Laid Bear Read Online Free Page A

work friends, she didn’t really know anyone so she just helped Char. It kept her busy and made her very popular whenever she’d bring out a fresh tray of yummies. Besides, it was much safer to play waitress than it was to open herself up.  
    She always worried that people who talked to her at parties were just humoring the boring girl. But tonight’s guests would pretty much be people she knew so she wouldn’t have to worry quite so much. She’d still feel like a third wheel ten times over, but at least she was tagging along with friends.
    “B, everything’s under control. Why don’t you get yourself a drink?” Charlotte looked completely put together and unfrazzled as she prepared platters of food, stocked the picnic table outside with booze and greeted guests. She really was the hostess with the mostest.
    Bethany had happily done whatever Char needed but the thought of a nice, strong margarita on the rocks made her taste buds tingle. She was thrilled to find Paul manning the makeshift bar because he had a heavy hand when mixing drinks.  
    “Buy ya a drink, little lady?” She rolled her eyes at Paul’s sad imitation of John Wayne.  
    Paul had a way of cheering her up — everyone, really. When he was in a group, he was always upbeat and perky, but Bethany knew there was a dark side to him as well. They’d bonded as the odd men out of their group — his gayness, her chubbiness, their combined singleness — and shared some of their personal demons. And when Paul’s demons came out, life got very dark for him.
    But he was here, which meant he was feeling good, and that made her happy.
    “Margarita, if you please.”
    Paul scoffed. “Margarita?! What, are you a wimp? Here, try this.” He poured a shot — a very healthy shot — of tequila and handed it to her.  
    “Where’s the lime and salt?”  
    He scoffed again. “In the kitchen, where they should be. Only pussies use lime and salt.” She squinted at his challenge, even as his eyes twinkled with mischief.  
    “A lady doesn’t drink alone, sir,” she shot back at him. His face broke into a grin.  
    “Deal!” He poured himself a shot, tinked glasses with hers and they downed them together.  
    “Whoo!” they both cried in unison, their faces twisting in boozy agony.  
    After they recovered, Paul poured them another round, snaked his arm through hers and dragged her off to a dark corner of the yard. Partygoers chatted and drank, though Bethany knew from experience that sooner or later, all that booze would disappear and the party would get wilder. Right now it was pleasantly mellow, her favorite time.
    Once settled on a small bench, they sipped their drinks. “God damn , I love a good sipping tequila,” he said hoarsely after a particularly healthy sip. Bethany nodded her agreement because   her throat was burning too much to speak.
    “So,” he said, clearing his throat. “What’s new with you?” He eyed her conspicuously. He knew about Max, she could tell. Charlotte must have blabbed.  
    “Don’t be coy, Paul. It doesn’t become you.”
    He rolled his eyes and sighed. “Fine. Spill.”
    Bethany told him everything up to last night’s dream. She still felt weird about it, and she felt silly for it. Besides, it wasn’t relevant.  
    “Ooh, girl…” he crooned as he polished off his drink. “He sounds absolutely edible! Why aren’t you fucking him right now?”
    Bethany shook her head at him. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s not interested in me. He’s just being neighborly.”
    “Why do you always do that?”
    “What?”
    “Put yourself down like that. Why is it so ‘ridiculous’ to think some scorcher doesn’t have the hots for you?”  
    Bethany flushed and sipped her drink. He was right, she didn’t have the best self-esteem, but for good reason. “You know perfectly well that the only guys I attract are drunken losers. Remember that asshole last year? Girls like me don’t get guys like Max.”
    Paul rolled