Chapter 264 - What’s Kraken lackin’ (1/2)
Jos let out a heavy sigh as she read the same line yet again. It had to be the hundredth time by now. Her eyes gazed up over the stack of papers she was reading through at the small crowd around her. Isha and Raven had dropped in and after a few minutes of catching up decided to take some of Cam's diaries. Raven was now stretched out on one of the chaise lounges with Isha between her legs, her back rested against Raven's flat c.h.e.s.t and the book lifted in her hands. Shelly was resting at the edge of the pool beside Scylla going through a box of Cam's belongings Poseidon had sent over the day before. And Chary... Chary set across from her flipping through her own stack of finance doc.u.ments. ”What?” Jos asked as Chary shook her head while trying to cover a snicker with the papers in her hands.
”I was just thinking of asking you the same thing.” Her dazzling green eyes studied Jos. She set the papers down and folded her arms over them, her heavy b.r.e.a.s.ts resting on them. ”What's going on between you and my brother right now?”
Jos met Chary's amused gaze over the stack of papers she held. ”I... I... don't know what-”
”What I'm talking about? I think you do.” Chary said.
Jos swallowed hard, her eyes darting around the room. Just as she suspected, everyone had stopped what they were doing and was now listening intently. She forced her focus back to the doc.u.ments in her hands. ”I... don't think he'd want me to say anything...”
Chary pushed up and leaned forward over the table pushing the papers in Jos's hands down. ”Arei can eat a d.i.c.k... We,” She motioned around the room, ”are more worried about you right now.” She set back down and crossed her arms under her c.h.e.s.t. ”I've already talked to him... I know he's being his usual stubborn pain-in-the-ass self. What I don't know is how you feel about it.”
”How do I feel about what?” Jos said averting her gaze as she lifted the doc.u.ments once again.
One fine, red brow rose. Chary shot a look from the papers now blocking Jos's face once again to the others. ”I'm asking you, how are you handling my brother refusing to f.u.c.k you...” When shocked eyes met hers, Chary simply shrugged. ”I tried to be less direct about it...”
Raven sputtered out a laugh as she helped Isha off her l.a.p and led her over to the table, followed by Shelly. Raven pulled out chairs for Shelly and Isha before taking the one between them. ”Come on dude, you know you always feel better after talking this shit through.”
Jos let out a sarcastic laugh. ”And what, get more shitty advice from you? Group shitty advice?”
Raven shrugged, ”The best or the worst, it doesn't matter advice is just that, advice. There are no rules saying you have to take it. Hell, just talk... we won't even respond.”
”Speak for yourself...” Isha said coughing into her fist. When everyone at the table sent her a glare, she held up her hands. ”Kidding, kidding... mostly...” Her eyes brightened. ”I've got just what we need!” She flicked her wrist and produced several bottles of fairy wine. ”And...” She flicked it again, this time producing a small metal object about the same size as a pen.
Jos looked from the fairy's wide smile to the sliver object. ”What is that?”
Isha's smile widened as she handed it over to Jos. ”It's a vape... of sorts...” She pointed to a button on the side. ”You just hold down that button and suck in like you're smoking a cigar or something.”
Jos studied it, moving it from side to side and watching the pale golden liquid in a clear compartment right below the mouthpiece. ”What exactly is in it?”
Isha shrugged, forging innocence. ”Ah, ya know, a little of this and a little of that.”
Jos arched a brow in question, ”This seems shady at best... how do I work it?”
”Hee!” Isha giggled as she shot across the table. ”Push this!” She watched in excitement as Jos s.u.c.k.e.d in hard. ”Maybe not so hard-”
Jos pulled away from the device in a fit of coughing. ”What in the?!”
Chary leaned forward in curiosity. ”Pass that this way. If I've learned one thing over the years, fae know how to party!” Jos handed it to her as she continued coughing and sputtering. Chary didn't waste any time as she tried the vape. ”Not bad.” She said around a light cough. She turned her attention toward Scylla. ”Wanna try?”
Scylla held up a hand. ”Pass, it will be hard enough swimming back to our room with wine if it's anything like last time.”
Chary laughed. ”Well, we could just sleep in one of the coves like last time.” She s.u.c.k.e.d in another hit before handing it back to Isha.
Jos shook her head as she pushed up from her seat and grabbed a full bottle of fae wine. ”If we're doing this... then I'm going to need all of this...”
”F.u.c.k yeah! That's what I'm talking about!” Raven called out as she grabbed one of the bottles. ”F.u.c.k glasses, who needs them!”
Isha raised her free hand. ”Me, I'm who needs them!” She folded her legs under her as she flicked her wrist to materialize some glasses and a bowl. Her gaze shot over to Shelly. ”Don't worry lil momma, I got something for you too.” She ran her hand over the bowl, and it filled with a green liquid. ”Boba tee, you'll like it if you haven't had it before.”
Jos worked the cork out of the bottle and tossed it back, chugging it until she couldn't anymore. Setting it down with a long-puffed breath. ”I... think there's more to it than him not wanting children and all the other reasons he's giving... and I think it has something to do with me and Russ-I mean I get it.” She continued without taking a breath. ”I get Maine was weird and awkward for me too... but in my defense, I...” She let out a long sigh as she leaned back in the chair and stared out at the bottle. ”I have no excuse, honestly... I was doing what I thought would be the easiest less pain for me in the end...” She shrugged. ”I knew there was no chance of anything long-term with Russ... and I knew I was just a passing interest to him... With Arei it's different... even then, it was different. Tampa was torture, had we stayed there any longer I'd not have been able to resist him. Hell, I literally called out Russ's name on the way back in the hotel room to keep from giving in... No matter what he'd done... no matter what he does... I can never stay mad at him or ever hate him... I hated Ry for so long, I wanted to hate them both... but I couldn't hate Arei...” She shook her head. ”Even without knowing his name... Once I got my memories back... it's pointless to even try resisting my feelings for him. They will never change...” She lifted the bottle and downed another large amount. She held the bottle against her lips as she whispered. ”But he doesn't understand any of that... to him, I'm simply rebounding.” She shook her head. ”Even when I've gotten him close enough to do more, I've been the one to hesitate... which only reaffirms his beliefs...” She lifted the bottle again, drinking deeply from it.
Raven tugged the bottle away from her. ”Alright, b.a.r.e bottling fairy booze isn't a good idea. Take this, while I fill you a glass.” Raven handed Jos the vape and began pouring a generous amount of the wine into a glass, then handing it to her. Raven's mouth dropped as Jos took the glass and emptied it in one drink. ”Well, f.u.c.k me for trying, I guess...” Isha giggled, twisting her arm into Raven's as she set back. ”So, what's the plan?”
Jos frowned as she leaned forward and retrieved the bottle again. ”I don't know... He asked if I could wait until this evening, but who knows what that means. He's probably out devising a new way of torturing me...”