“I may be Hobie’s biggest flirt, but I’m not Hobie’s biggest ho. It’s all for show.” My poetry skills were on point, but I kept that knowledge to myself so as not to derail the conversation.
“Wait,” Nico said, sobering up from his laugh-athon. “You’re saying you haven’t really hooked up with all the guys you go out with?”
“I don’t kiss and tell,” I spat. “That would be rude.”
Nico exchanged a glance with Rooster before looking back at me. “But how in the fuck have you been a gay man going out on dates with a ton of different guys and not gotten sexual experience? Are you sure you’re not pulling our legs?”
“Am I sure I’ve never had sex? Why, yes, Nico. I’m pretty sure I’d remember that. I know I’ve gotten pretty drunk a few times, but from what I’ve heard, a sore ass might have clued me in the next day had I done something stupid the night before.”
Nico held out his hands to calm me down. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just really… surprised. That’s all. Not even oral? Really?”
This time, I gave him my best eat-shit-and-die look until he sighed.
“Okay. I’ll show you a few things, but not in front of Norman.”
Who the hell was Norman?
Rooster stood up and ruffled my hair like a jackass before wishingme good luck and wandering up the back stairs to the tattoo shop. Huh.
What followed was a scene I would like to forever scrub from my memory. Let’s just say there were plums involved. And an oddly-shaped carrot. And spurts of frosting, which… let’s be honest, really shouldn’t have been red for the purposes of this demonstration.
But Valentine’s Day was coming up, and it was all we had on hand.
After the Fridaylunch rush which was made ten times crazier since Nico had been too busy in the tattoo shop to help in the bakery, I caught wind of an animal emergency brewing in the town square. Charlie’s dog, Mama, was missing in action. I spent the better part of an hour helping look for her before we found her curled up in the display window of the antique store down from Charlie’s pub. By the time the adoring crowd dispersed, I realized I only had three hours to run home, shower, change, and make it to Dallas for my audition at Feathers.
I made it there with about ten seconds to spare after begging my piece-of-shit Ford Focus to squeeze into a tiny spot between a Suburban and a Hummer in the nearest parking garage to the club. Thank Goddess it was a cool night because otherwise my hair would have defluffed and my dewy complexion would have slid into swampy territory.
Along with a healthy ten-pack of gorgeous hotties, I spent the next four hours learning what it meant to be a Feathers dancer.
Skin. It meant lots and lots of bare skin.
And penises. Those too.
There was no way in hell I could strip off my clothes for cash. I just couldn’t do it, especially not if I had any chance of starting a relationship with Evan. But I really needed the money. When the audition wrapped up and Darius pulled me into his office to offer me thejob, I gathered up my nerves and asked if there was any way he’d consider hiring me as a bartender instead of a dancer.
His eyes had widened in surprise. “You have experience tending bar?”
“No, sir, but I worked nights as a barback in my town’s restaurant until they gave the job to the manager’s daughter six months ago. I’ve memorized all the drinks already and am super friendly.” I gave him my flirtiest smile in a way I hoped read more like “I’m a money-earner” and less like “I’ll give you head in exchange for a job.”
By the time I left there after midnight, I was still officially a dancer for Feathers. Darius had said he’d consider moving me over to work behind the bar, but he’d like me to sleep on it since he’d much rather have me as a dancer. I’d reluctantly agreed because I needed the money either way. I’d also broken a personal rule and allowed myself to be pressured into taking a shot of tequila with the other dancers. Between the shot and the anxiety over managing any kind of late-night job in Dallas when I lived in Valley Cross, my nerves were getting the better of me. I was pretty sure they were lingering around ten gazillion right about now.
So it really shouldn’t have come as a surprise when my distraction caused me to miss the fact I was out of gas. I coasted to a stop along the edge of the quiet country road leading from the interstate to Valley Cross. Barren fields stretched out on either side, and at this time of night, there wasn’t a single other car anywhere close.
Fuck.
I picked up my phone to call Sassy, mentally kicking myself for getting into this mess in the first place. The poor woman needed her sleep. She had plans to spend the following day on a long trail ride with her niece and two of her sisters.
When my screen lit up though, it was filled with texts and missed calls from Evan with escalating concern about whether or not he’d done something to upset me when we were together on Thursday. My heart tightened in my chest as I saw the last text.
I’ve clearly misunderstood your feelings, and for that I’m truly sorry. Please be happy and safe.
My jaw ached and eyes stung. I was such a fucking coward, and now he thought I didn’t want to be with him.
I clicked on the icon to call him. When he answered, his voice was rough and deep.
“Sweetheart, are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m okay.” I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. “I ran out of gas out by the Lucky Diamond Ranch. Can you come get me?”
