Winter began getting worried. “I have been to several parties Beth, I am not a social butterfly but I don’t think I will embarrass myself.”
“That’s not what I mean Winter. What I meant was the parties can get a little carried away; you may see some things that will shock you.”
As the women talked, the men’s voices were growing lower as they unashamedly listened. Viper was about to interrupt. He had every intention of talking with Winter to give her an idea of what to expect tomorrow night but he was enjoying listening to Beth beat around the bush. Several of the men were hiding their smiles.
“For heavens sake Beth, I think she’s seen a naked man before. Hell, she dated Viper for two years.” Jewell interrupted exasperated.
“I never saw Viper naked when we dated. We never had sex.” Winter confessed to the women.
Rider yelled out at a touchdown and Knox elbowed him in the ribs so they could hear.
“You dated Viper for two years and never fucked him?” Evie asked in astonishment.
Winter had felt herself becoming more laid back since they had brought her to the clubhouse and she wasn’t under constant public scrutiny. Her new mellow attitude was brought out further by the wine she had for dinner and the two beers she had drank afterwards had her confiding in the women.
“No, at first my mom was sick, so I thought he was being understanding, then mom died and I still thought the same thing. That excuse lasted about a year.” She said opening another beer. All the women at the table watched the movement.
“What about the other year?” Bliss asked with wide eyes.
Winter picked at the label on her beer with her fingertips, a blush staining her cheeks. “We went to church together.” Winter said. The women looked at each other not understanding.
“Yeah, so?” Jewell asked what everyone was thinking.
Winter looked at Beth. “Oh, I understand.” Beth nodded.
“Well fucking explain it to us.”
“It’s our Christian belief not to share sex before marriage. Many couples in our church don’t even kiss before their wedding day.” Beth was now as red as Winter.
“So you thought…” At this point Jewell had difficulty holding back her laughter. “..that Viper shared your Christian values?” When Winter nodded, none of the women could hold back their laughter, more than one had to wipe tears away.
“What about the last months you were together?” Stori asked.
“I thought he was gay.”
Viper choked on his beer and started to jump off the couch but Knox and Shade held him down. The women turned at the shuffle.
“What happened?” Winter asked seeing the men in a scuffle.
“I think the other team got the ball.” Evie said, laughing.
“Oh, then I was at a football game and saw you guys walk by and I realized he wasn’t gay.” Winter went on explaining.
“How did that make you realize he wasn’t gay?” Bliss asked.
“I saw him look at you. No man who is gay looks at a woman’s ass like that.”
The whole table got quiet and the men listening got even quieter.
“That’s when I realized he just saw me as a friend.” Each woman at the table knew that had hurt, watching as Winter took another long drink of her beer.
“Damn.” All the women threw dirty looks at the men. Bliss looked upset and started to get up from the table. She remembered the very incident that Winter was talking about. A hand grabbed hers and tugged her back down with a heartwarming smile. Bliss saw no jealousy in Winter’s smile.
“Back to tomorrow’s party.” Winter wanted to divert the attention away from Bliss. “I am sure I am a big girl and if I see anything I can’t handle, I can get Viper to take me to my room.”
“I am sure that won’t be a problem.” Beth agreed with a smile then thought of something else. “Uh, maybe you should stay away from Rider and Knox tomorrow night to be on the safe side.”
“Why, do they drink too much?”
Beth didn’t know how to answer now realizing Razer’s dilemma. She decided to hope for the best. Halftime must have been over because the men started yelling again. Winter’s back started hurting from being up all day. She caught herself almost falling asleep when warm arms picked her up.
“Time for bed.” Viper carried her to bed. She would have fallen asleep dressed, but he helped her into a t-shirt and pulled the covers over her. She didn’t even care that he was dressing her. Frowning, he went downstairs to talk to Evie and Beth in private.