she said that a woman had to settle for the two of you. Doesn’t that mean what I think it means?” she asked.