Part 25 (2/2)
”No, I didn't. They're so small I wouldn't know where to look.”
The guys on the couch started laughing as Kirstin smacked Kane across the head. Kane raised his hands to defend himself. ”Stoppit, you crazy b.i.t.c.h! You're just lucky I don't hit girls.”
”She ain't a girl,” Emo boy said from the couch. ”She's a woman.”
Kane sn.i.g.g.e.red. ”Only cos you're still tryna get into her cobwebbed knickers.”
Kirstin whacked Kane again. ”You're a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, Tag.”
”Will ya stop that?” Kane fended her off as she tried to punch him. ”I wuz just stating a fact.”
Sledge laughed. He'd always liked Kane. He reminded him of Tama, just with less agro and loads more humour. He grabbed Kirstin's shoulders and pulled her away from his cousin. She squealed and hit out at him.
Sledge let go. ”Calm down, babe. I wuzn't gonna hurt ya, and Kane's only-”
”It's Tag,” Kane said.
”Okay, Tag's just riling ya up cos he fancies you.”
”Hey! I do not,” Kane yelled.
”Tag always insults chicks he likes. He's been like that since he wuz li'l.”
Kirstin's irritated expression turned into a smile.
Kane glared at Sledge. ”I thought you were on my side.”
Sledge laughed. ”Just ribbing ya, cuz.”
”Nah, Tag does like her, he told me,” Mick said from the couch.
Kane's face dropped. ”You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!” He clambered over the couch and started punching his brother, who dropped the remote and grabbed Kane in a headlock.
Kirstin rolled her eyes. ”Those two are always fighting.” She took Sledge's arm and led him outside, telling him Tyler's address.
”Thanks, babe,” Sledge said.
”No probs.” She leaned forward. ”Is Mick telling the truth about Tag liking me?”
”Yup, looks like it. But he won't admit it.”
She bounced on her feet, looking ecstatic. ”I can't wait till my BF hears about this, she's gonna be so jealous.”
Sledge grinned. He looked around the corner to say bye, but laughed instead. His cousins had already stopped fighting, and were back on the PlayStation, yelling at each other as they punched and kicked their way through the game instead.
Sledge's gaze s.h.i.+fted to the emo boy. The guy was staring at Kirstin's a.r.s.e like he was imagining pounding it. Well, his cousin was in for a bit of compet.i.tion if he had his sights set on the girl.
Sledge thanked Kirstin, then headed for Juliet's car, ready to pay Tyler a visit.
Sledge sat in Juliet's car, eating a steak and cheese pie as he eyed up Tyler's crib through the windscreen. It was a terraced apartment with a fancy-schmancy garden out front and an awesome view of the Waitemata Harbour that must've cost the c.o.c.ksucker a lifetime of b.l.o.w.j.o.bs.
He took the last bite of pie, wiped his face, then got out, and made a beeline for the front door. When no one answered his knocking, he walked around the side, scaled the fence and climbed down a tree.
Once his boots. .h.i.t solid ground, he eyed-up the backyard. Trees surrounded it, giving the property a degree of privacy. An entertainment area with stand-alone lighting, a barbecue, a wooden table with chairs and a spa pool took up most of the s.p.a.ce. At the back of the apartment, vine-like flowers hung from the patio overhang. Sledge frowned. He bet Corey was impressed with it, because he was.
He jumped onto the patio and gave the sliding-door a tug, surprised when it opened. He poked his head inside, wondering whether anyone was home, possibly in the shower, which was why no one had answered the door. He stood still for a moment, listening for any sounds. When he couldn't hear anything, he stepped inside the lounge and sized up the room, again impressed. A tan leather couch hugged one corner while a huge flat-screen telly almost took up a whole wall. He glanced to his left at an African wooden sculpture, the only thing he thought was ugly in the room. He poked it, wondering why the h.e.l.l anyone would buy something like that. His gaze s.h.i.+fted to the elaborate Asian cabinet next to it, which he liked a h.e.l.l of a lot more. He ran his fingers over the blue and white pottery lining the cabinet, curious at how much they cost. He grinned. If Tama had come, the place would've been emptied in no time at all. His smile dropped at the thought of his dead mate. He loosened his shoulders and shook out the tension, pus.h.i.+ng Tama to the back of his mind. He was here for Corey, because there was no way he was losing another mate.
He poked his head into the next room. A King-sized bed sat at its centre with a body hidden underneath its duvet. He walked around the bed and pulled back the sheet, ready to threaten Tyler, but froze, shocked to see Corey instead. Corey lay on his side, wearing only his boxers and beanie.
Sledge dropped the sheet, upset that Corey had gone back to Tyler. How long had Corey known Tyler for? Had he been seeing him since that party a few months back? But, Corey had slept with his sister. Why would he do that if he was going with Tyler all this time?
He breathed in, feeling sickened by his mate being here. Why would Corey let that sleazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d use him? Corey was too good for Tyler. His gaze s.h.i.+fted to the small bottle of lube on the bedside table. He swore under his breath and raised a hand to cover his eyes. G.o.d, why was Corey doing this to him?
”What're you doin' 'ere?”
Sledge uncovered his eyes and looked down at Corey. ”More like, what're you doin' 'ere?”
Corey sat up. ”Gettin' away from you, so p.i.s.s off!”
”No, you're coming with me,” Sledge said, grabbing Corey's arms.
”Lemme go!”
Sledge yanked Corey to his feet. ”If you don't I'll beat the s.h.i.+t outta Tyler!”
”Don't cha dear touch him. He's done nuthin' but help me.”
Sledge let go and batted the bottle of lube at Corey. ”Yeah, he's obviously helped himself to you.”
”f.u.c.k off, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!” Corey picked up the bottle and threw it at Sledge's face.
Sledge swore as it connected with his cheek.
”Why can't you leave me alone?!” Corey yelled.
Sledge shoved Corey's chest, knocking his mate onto the bed.
Corey winced. ”Are ya gonna beat me up, like you did Tyler?”
”No,” Sledge said, feeling guilty. ”You threw that bottle.”
”Cos you're treating me like s.h.i.+t! I can't help the way I am. I didn't ask to be gay, or to have cancer, or for a gay-bas.h.i.+ng mate who finds me disgusting.”
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