"Where's Sawyer?"
Bodie doesn't answer before walking out of the ballroom. I make my way through the crowds of smiling people. I hear someone whisper I'm the twins boy-toy. Rolling my eyes, I keep looking for Sawyer.
I wish I could say the fuckwit is holding her against her will, but she seems genuinely amused by whatever Richie Rich tells her near the dance floor. The guy is nothing special in my world, but his lean body and floppy hair is probably quite popular around these parts.
Fingering the gun in my jacket, I wonder if I can pretend to be saving Sawyer by shooting this guy.
"People think Bodie and I are sharing you," Colbie says, appearing at my side. "I told them you were Sawyer's gigolo, and we only borrow you."
"You're all kinds of helpful, aren't you?" I grumble before my temper clears enough for my brain to focus. "I need your help."
"What's wrong, Gary?"
I frown at her. "You know that's not my name."
"I suck at names. I call men Gary when I get forgetful. Sorry, Gary."
"Whatever. I need you to use your special talent for annoying people."
"It's true I am very talented. Who do you want me to annoy? Is it you?"
"I want you to unleash your abilities on the pretty boy fuckwit making eyes at Sawyer."
"Feeling insecure, huh? Don't worry, Gary. You're pretty too."
"Are you going to help me or not?"
"Only if I get paid. I'm a big believer in the capitalistic system, meaning I don't do anything unless I get paid."
'How much do you want?"
"A dollar will do. I know you're poor."
"I'm not poor."
Colbie pats my cheek. "You're not rich. In my mind, that makes you poor. So can you afford a dollar or should I give you a discount?"
"Save some of that charm for the pretty boy fuckwit," I say, handing her a twenty.
Colbie shoves the bill in her top and smiles at me. "I'll give the change tomorrow. I know how every dollar counts for the impoverished."
I take her by the shoulders and direct her towards fuckwit. "Unleash all those compliments on him."
Colbie struts over to Sawyer and Pretty Boy Fuckwit. I suspect the fucker knows her well. I see fear in his expression when she appears. Sawyer listens to whatever Colbie is saying for about a minute before shooting me a dirty look. I smile back at her.
Leaving Colbie with her victim, Sawyer stomps over to me. "Why?"
"He's not your type."
"Oh, and you are?" she asks, crossing her arms and pushing her tits at me.
"I'm exactly your type. No one else comes close."
Sawyer's anger vanishes, and she smiles victorious at me.
"You got me to act like a jealous fuck. Big win there, Johansson."
"You're really hot when you get possessive, Todds."
Smiling at her, I lean down for a kiss. Sawyer gets spooked, backing away as if under attack.
"Wanna dance?" I ask, ignoring her fear.
"Not really."
"Want to eat free food?"
"No."
"Want to get drunk and make fun of people?"
Sawyer's face lights up. "Sure. Let's make sure to get a good view of Ellie crying."
"Who's Ellie?" I ask, walking with her to the bar.
"The guy I was talking to. His name is Elliot, but people call him Ellie."
"Country club types are weird."
"Yeah, and he's going to cry soon. Colbie had him scared before she opened her mouth."
We find a table near the bar and with a solid view of Colbie chatting with Ellie. He lasts five minutes before trying to escape. When she doesn't let him get away and continues talking casually, he lasts another five minutes before crying. Always the bitch, Colbie is positively shocked by his tears.
"Get this man some Midol!" she yells when he runs away.
Clinking our beers together, Sawyer and I laugh at the man's tears.
"We're dicks," I say.
"Yeah, he was harmless."
"No, he wasn't," Bodie says, appearing from a side door. "He's a nasty little twit. You didn't see that because your balls intimidated him. With a weaker chick, he'd have convinced her to debase herself."
"I do have big balls," Sawyer murmurs at me.
Bodie leaves us to go play with her sister. I see them joined eventually by Zane and Yesenia. The twins dance off and on. They get into loud arguments over cocktail weenies. More than once, their goal seems to be to embarrass their brother and his woman.
Sawyer and I remain at our table and away from the drama. Occasionally, people say hello to us. I sense they want to chat with the newcomers, but I frown hard at them. When that doesn't work, Sawyer gives them her death stare. She's scarier, and no one joins us.
Bodie passes me on the way out and whispers, "Remind me tomorrow to teach you how to be a man."
"Fuck off," I whisper back.
Grumpy now, I walk in the direction I think leads to the parking lot and end up in a back hallway instead. Sawyer follows me until I stop.
"I don't know where the hell we are."