everyone would have to take sides and hate the other team. That’s the kind of drama I try to avoid in life.”
“Your closest friends are chicks,” I mutter and order a whiskey.
“Low-drama chicks. They’re rarely catty. When a guy did them wrong, they just chilled at home, smoking weed and watching funny shit. None of this crap like Fuse’s daughters, who acted as if they were trying out for a show on Bravo.”
“I don’t know what that means, and I don’t care.”
“Did you ever fuck his daughters?”
“The older one sucked me off. For morale, she said. I think she was trying to trick me or something. Don’t know. She overestimated how much I can pay attention after a blowjob. I mean, she was just yapping while I enjoyed my spent balls.”
“I sometimes wish those twats got killed when Cum Shot went out,” Hugh says, showing me a coldness I didn’t know he had.
“Maybe you need a show on Bravo,” I mutter.
Hugh snorts. “Look at you, turning shit around on me.”
I down two shots of whiskey and let the burn reach my gut. “I thought Shelby was gonna have me killed.”
“Me too, man,” he says, giving me a half-smile. “But I guess it ended too fast for her to build up the kind of drama necessary to inspire her brother to murder you.”
“Guess so,” I grumble and think back to her stretched out naked on my bed. “Women are difficult to understand.”
“Most of them aren’t. Shelby is because she’s moody. Meaning, the chick you figure out today won’t be the chick you’ll run into tomorrow. Still, she seemed fine when I saw her earlier. She was mostly concerned that her dogs needed bigger sweaters because they’re getting fat.”
I can imagine Shelby with her ugly French dogs. The few times I’ve gone to that creepy house, they ran around, sniffing everyone. I thought the girl was going to piss on my foot. Like maybe she thought I was a tree or some shit. Instead, she sat down next to me and used my body for shade. So, yomp, the dog thought I was a tree.
“Shelby’s hot, but I’m not looking to die over a fuck,” I say and order another drink. “I didn’t know if it would come down to that. I can’t get a read on the new guys. They’re nothing like Fuse and Cum Shot.”
“Well, I didn’t know those assholes, so I can’t compare,” Hugh says and then leans closer while wearing a mischievous smile. “Now I don’t normally rat out my friends, but I feel like maybe you don’t have anyone giving you the right info. That’s why you skulk around, looking awkward. I can’t imagine the new crew is any worse than the old one. Still, I’ll let you in on a secret about them.”
“I’m not one for gossip, but I ain’t telling you to shut up either.”
“Well, River isn’t the relaxed hippie he pretends to be. That guy is always looking for someone to kill. Shane has a lot of bark, but he won’t bite unless the boss says so. Meaning, you have to worry more about River than Shane. A lot of people don’t get that. River seems like a pussy. Shane looks like he’s seconds away from attacking. It’s a con to draw people’s attention to the younger guy. But it’s River that’ll fuck you up, and he isn’t nearly as nice as he pretends. That’s why he runs shit. Not because of his daddy in Ellsberg. Because he’s a cold fucker.”
Frowning, I mutter, “I thought you liked him.”
“I do. I like you too, and you’re an asshole. I fuck Utah, who’s a giant jerk. I’m a sneaky bitch myself. People aren’t just one thing. River is a good friend, and he pampers Max. He takes care of his people and doesn’t resort to yelling when he’s upset. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a cruel man to his enemies. That’s why I was willing to join the club. All those years, Utah worried about getting screwed over by Fuse and Cum Shot. He never felt safe with the Skullz. With River, I feel safe. River’s loyal to his people and will absolutely destroy any threat. Those are good qualities in a leader. I also know if he has a problem with me, he’ll just spit it out. He’s not sneaky like the assholes were with Utah.”
“How come they never spit out their problem with me?”
Hugh shrugs. “I don’t think they have one.”
“Bullshit.”
“Dude, you’re not