Page 11 of Fame & Obsession

He rolls his eyes, falling dramatically into Ty’s shoulder. “That hurts. Especially since I’m the only one who’s gotten any pussy around here for months.”

“It hasn’t been months, asshole.” It just damn well feels like it.

Since the psycho fan letters have started, I’ve refused to bring anyone new into my screwed up world. If that means I’ll be alone the rest of my life, so be it.

Zane lifts an eyebrow at Vivian, who’s sitting quietly between us. “Whatever, man. You eye-fucked that piece of ass so hard, you mademefeel like a dirty bastard. And, brother, I watch a lot of porn.”

“She was hot, and you know it.”

The bastard just smirks. “Didn’t say she wasn’t. Doesn’t mean I panted at her like a bitch in heat.”

“Since when does wood mean I’m a bitch?” If we hadn’t been friends since high school, I’d dick kick him under the table.

“Keep telling yourself that, Julia.” He snorts, amusing himself into a fit of laughter as I flip him off.

“You’re cut off,” Ty announces, grabbing the drink out of Zane’s hand as it sloshes over the rim onto Tanna’s pants.

“Shit, Ty!” Tanna wipes her pants with a napkin. “Thanks a lot, asshole. I look like I pissed myself.”

“You looked that way before,” Ty volleys back, laughing.

As their argument fades into the background, my thoughts turn back to our party crasher. Zane tried embarrassing her, and she handled herself like a pro. No one seemed to rattle her.

Except me.

Trying to do the right thing doesn’t mean I stopped being a guy. For a minute, I thought I’d lost what little touch I had left. But then I saw it—even though she tried to hide it.

There’d been a nervous twitch in her smile.

She wanted me.

Unfortunately for both of us, one of my downfalls is wanting what I can’t have. If a girl acts like she doesn’t want me when I know she does, it just makes me want her more. From what I can tell, this girl excels at playing the same mind game.

Well, game on.She’s just met her match.

And apparently, I’ve met mine because those damn blue eyes mesmerized me with some supernatural voodoo power. Girls in Northern Jersey don’t have eyes like that. When I looked into them, my body became a three-ring circus.

I also caught a muted Southern accent—almost like she’d practiced hard at hiding it.

“Since Julian isn’t interested in having a good time, maybe I can find Heath Vaughn.” Vivian pushes her hair out of her eyes and slips her red nails between my thighs,again.

I move away from her and shoot her a look,again.

Back from cleaning her pants, Tanna slides into the empty seat across the table and shoves her fingers into her purple hair, tightening the band on her ponytail. “Seriously, Vivian? Give it a rest.”

Vivian glares across the table and smiles slowly. “Why don’t you take your soda and go play in your sandbox, darling? The grown-ups are talking.”

Glancing down, Tanna chips at the black polish on her fingernails. “Cool, I’ll be sure to bring some sand back for your crotch. I’m sure it’ll make the crabs feel at home.”

At her detached delivery, the entire table loses it. It’s the first time we’ve honestly all laughed like that since losing Lam.

“Holy shit, thank you.” I cover her hand while wiping away tears of laughter. Tanna’s eyes cast downward, the corners of her mouth lifting up in acknowledgment.

She doesn’t ask why I thanked her. She knows.

But if the ball of fury beside me doesn’t simmer the fuck down, she’s going to wreck our Zen moment. It’s past time to address the blonde elephant in the room.

“You’re right, Viv,” I say. “I’m not interested. Go hose it down and quit it with the top shelf shit, or I’m cutting you off. Got it,baby?”