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“That’s insane.”

One of Asa’s friends leaned toward me. “Gets better when the clothes come off.”

I glanced at him. “I was talking about the upper-body strength.”

He blinked.

Ruckus covered his mouth with one hand.

I returned my attention to the dancer.

“That has to destroy your core.”

Micah gave me a concerned look. “Please don’t turn stripping into cardio.”

“Look at her. It already is cardio.”

“Don’t encourage her,” Rook told him.

Clayton returned with my two drinks and set them in front of me.

I picked one up and sniffed it.

“What is this?”

“Vodka cranberry.”

“Why?”

“It looked pink.”

“That was the full thought process?”

“Pretty much.”

At least he was honest.

I took a cautious sip. It was approximately forty percent cranberry juice, forty percent vodka and twenty percent poor judgment.

I coughed.

Clayton smiled.

Asa lifted his glass from the other end of the table. “Best birthday ever.”

“You didn’t even know I was coming,” I called back.

“Still counts.”

The night became easier after that.

Mostly because I stopped paying attention to the guys.

The dancers were more interesting. They were funny, strong as hell, and considerably better company.

One blonde told Ruckus his face was wasted on his personality.

He looked delighted.