He made a sassy face.
Is that a yes?I hoped it was a yes. But honestly I was more focused on the fact that Cole’s suit was a thong in the back. I had never seen such a tight, muscular ass. I kind of wanted to jump on stage and squeeze it. He struck one final pose before exiting the catwalk.
Tanner was next. But instead of swim trunks, he appeared to be wearing nothing but an ermine cape that covered his entire torso from his chin to mid-thigh. His walk could only be described as a sashay.
“Work it,” growled Nigel. The violent eroticism of his tone made me deeply uncomfortable.
At the end of the catwalk, Tanner hit a power pose and tore off his cape to reveal…another cape?
“What the hell is happening?” I asked.
“Tanner’s being very extra and you’re just not getting it,” said Nigel.
And then it somehow got even weirder. Because he then tore off that second cape. I kind of expected to see a third, but instead he had on a red mesh turtleneck and a codpiece. I was no codpiece connoisseur, but it was clear that Tanner’s was much more tasteful than Cole’s.
As far as I was concerned, he had earned a perfect 10 for bravery alone. Which meant that as long as our last model didn’t totally blow it, we’d get the victory. I mentally patted myself on the back for finally making the call to sideline Diablo. I was tired of his sabotage.
“Please tell me that’s Angel,” I whispered to Nigel when I saw the tanned man step onto the catwalk in a ski mask and a red speedo. But I had a horrible feeling that it was Diablo.
“It was supposed to be,” said Nigel.
Angel appeared at my side. “It’s definitely not me,” he said. “I’m right here.”
Damn it!Had Diablo seriously forced his way on stage just so he could sabotage us? If his walk didn’t go perfectly, I was going to lose my mind.
I could practically feel the ground shake as he stomped down the catwalk. It wasn’t funny like all the other guys’ walks had been. Instead it was super masculine. He was like a warrior marching into battle. And the way he stretched that speedo… It looked like he was smuggling a soda bottle down the catwalk.
At the end of the catwalk, he stopped, put both hands on his hips, and thrust. I thought for sure the violent motion would tear his speedo, but somehow the elastic hung on for dear life as his soda bottle bounced around.
For the second time today, I found myself thinking back to when I had run away from him and Angel. And what would have happened if I hadn’t. I shifted in my chair and re-crossed my legs. I hadn’t realized it was so hot out today.
It didn’t matter what the judging criteria was. If the goal was to be funny - which I suspected it was - then Tanner’s double cape with the mesh turtleneck definitely won the day. And if the guys were supposed to be sexy, then Diablo had won. No contest.
Or at least…it wouldn’t have been a contest if Diablo hadn’t tripped over his own feet and faceplanted on his was back down the catwalk.
Nigel cursed and jumped up onto the stage. He grabbed Diablo by the waistband of his speedo and angrily dragged him off.
Okay…so maybe Nigel was super strong.Wait.I suddenly remembered how he’d carried Chastity and me both up the stairs to my apartment. I stared at him dragging Diablo off the stage. How was Nigel so strong? It made zero sense.
I almost felt bad for Diablo. Was it possible that he wasn’t sabotaging us and was just the clumsiest beef tower in the world?No.Something was up. He had forced his way onto that stage just to mess it up. But why?
There was only one explanation.
“I think Diablo killed Rosalie,” I whispered to Tanner as we walked back to the event wheel. Ocelot had commended Tanner for being “wonderfully extra,” but had ultimately awarded the victory to the blue team since none of them tripped and fell on their faces.
Tanner raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite the accusation. Do you have evidence to back that up?”
“No. But how else would you explain why he’s sucked so badly at every event? I think he’s nervous because he knows that I’m Rosalie’s sister and I’m onto him.” The theory had made sense in my head, but hearing it out loud made me less sure.
“That feels like a bit of a stretch.”
“Frankie told me that he and Angel have been members for at least five years.”
“Again, not super incriminating.”
I put my hand on my hip. “Okay then, Mr. Super Detective. Do you have any better leads?”
“No…”
