AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The look in her eyes as something cracked inside of her punched me in the gut. April was my friend. I wasn’t supposed to want to hurt her, and I did. I knew my barbs would hit home and I sharpened them anyway. I sliced and cut because I could. That wasn’t me. Or at least I didn’t want it to be.
“I didn’t know any other way to get his attention,” she murmured. “He didn’t chase me like the other guys do.”
I hugged her. “Look, you can fix this.”
Why was I trying to help her now? I didn’t want to help her, I didn’t want them to be together.
But I did want Kieran to be happy.
My selfish heart said that I could make him happy, but I had to take my own advice. If a man wants you, he’ll find a way to tell you. And Kieran, in all the years we’d roomed together, had plenty of opportunity to tell me. It wasn’t me he’d taken to bed, it was April.
“How?” she asked.
“First, we’ll go tonight and we’ll sit in the back. He’ll know we’re there, but we’re not going to buy any dances or try to get his attention in any way. But you can’t buy any dances from any of the other guys either. Then you’ll tell him you need a ride back to the house because we’re going to leave your car here. We’ll take a cab.”
“How are you going to get home?”
“I’ll be fine. One of the guys can bring me home.” Probably Brant. Or maybe I’d just spend the night on the roof of The Rooster watching the stars and trying not to think about Kieran and April.
She sucked in a deep breath. “I… thank you.” April hugged me. “I didn’t know I’d feel this way.”
Yeah, me either. Instead of answering, I called a cab.
When we got to the club, I put on my party face. I didn’t want anyone asking me what was wrong, so it was time to be that girl. The one who was always fun, who always had a slick remark, and who drank like a sailor.
Liquor was the best lube for unwanted social interaction.
We chose a table in the back as I’d suggested and Austin sat down at our table almost immediately. He was, of course, ripped like Adonis. He was wearing a pair of low-slung jeans with a giant belt buckle and nothing else.
He was the one I’d babysat his daughter.
“Hey, honey. Didn’t expect you guys back tonight,” he said.
“This is as good a place to drink as any,” April replied. “Speaking of, I’m going to get some drinks. Rum for you, Claire?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
When she was gone, Austin leaned over to whisper in my ear. “Couldn’t get enough of Finn McCool, could she?”
I shrugged. “You know how it is.”
“I should probably mind my own business, but she knows girls come back here all the time with the same idea she’s got.”
“She does. But we should both mind our own business.” I grinned.
“I meant to ask, this photo shoot we’re doing. Can I have copies of all my pics for my portfolio?”
“Oh, of course. And after Chubbalicious is making some money, I’ll be able to pay you.”
“No need. Happy to help.” He winked at me. “Although, if you wanted to give me a dollar, I wouldn’t mind.” The corner of his lip turned up in a smirk as he stood and angled that shiny belt buckle close to my face.
This wasn’t usual fare for me. On the nights we came to the club, I didn’t usually get dances or put dollars in anyone’s jock. I was always Kieran’s guest and I hung out in the back sipping my drink and chatting with the girls.
But fuck it, right? That’s what they were here for. Maybe all that time I’d spent trying to be different and set apart, I’d been an asshole? I’d been enjoying the scenery without tipping. That was kind of a douche move.
“I guess I owe you one.” I pulled a dollar out of my purse and tucked it in the waist of those deliciously worn jeans, my fingers grazing over his oblique.
“Best buck of the night.” He winked again.
“Flirt.”
“Tease,” he tossed back.
“I can’t help myself.” My tone implied even if I could, I wouldn’t.
“Nor should you.” He squeezed my shoulder before migrating to another table.
April shoved two shots of rum under my nose. “Did I see what I think I saw? Did you… tip?”
I shrugged. “I figured it was time.” It grossed me out to realize that I hadn’t been tipping not because I thought I was different, but because I didn’t want to be that sad, fat girl who had to come to a strip club to put her hands on a man.
Who had to pay for it.
But it wasn’t even like that. I knew the guys didn’t think of me or any of the women who came to the club that way. The least I could do was cough up a dollar.
