Twisted Perfection

last night and a pen, then handed them to her.
    She scribbled down the directions and handed them back to me.
    “See you in a few!” she called out, then spun around and headed back to her car.
    I watched her drive away before walking over to my car and getting in. I couldn’t get her comment about Woods “dealing with” something out of my head. She was right, she shouldn’t have been talking about his personal life but I was curious. Even though I shouldn’t be.

    ***

    I had found the right place. Cars were parked everywhere. This was a little intimidating but then it was also another experience. I was on this trip for things like this. I parked my car and got out hoping that I had dressed appropriately. I had been torn between dressing to fit in with the members of the club I’d come in contact for the past two days or dressing to fit in with Bethy. I’d settled for somewhere in between. My blue jean skirt, black leather boots, and vintage Bob Marley tee shirt would hopefully work.
    Before I could knock, the door swung open and Bethy was reaching out to grab my hand and pull me inside. “You’re here!”
    I couldn’t reply because she started yelling at someone to stop eating salsa over the white rug. I let her pull me through the crowded house out onto the back porch. “Sorry, it’s so crazy. It’s not as bad out here,” she said, glancing back at me.
    A couple of guys were sitting around a fire pit with beers in their hands. It looked like that was our destination.
    “Boys, this is Della. Tripp’s friend.” She smiled at me then pointed to an attractive guy who reminded me so much of Tripp I wasn’t surprised when she said, “That’s Jace.” She then pointed to a guy with long blond curls and a mischievous grin. “That’s Thad.” He winked and I decided I liked him. He had that ‘just for fun’ look about him. “And this is Grant, who surprised us by showing up. We thought he was up north again.” Grant was by far the best looking out of the trio. His dark hair was tucked behind his ears and he had a twinkle in his eye. The sexy smirk he was sending my way was extremely tempting.
    “Hello Della, why don’t you come share my seat? I’ll even let you sip from my beer,” Grant drawled.
    I thought about saying no but then caught myself and flashed him a smile in return before walking over toward him. “You gonna scoot over or am I supposed to sit in your lap?” I asked hoping the teasing in my voice didn’t sound stupid.
    Grant’s smirk grew into a full-blow grin. “Hell yeah, I want you to sit in my lap,” he replied.
    I was trying to decide if Braden would think this was a bold, fun move or if I was coming off as a slut. I could never tell. She was always my gauge for what I should and shouldn’t do. Which was one reason she sent me off to figure out life all by myself.
    I might as well go with it now. I’d already acted like a hussy. I stepped over his legs propped up on the iron rail that went around the outside of the fire pit and then took a seat in the stranger’s lap.
    “He won’t be here long, baby. You might wanna come over here to this lap. I never leave this place,” Thad said from across the fire.
    Grant’s arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me back against his chest. “You never know, Thad. I might have found a reason to stick around awhile.”
    I was pretty sure I was in over my head.
    “Grant, play nice. She’s a friend of Tripp’s,” Bethy scolded. I wondered if she was thinking I was some kind of cheap whore now.
    “Don’t go getting all tense in my lap now, sweetheart. Lean back and get comfortable,” Grant whispered in my ear. His smooth southern accent made me feel warm. I liked this guy. I managed to relax and do as he said.
    “Here, you can have my beer. I’ll get another one next time one of these chumps gets up for another round.”
    I didn’t really care for beer. But I also didn’t want to be rude so I took it. “Thanks.”
    “You’re most welcome.”
    I was surprised that his hands didn’t go to my legs but one stayed around my waist and the other was resting on the arm of the chair. I liked that. He wasn’t assuming I was easy just because I’d crawled into his lap.
    “Tell us about Tripp. We haven’t seen him in for-fuckin-ever,” Thad said.
    I didn’t know much about Tripp. We’d talked on the nights we worked together but we never got real deep with our life stories.
    “He’s doing good. Women come from miles