The Gamble: A Novel by Xavier Neal Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Xavier Neal
they begin to flock in, I take count, and watch the tables fill up.
“Girls, wash your hands and get food,” I instruct leaning against the edge of the booth Luca and I will share.
We let them eat lunch together and supervise from a distance. Trust me, it's healthy to let them practice social behaviors without heavy interference all the time, plus breathing room from them is necessary for us too.
Marcus, one of the older students who has developed an asshole attitude over the last year calls out, “Why do they get to go first?”
“'Cause it's the gentleman thing to do,” Luca replies flopping down in the seat beside me.
“Who cares about being a gentleman?”
“You should.”
Marcus rolls his head around in bored expression.
In a dropped voice I say, “He's like a mini you.”
Luca looks up at me not amused. “He is not.”
“Exactly like you. Loud mouthed. Sports loving. Girl chasing. He's just younger and shorter.”
“I'm not loud.”
My face scrunches.
Funny how that's the first thing he took from the comparison.
“Most dudes love sports-”
“Warren doesn't.”
“Warren also hasn't seen his testicles this side of the decade,” he sharply continues to snap in a whisper. “And there's nothing wrong with likin' chicks. However, I know when to treat one with respect and when to tell her to drop to her knees and call me daddy.”
I wanna argue. I wanna yell at him, say he's full of shit, and how that sentence alone proves he's some new age caveman, but I honestly can't. He does have boundaries. He's never crossed the line with me. Sure, when he gets drunk he gets a little looser with his hands and words, but he's never seriously treated me like the other tramps who've managed to become a part of the whore parade that marches around his apartment. He's playful yet protective. I typically appreciate it. Except for when he tries to cock block like he did last week with the hockey player who hit on me. Despite Luca's best efforts we still went out. Total bust though. Refused to sleep with him on the first date, so he's probably not gonna call. Just as well. He had some serious BO and an under appreciation for hot wings.
Once the girls have returned from the bathroom and started grabbing pizza, I send the boys off to do the same thing.
Luca offers, “Want me to grab you a plate?”
“You don't mind?”
He stands and says, “Of course not. Two slices of pep, one slice with mushrooms, one bread stick and two scoops of mac.”
“Hearing you list it makes me feel fat.”
“You love carbs.” He bumps me playfully. “Nothing wrong with loving the things that are bad for you...”
Luca's comment causes me to cock a grin.
He's not as bad for me as he thinks he is. Wait. No. That came out wrong.
A few minutes later just as the two of us are starting to eat, one of our older campers, mopes over clutching his plate with an unhappy look. “Can I sit at this table, Miss Alexxa?”
I stop the bite I was about to have. “Sure Andy. Can't find anywhere else to sit?”
He frowns. “Um...yeah. Kinda.”
Andy prepares to slide in beside me when Luca extends a hand to stop me. He lowers his voice, “Marcus won't let you sit at his table. If I'm right just nod.”
He nods.
“You don't wanna sit with the younger kids because he always calls you a baby, right?”
Andy slowly nods.
In a shocked whisper, I snap, “He's picking on you?”
Andy mumbles, “It's not a big deal.”
“Yeah you can sit with us.” Luca takes a bite of a breadstick. After he swallows, he raises his voice, “I can't believe I have to tell your mom you got caught kissing some girl from another school.”
His eyes expand wide and the gasps from behind him start.
“Who goes on a field trip and acts like that?”
What...the hell...is he doing?
Luca makes sure
“Girls, wash your hands and get food,” I instruct leaning against the edge of the booth Luca and I will share.
We let them eat lunch together and supervise from a distance. Trust me, it's healthy to let them practice social behaviors without heavy interference all the time, plus breathing room from them is necessary for us too.
Marcus, one of the older students who has developed an asshole attitude over the last year calls out, “Why do they get to go first?”
“'Cause it's the gentleman thing to do,” Luca replies flopping down in the seat beside me.
“Who cares about being a gentleman?”
“You should.”
Marcus rolls his head around in bored expression.
In a dropped voice I say, “He's like a mini you.”
Luca looks up at me not amused. “He is not.”
“Exactly like you. Loud mouthed. Sports loving. Girl chasing. He's just younger and shorter.”
“I'm not loud.”
My face scrunches.
Funny how that's the first thing he took from the comparison.
“Most dudes love sports-”
“Warren doesn't.”
“Warren also hasn't seen his testicles this side of the decade,” he sharply continues to snap in a whisper. “And there's nothing wrong with likin' chicks. However, I know when to treat one with respect and when to tell her to drop to her knees and call me daddy.”
I wanna argue. I wanna yell at him, say he's full of shit, and how that sentence alone proves he's some new age caveman, but I honestly can't. He does have boundaries. He's never crossed the line with me. Sure, when he gets drunk he gets a little looser with his hands and words, but he's never seriously treated me like the other tramps who've managed to become a part of the whore parade that marches around his apartment. He's playful yet protective. I typically appreciate it. Except for when he tries to cock block like he did last week with the hockey player who hit on me. Despite Luca's best efforts we still went out. Total bust though. Refused to sleep with him on the first date, so he's probably not gonna call. Just as well. He had some serious BO and an under appreciation for hot wings.
Once the girls have returned from the bathroom and started grabbing pizza, I send the boys off to do the same thing.
Luca offers, “Want me to grab you a plate?”
“You don't mind?”
He stands and says, “Of course not. Two slices of pep, one slice with mushrooms, one bread stick and two scoops of mac.”
“Hearing you list it makes me feel fat.”
“You love carbs.” He bumps me playfully. “Nothing wrong with loving the things that are bad for you...”
Luca's comment causes me to cock a grin.
He's not as bad for me as he thinks he is. Wait. No. That came out wrong.
A few minutes later just as the two of us are starting to eat, one of our older campers, mopes over clutching his plate with an unhappy look. “Can I sit at this table, Miss Alexxa?”
I stop the bite I was about to have. “Sure Andy. Can't find anywhere else to sit?”
He frowns. “Um...yeah. Kinda.”
Andy prepares to slide in beside me when Luca extends a hand to stop me. He lowers his voice, “Marcus won't let you sit at his table. If I'm right just nod.”
He nods.
“You don't wanna sit with the younger kids because he always calls you a baby, right?”
Andy slowly nods.
In a shocked whisper, I snap, “He's picking on you?”
Andy mumbles, “It's not a big deal.”
“Yeah you can sit with us.” Luca takes a bite of a breadstick. After he swallows, he raises his voice, “I can't believe I have to tell your mom you got caught kissing some girl from another school.”
His eyes expand wide and the gasps from behind him start.
“Who goes on a field trip and acts like that?”
What...the hell...is he doing?
Luca makes sure
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