Page 15 of Who Said Mobsters Were Scary?
I let my eyes roam the two girls and they return the favor. Judging by the spark of interest in their gazes, they are definitely up for some fun.
“So, where are you from?” Saki asks, playing with her straw.
Would my mysterious stranger struggle to say my name, too? From the short exchange we had at the club’s backyard that night, his accent seemed softer. Maybe he spent some time abroad somewhere? And if he did, maybe he can say the L?
“New York,” I say, suddenly dying to know how my name would sound coming out of his mouth.
“Ooh! That’s so cool!” Kaori nods enthusiastically, then looks at Saki. “Amerika-jin wa minna kakkoi ne, Saki-san?”
“Kakkoi yo!”Saki agrees, ogling me just as openly as Kaori is. “Our friends are having a house party. Do you want to join?”
This is it, my opening to make the hookup happen. Except I have no idea what to say, even if my dick gives a twitch of interest. My brain is too preoccupied trying toremember if there were any L-s in any of the words Club Guy and I said to each other.
The two girls bat their lashes at me expectantly, but even that’s not enough to unjumble my thoughts.
“Sorry, uh, my friends are waiting for me,” I string together like the biggest loser who’s ever losered.
They look taken aback as much as I feel it, so I don’t linger, too embarrassed to try and salvage the opportunity. The crowd swallows me soon enough, and that helps me forget about my epic failure, though it doesn’t prevent me from obsessing over the damn L.
Seriously, Leo, let it fucking go.What does it matter if Club Guy can pronounce your name or not?
Great fucking question. And worse than that, I’m now picturing how his mouthlookslike when he says it, his tongue peeking out from behind white teeth. Hot tingles assault my body, confusing and pleasant as they concentrate in my core.
Jesus. I can’t believe I’m finding such fantasies sensual and sexy. I really need to get laid. If only my dumb brain would stop fixating on a certain someone and let me score with one of pretty and interested girls tonight.
But they can’t even say your name, Leo,the voice in my head insists.
Okay, but we don’t know if Club Guy can either. Besides, what does it matter even if he could? It’s not like I’d bang him.
Right?
The silence that follows raises the hairs on my neck. Oh boy, it’s worse than I thought. I reaaaaally need to score and soon. A happy and sexually not frustrated dick equals a happy and sexually not frustrated Leo who knows what he likes.
I spot Chris making out with a model-like guy in one of the booths. Naomi is there too, enjoying the company of a pink-haired girl and a guy with a mohawk. The moment she sees me, she waves me over. We hang around until Chris decides to fuck off somewhere with his hookup, because, unlike me, he’s not a sore loser.
“Why’d you let that chick go? She looked interested,” I tease Naomi as we board a taxi and head home. It’s too late and the subway doesn’t run anymore.
“I don’t do couples. Things get messy and I don’t like messy,” she says easily.
She’s not wrong, I suppose, though it’s not like I have experience. I’m more of a one-partner-at-a-time guy.
We don’t go right in when we arrive at IS-Halls as Naomi and a couple others want to smoke. I stay with them, remembering that I didn’t get to find out what brand Club Guy likes. There is a convenience store near the bus stop, so I decide to go for a walk.
“Anyone want anything?” I ask, hooking a thumb in the direction of the shop. “I’m going to thekonbini.”
A chorus of nope-s send me off. I jog across the street and enter the brightly lit store. It’s not very big, but it has all kinds of things, including some clothes and household items. The door rings as someone else comes inside just as I plant myself in front of the fridge with the drinks. There are so many variations and some of the flavors sound kind of weird. But in an intriguing way.
Grabbing two, I try to work out what they are. One is pink with yellow stripes and some fruity-looking thing on its label, and the other one is blue-white with… Sparkles? Stars? Dots? I can’t really tell.
“I recommend the Momo soda if you are in the mood for something sweet.”
My nerve-endings light up as the sound of that voice zaps me, rooting me in place. It’s deep and smooth. Rich. It slides like silk across the skin of my exposed arms, speeding up my pulse.
“But thePokariis an energy drink. If you were after something to give you a boost.”
Shit. There’s no way I can mistake that voice. It’shim. Badass Club Guy.
His imposing presence engulfs me, further knotting my stomach. My heart tries to burst out of my chest, hammering against my ribcage. My throat feels thick. I spin on my heel, facing the man behind me. His dark eyes lock with mine and his lips curve up in the lopsided smile I can’t get out of my head. I blink at him, my mind reeling.
