Not Even Close (A New Generation) by Elizabeth Reyes (sight word books .txt) 📕

was still feeling the heat in hisface. Each moment that passed and he didn’t hear the familiar laughter, hisface got hotter.

Finally, he heard it again. Albeit a little softer now and he hadto wonder if he wasn’t the reason for her hushing it down. Was sheafraid to get his attention again? Ironically even as softer as the laughinghad gone, she had Byron’s undivided attention still. It was almost as if thebuzz of the crowded gym was nothing but a humming drone in the background nowand all he heard was that sweet giggling.

Thankfully, he spotted Nine headed in his direction making hisway through the crowd with Hector, one of the owners of the gym. Multitasking,Byron motioned for the line he oversaw to move along as he flagged Nine down.

Byron knew Beast was due for a break soon and he needed to talkto him before he made his quick exit out of there. Finding someone to cover forByron, shouldn’t be too hard or an issue, given how many other guys at the gymwould be willing to mingle with the girls in the crowd.

“You doing work?” Nine tapped his fist to Byron’s in the air thenclapped him on the shoulder.

“Yeah, but I gotta go soon.” Byron tapped Hectors fist next thenturned back to Nine. “I just need to talk to Beast before I go.”

“Go ahead,” Hector said glancing back at Beast. “I can handle ithere until I can get someone to take over.”

As much as Byron had been trying to avoid looking in thedirection of the girls he’d gawked at, they were now at Beast’s table whereHector, and Nine’s attention were also on now. The girls were all smiles and atthat moment Beast just so happened to be signing something for her. Beastlooked up at her and smiled making what Byron assumed was typical small talk.

“Looks like they’re passing out wristbands to the rest of thepeople in his line, so they can be first when he comes back.” Hector motioned tothe gal passing out the wrist bands. “Means he’s probably gonna take his breaknow. Go on. I’m good here.”

“I need to talk to him too,” Nine said as Byron started to walkaway but turned back to Hector. “I’ll come back if you want and take over whenI’m done.”

Hector nodded and Byron and Nine started toward Beast’s table.Though Byron made sure to take the longer way around the crowds to avoidgetting there before the girls moved on to one of the other lines.

Beast was just wrapping it up with the last person allowed tostay in his line before he took his break. Byron stood a couple of feet away,feeling strangely nervous when the same girl’s laughter caught Nine’sattention. Nine smirked looking their way then back at Byron. The last thingByron wanted was for her to notice if Nine made any loud comments. The guy was anythingbut discreet.

Thankfully, Beast finished up with the last in his line and Byronbegan approaching him before Nine could say anything. “Dude, you’re gonna behere all night. That line outside is insane.”

Beast shook his head then shrugged as he took a swig from hisbottled water. “It’s for a good cause. I’ll save my complaining for when I haveto do this all-day shit out of town, and I don’t even get to see my girls thatnight.”

The girl’s laughter in one of the other lines now, had Nineturning in that direction though Byron kept his eyes on his brother. Ninechuckled under his breath but loud enough to have Beast turning to see what hewas looking at. “Never any shortage of groupies at these things, uh?”

Beast turned to Nine, his expression as soured up as Byron wasfighting doing the same. “Those are all someone’s baby girls, you idiot.” Beast’scomment didn’t exactly make Byron feel better, but he was at least glad he’dconfirmed what he’d first thought. “First year college students at ESU thisfall. Had me signing things for their daddies’ and boyfriends.” Beast playjabbed Nine in the gut. “If my girls ever stood in a line this long to buy mesomething I’d be pissed if anyone mistook them for groupies.”

Nine took the jab to his gut with a laugh. “What’s wrong withgroupies? They’re some of my favorite people.”

Finally easing up a bit, Byron smirked shaking his head. “Oh, Dee’sgonna hear about this.”

“I’m just saying they’re people too,” Nine said to Beast with agrin, but turned to Byron looking more serious suddenly. “You better not sayanything to her, ass.” He patted his fist to his chest. “This is man talk.”

“Get outta here.” Beast nudged him as they all began to walk.“Your wife hears you sticking up for groupies and your ass will be down on yourmanly knees begging for forgiveness.”

“Yeah, so?” Nine said loudly. “At least I’m manly enough to admitit.” Both Beast and Byron laughed now. “Seriously, they may be young.” Nine heldup two hands moving away from Beast a bit. “And now that you have two daughtersyou probably don’t wanna hear this, but I’m not sure who’s worse. The groupiesor young college girls. ‘Specially ones away from mommy and daddy for the firsttime. This is their time to get freaky and trust me.” He turnedto Byron this time with an arched brow. “Back in the day, long beforeDee Dee, I had my share of these so-called little innocent college girls. They maybe young but they’re adults now—legal—and dying to live it up.” Henudged Byron now with his elbow. “FYI, out of townies are the best ones to getyour freak on with. Kind of like what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Thosechicks are open to anything. Doesn’t matter what kind of reputation theyget because once they’re done with school, they go back to mommy and daddy,start their new careers with a clean slate, and never look back. It’s why somany of them like experimenting in college.” He bounced his brows. “Good way toget some three-way action going.”

“Alright, alright,” Beast said looking more annoyed than earlier.“Not all girls are the same. Just ‘cause you were always drawn to that type.Until Dee Dee,” he