“Why do I get the feeling I’m not gonna like whatever you’re going to say?” Vega says warily.
“Because despite the blows to your head, you’re a smart guy.”
“Just don’t tell me you’re leaving…not yet.”
I sigh, unsure what to say. I don’t want to give them false promises.
Blink’s hand smooths over my thigh as Vega stares at me a beat before his eyes move to Blink. They don’t speak, but some kind of understanding seems to take place between them. Now, if they would just fill in the rest of the class, that would be awesome.
When the food arrives, we all dig in, keeping the conversation light.
I nearly choke on my mouthful when Blink tells us a story about a woman working out, trying to impress him. When she bent over, her leggings split open right down the seam.
“I just stood there, not sure what the fuck to do. I mean, she had to be embarrassed, right? I didn’t want to draw any more attention to the fact that her bush was poking through her newly air-conditioned pants.”
Vega slaps me on the back when I start to choke again.
“So I take off my sweatshirt, thinking she could use it to tie around her waist until she could get to the changing room, but she takes one look at my now bare chest and starts making a weird-ass wheezing noise. I thought she was having a panic attack or something until she whipped her T-shirt over her head and started shouting ‘yeehaw cowboy.’”
“That’s it. I give up. I can’t eat around you—you’re a choking hazard,” I manage to get out through my laughter.
“Oh, sweetheart, you have no idea.” He winks, making my panties flood.
I elbow him in the ribs before looking at Vega.
“He’s trying to kill me.”
“Don’t worry, Mal, I’ll protect you,” he nuzzles in my ear, making my eyes cross.
The moment is broken by the sound of a newcomer’s voice. “Yo, Vega, how’s it going, man?”
We both turn. Standing at the end of the table is an honest-to-god Viking. The man has to be almost as tall as Blink. But where Blink is all dark and delicious, this man is fair-skinned with long blond hair pulled back at the base of his neck. His eyes are such a pale shade of blue that they remind me of ice chips. And he has a beard. A motherfucking beard. I should just take my panties off and hand them to him now.
All three of them turn to look at me.
“What?”
“Well, darlin’, I’m fine with that as long as I get to keep them,” the Viking states in a deep voice with a smile.
“Fuck off, Graves. If anyone is getting her panties, it’s me. She likes me best, right?” Blink jokes.
I’d be pissed if I didn’t know from his grin he was just messing around.
Wait a fucking minute.
“I said that out loud?”
The Viking, aka Graves, smiles at me. Poof. No more panties.
“Never mind. They’ve just disintegrated.”
I look up at Blink, who looks like he is trying to fight back a laugh.
“Wanna let me out? I need to use the restroom.”
He slides out and holds his hand out to me. I take it and let him pull me up.
“Thanks. I’ll be right back.”