“I wasn’t pleased with what I saw on stage.” The words don’t come out the way I mean them, and from the way she raises her eyebrows, she’s shocked by them. I doubt any other man has ever said anything like that to her before.
“You weren’t?” She repeats and snorts. “What? You want your dollars back?”
“No,” I answer. “I want to see more of you.”
Lola laughs, a light, melodic sound that makes my chest tighten. “Sorry, handsome, I don’t do private dances.”
Private dance?She’d gotten the wrong idea. As much as I’m sure I’d enjoy to have her bouncing in my lap, that’s not where my thoughts were – not yet at least.
“I wasn’t asking for a dance. I meant a real date. I could get you out of here. Make it worth your while.”
“Make it worth my while, huh?” She shakes her head. “I’m guessing you want to be my saviour or something? You want to take me away from this place.”
She’s being sarcastic, but I don’t care. I’ll say whatever it takes to see more of her.“Yes.”
Lola’s smile falters for a moment, and I think – maybe, just maybe – I’ve gotten through to her. But then she shakes her head again, and I feel my heart drop. “I don’t need a knight in shining armor, sweetie. But thanks for the offer.”
Before I can say more, she leans in, and the sensation of her lips brushing against my cheek feels like electricity coursing through my veins. “You’re sweet,” she whispers, her breath warm against my skin. “But I have to get back to work.”
And with that, she slips away, disappearing into the dim recesses of the club. I’m left standing there, stunned, as her scent lingers in the air around me. For the first time in years, I feel genuinely… intrigued.
When is the last time that a woman had managed to do that to me?Maybe never.
Running a hand through my hair, I let out a dry laugh. “Damn.”
Of course the one time I set my eyes on a woman, she rejects me. I don’t think I’ve ever been rejected in my life. My good looks, charm, and all of the money in my bank account made sure of that.
I’m not so ready to take ‘no’ for an answer though.
Looks like I’ve got a reason to come back to Euphoria.
2
FAYE
Christmas is usually my favorite holiday…I hope moving in with my boyfriend’s dad won’t change that.
“Fix that stupid look on your face,” Elliot sighs impatiently, glancing over at me, as I nervously chew my nails. “My dad’s doing us a huge favor by letting us move in. Make sure you look grateful. He’s not even charging us.”
Swallowing my annoyance, I plaster on a bright smile. “I am grateful. Really.” But it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. I haven’t lived with anyone since I was seventeen years old, but when Elliot lost his job a few weeks ago, we started to get behind on bills which led to us getting evicted.
It’s a Christmas miracle that Elliot’s dad is even letting us move in considering the tense relationship between them.
“Good,” Elliot snaps. “Because you can always go crash with Tini instead.”
I don’t respond because we both know the truth. As sweet as my sister is, she’s living in a camper with her two kids which means she doesn’t necessarily have the space for us.
The car comes to a stop, and I can’t help but marvel at the sprawling house before me. Its modern design features large windows, tasteful stonework, and a towering Christmas tree visible through the front window. The whole scene is like something out of a magazine.
“Wow,” I breathe, my eyes wide with admiration. “Is your dad rich?”
“Yeah, he’s loaded,” Elliot says nonchalantly, as if sensing my awe. “Built all of this himself. His construction company’s kind of a big deal.”
I force a smile, but deep down, I wonder why he never seems to take pride in his father’s success. There’s an air of bitterness to his words that I can’t quite grasp. Shaking off my thoughts, I follow Elliot into the house.
Stepping inside, I’m immediately struck by how spotless and inviting it is, with tasteful holiday decorations and the faint smell of pine. “Dad! We’re here!” Elliot calls out, his voice echoing through the large home.
“What should I call him?” I whisper awkwardly.
