“Kitt, you fucking listening, man?” Milo says.
I turn back and shrug just as Mark sits down, making Texas have to scoot closer to me. Her arm touches mine, and the effect it has on me is like she’s just palmed my dick through my jeans.
“What?” I say.
“The bet. Are you in?” Coop asks.
“No, thanks.”
Coop scoffs. “So, it’s just me, Milo, and Will? That’s hardly a contest.”
“Screw you,” Milo says.
It’s a good thing Mark doesn’t get pissy at bad language around Texas, or he’d be spending all his time chastising us. There are a few banned words—one, in particular, beginning with a C—that only gets brought out when we’re in male-only company.
“Do you really think you’d win?” Texas asks when everyone else is busy arguing among themselves. She tilts her head, eyeing me with suspicion.
I cock my eyebrow. What a stupid question. “I know I’d win. Fortunately for them, I’m in this more for the music than the women.”
It’s the truth, too. I love women, don’t get me wrong, but music was my first love, and it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. Women are just an added bonus. A very happy bonus.
She purses her lips. “They love the music, too. That’s their main motivation.”
I nod. “I know. But I’d rather work on the next song the morning after, and the boys would rather go again.”
She narrows her eyes. “Nice. And you regularly have another go the next morning.” Her face pales. “I’ve heard.”
“I’m not a monk, Texas.” With a smirk, I add, “Besides, it’d be selfish to keep a body like this to myself.”
“Oh, so by having random, meaningless sex, you’re pretty much providing a public service.”
“Exactly. But one for beautiful women.”
“You only hit on the beautiful ones?”
“Who doesn’t? If you’re looking for a one-night stand, you look for someone you’re attracted to.”
“Oh…so you’ve never hit on me because you think I’m ugly?”
Silence.
The whole fucking bus is now silent and watching. Even Mark is amused as he looks on at me while I’m digging my own grave. Saying Texas is ugly is like saying I’m bad in bed. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and I’m killer between the sheets.
“Not at all. The reason you’ve not been in my bed is because your dad would kill me.”
“Correct,” Mark says.
Texas scoffs. “Cocky much? The reason I’ve not been in your bed is because you’re not my type.”
I laugh, loving the banter between us. “Texas, baby, don’t tell lies and embarrass yourself.” I wink and flash her a smile that makes her try to kill me with one look. “Not your type,” I mutter, shaking my head.
“Is it really so hard to believe that someone doesn’t want to get in your pants?”
No, of course it isn’t, but this is fun. When we’re messing around like this, I feel a sense of peace I’ve never experienced before.
“Yes,” I reply.
She scoffs. “You’re a pig, Kitt.”
“Texy, Texy, Texy, just admit, I’m your type, and we can move on.”
She shoots daggers at me from her eyes. “I will as soon as you do.”
“Fine. I’m totally my type.”
Tex stares on at me with a blank expression.
“Oh, come on! Tex, you’re everyone’s type.”
“See?” she says, throwing her hands up. “That wasn’t so hard to admit, was it?”
“And you think I’m cocky…”
“Everyone thinks you’re cocky.”
I shrug. “Doesn’t bother me.”
“Helps, I suppose.”
“With?”
“Being a rock star,” she says, like it’s the most obvious thing on the planet. “Anyway, how come you’re really not taking Coop’s bet?”
I lower my voice and say, “Honest answer, or cocky answer?”
“Know your audience, Kitt.”
“Fine,” I reply, smiling. “I kind of feel like…I’m not sure of the right word. Sleeping with women for a bet is…”
“Dickheadish,” Texas offers.
“Yeah, I guess that’s a good word for it. Just doesn’t sit right with me anymore. If I’m sleeping with someone, it’s because I want or need to get laid, not just because I want to have more than Cooper.”
“Wow, you just went up in my estimation.”
“Thanks. That doesn’t mean I don’t sleep with more women than him though.”
“And back down you go again,” she mutters sarcastically. “I should just be a lesbian. Men are horrible.”
“But you don’t like women.”
Tex has one female friend, and that’s it. Peyton is cool though, not like many of the materialistic girls Tex grew up with.
“Ugh, no, I don’t. I can’t deal with women-hating-on-women shit and who’s skinnier or prettier. Maybe I’ll just get cats.”
“You’re allergic to the fur.”
“God, Kitt, can’t you let me have anything?”
I grin. “I’ll let you have something.”
“Nice.”
“J?ger bombs!” Milo shouts, interrupting everyone.