BeForeplay by Josie Charles

wouldn't have shook our hands and stuck around talking to
us."
    I look him straight in the eye. "You're
absolutely right, Jacob, on both counts. If you guys will excuse me
I’m going to see if Tash needs any help. It was nice meeting you
all." I walk away heading for the coolers, I need a drink. I need
my vibrator more than a drink right now but it would be rude to
whip that out in the middle of a party.

SAM
    I turn and glare at Jacob. "What the fuck?
You scared her off quicker than you do the girls you're trying to
hook up with." We all crack up. "Thanks a lot, bastard.” Wait! “Are you trying to hook up with her?"
    "No, I'm not. I've watched you waiting for
someone and when she walked in you were done looking. Not hard to
figure out you're interested, bastard . Bro code, man. Do you
even know anything about her?”
    "Yes, but not much. She lives next door,
strips, her stage name is Cherry and she doesn’t have any family.
Her parents were killed in a car accident. Oh, you should see her
baby." Damn that car is fucking impressive.
    Jacob's eyes widen. "She has a baby?"
    "Yeah, her baby is a 1970 Chevelle with a 454
4 speed. And to quote her 'as bad ass as they come'. She calls it
her baby. That car can haul ass. When you sit in it you can’t just
hear it but can feel it rumbling from the power. I kid you not, I
chubbed up. I've never seen a chick love a car like she does hers.
Hell, I love it. You should ask her to see it.” Just talking about
it, all I can think of is getting behind the wheel and putting the
pedal all the way to the floor.
    Jacob snaps his fingers in my face. "Sam, pay
attention! I'm asking about her not her fucking car. Just be
careful you know how you and strippers work out.” They’re all
laughing. “She is quite the little package though. On second
thought you'd better stay away. Maybe I should ask her out."
    "Fuck you, you bastard!" They can laugh all
they want at me. I won't have the same problems I had with the
other stripper. I leave for a different fucking country in two
weeks. "I'm going to find people that are nice to me and are happy
I'm home."
    I walk around socializing with everybody
enjoying myself. All I can think about is getting Sidney alone. I
wonder if she’ll let me come home with her after the party and if
not if she has plans for tomorrow. I wouldn't mind hitting the
beach for the afternoon.
    I look around for her and son of a
bitch! I thought Jacob said 'bro code' and shit. He has his arm
across her shoulders and she's got her arm around his waist with
her head back laughing. Damn she's beautiful. I walk up to them,
"What’s this bastard telling you to make you laugh like that?"
    Sidney puts her hand on her chest as she
tries to calm down from laughing. "Oh my god! He was telling me
about a skip he had."
    "He likes to embellish. Don't let him fool
you."
    "Isn't that what makes a story all the
better?" She smiles at me. Gorgeous.
    Jacob asks me, "Are you not on our time yet?
You seem a little grouchy."
    I shoot him a look. "Nah, still a little jet
lagged I guess." I turn and look Sidney in those beautiful blue
eyes she's sporting. "Hey, Sid, I was thinking of going to the
beach tomorrow, you up for it?"
    "Sounds like fun but I'm busy ‘til late
afternoon." She pauses like she's mulling something over then looks
at us all and says, "I'm having a couple of friends over tomorrow
around 6 for dinner and to play some drunk pool volleyball, you
guys are welcome to come join the fun. I'm making Mexican food to
go with the margaritas. And a Mexican fruit cake for dessert. I
promise you'll have fun."
    "That sounds like a blast. You guys in?"
Jacob asks me and his brothers. What a bastard . I’m
seriously ready to kick his ass for cock blocking.

SIDNEY
    There goes that sideways glance again. I
think Sam is irritated with Jacob for some reason. They all say
yes, they’ll come tomorrow. Then Josh and Joel proceed to ask if I
have any hot single friends. I inform them, “In fact I