Page 64 of Vying Girls

Comfy on the sofa, I grin at Haz executing power poses in the middle of the lounge floor. Elly’s there supporting her, running her hands over Haz’s taut muscles, playing at squeezing them. Music blares from Nic’s speakers, thumping through my head as I nurse my one and only cider.

After Anarchy, I’ve not been in the mood to get fucked up. Probably my poor liver needing a break.

Haz catches my eyes, making sure I’m watching her. Kind of hard not to. She’s in black cargos and a muscle T, a chunky silver chain around her neck. I swear her arms are bigger than when I first moved in. Girl’s been working hard.

I sip my drink slowly, knowing just how hard all those muscles can get, especially when she’s holding her weight above me in bed. I’m dying to see more of her. Craving it. All this extended foreplay is killing me.

Poor Elly. I watch her take phone pics at Haz’s insistence, always happy to help. Now I know how she’s felt all this time.

Growing bored of showing off, Haz collapses on the sofa beside me. I feel a shiver go through me. I’m only in denim shorts and a tucked in baggy t-shirt. Not allowed to have the heating on now it’s getting on in the year. Nic’s rules.

Reaching across the sofa, I pull a blanket on my lap.

‘Yo, Tilda.’

I turn back to Haz, flinching when she shoves her phone in my face. Taking her wrist, I move it so the words on the screen focus.

Nic:House meeting. Now. Tilda too.

Haz grins smugly. ‘Can’t tell me you’re not fucking now.’

I roll my eyes.‘Can.’

We’re all sitting on the sofa when Nic shows up. I watch her almost hungrily, no longer dreading being in the same room with her. I feel high whenever I catch a glimpse of her now, it’s so bloody rare. Nearly fell over when I heard she was pregaming with us tonight.

She turns off the music, the resulting silence ringing in my head. Plonking herself down on the coffee table, she looks at us in turn before quickly dropping her eyes.

My heart sinks. There’s no mistaking the bloodshot whites of them, nor her blown pupils. Would have thought she’d just had a crying sesh if I didn’t know better.

She jiggles both legs, clearly working up to say something. Something that’s doing a great job of spiking my blood pressure.

‘Nic.’ Haz leans forward, trying to see her face again. ‘Have you taken something?’

Nic shrugs one shoulder, refusing to meet her eyes.

‘Fuck’ssake!’Haz stands, kicking the table leg. ‘What the fuck, Nic?!’

Nic sighs wearily. ‘Haz, sit the fuck down and let me do this.’

‘No, I won’t, fucker. Why are you taking that shit again?’

‘Haz...’ I take her hand, rubbing her soothingly with my thumb.

She stares down at me, jaw working. After a moment, she sighs and sits back down. She keeps my hand in hers, agitating my fingers.

Nic’s staring at me when I look back. Her eyes flit down to our hands, then dart away.

‘Damien’s here,’ she says without preamble.

There’s a pause before Haz spits,‘What?’

‘He was at my last meet. Society one. Says there’s shit on at home and he needs my help.’

‘Fuck that! I’ll kill the fucker!’

‘Wait.’ Elly holds up her hands. ‘I’m lost.’

‘Damien’s my cousin. He—he—fuck.’Nic stands with a harsh sigh, turning her back.