Page 97 of A Real Goode Time
“And actors, and dancers turned trainer and teacher, and women’s lit majors turned world famous musicians, and…me, who does nothing.” Torie said, laughing and sighing.
Liv shook her by the shoulders, gentle and playful. “Andthatis why you’re here. You’ll find your place and your purpose. Just give it time.”
You’ll fit right in.I’ve never fit in anywhere. I didn’t fit in back home, didn’t fit in any of the towns I stayed in on the way to New Haven. And even in New Haven I only really settled in because I got a good deal on a property and I was tired of being itinerant.
We were crossing a fancy gangway thing, a bridge between the dock and the boat, with chrome handrails and nonslip footing, which shifted with the bobbing of the boat. There were already people on board, gathered in a living room-type area on the main level—the walls slid aside entirely so the whole main floor of the boat was open on both sides. Music was playing from invisible speakers, and I saw a line of restaurant buffet-style food service trays with the little cans of flammable gel underneath. There were people on the top deck, too, gathered in groups. So many people. All laughing, and everyone knew everyone else. Family.
A big, big family.
Nerves rifled through me.
I’ve never been great with big parties. I’m fine in small groups, and among people I know, but big parties full of strangers? Nah. I get jittery and don’t know how to be.
Torie noticed. “You okay?”
I grinned at her. “Yeah, sure, I’m good.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “Don’t bullshit me, Rhys. I can tell you’re about to shit your pants.”
“I don’t know about that, but this is a lot of people. And I only know you.”
Torie laughed. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I only know my mom and sisters. Everyone else is just as much a stranger to me as they are you.”
Liv slid between us as we stood on the boat, and slid an arm around each of us. “Strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet. Trust me, everyone is wonderful. I know it can be intimidating at first, but by the end of the night, I promise you, you’ll be one of the clan.” She pulled us toward the living room. “Now come on. Put on your big girl and big boy panties and make friends.”
I gave in. “All right, all right.”
Liv wasn’t lying. I spent the first hour being introduced to roughly two dozen people. Now, make no mistake, I’m strictly hetero, and not a perv either. But the men were all hot, jacked, intimidating, scary, and entirely too cool, and the women were all fucking gorgeous, each one with a body to kill for, perfect hair, cool clothes, amazing stories, musical laughs.
At one point, I pulled Torie aside. “Are we being punked?” I hissed to her.
Her eyes were wide, scanning over the crowd. “I feel like we are. Did you meet Bax yet? That is the most muscular human being I’ve ever seen. His muscles have muscles, and those muscles have veins. But he’s also, like, sweet and hilarious.”
“Right?” I shook my head. “Myles is, literally, the coolest dude I’ve ever met. He’s the actual walking definition of a rock star.”
Torie sighed. “I know. But he’s perfect for Lex. They’re crazy together, but it works.” She indicated a cluster of women all standing together not far away, each with a glass of wine. “I know you’ve noticed the women, who are all not exactly lacking in the beauty department.”
I shook my head, eyes wide. “Uh, yeah, I’ve noticed.”
Torie grinned. “If you had to pick, who’s the hottest?”
“Of everyone on the boat?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Honest answer. Quick, no thinking,” she said, snapping her fingers.
I pretended to scan the living room, which I’d learned was calledthe saloon, because the living room of a fancy boat has to have a fancy name. “Well, it’s a tough competition to call one person over the other but…” I brought my gaze back to her. “That’s easy—you.”
She rolled her eyes, dripping vitriolic sarcasm. “Yeeeaaahhh, right.”
“For real. I’m not kidding”
She snorted as she gestured at the group of women. “Look at them, Rhys. D-cups and size nothing waists, each of them. Big juicy butts, perfect hair, perfect makeup. And you’re gonna try and tell meI’meven in the same universe as women like them?”
“Whose butt is juicy?” I heard a female voice ask.
“Whose butt is big?” asked another.
“D-cup? Please. I’m double D, thank youveryfucking much. Triple D, if I’m nursing.”