6. Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Amelia
I step out of the bathroom and find Maddie in a black dress and heels. “What are you wearing?” I gape at her.
“The better question is, what are you wearing?” She gapes right back at me.
I look down at my hot pink, glittering dress, the one I found for a steal at the thrift store. It has a corseted top and a loose skirt that hits my thighs, but the best part is the sheer shawl of bright pink tulle. I look back at Maddie. “I’m literally Margot Robbie on the Barbie red carpet.”
“I thought the point was to blend in.”
“Where on earth did you get that stupid idea?”
“I don’t know. Maybe when you said we needed to ‘go undercover,’” she says, complete with judgmental air quotes. “Not try to be on the cover of a magazine.”
“First of all, thank you. Second, well, I don’t really have a second because we need to go.” I took too long to make my face up to perfection. But I achieved it. I look completely different with smoky eyes, darker brows, big bold lips, and a contoured face. I almost look like Margot Robbie.
Hmm. I see how that might be a problem. I debate going back to wipe it off, but we are in Vegas. There will be plenty of other look-alikes out there. No one will pay me any mind.
The club is bouncing. Literally, the whole building feels like it’s shaking. I pull up the latest photo Liam could find of Thane and study it again. It’s grainy but the similarities to Caleb are obvious. Caleb is going to be quite the dashing silver fox. Lucky me.
“I thought you weren’t supposed to text Liam anymore,” Maddie says from over my shoulder.
“This was a matter of life and death,” I mutter.
“Add a little more emotion. That was almost convincing.”
“Caleb will thank me later.”
She shakes her head. “Again, not convinced.”
“Let’s get a drink in you to liven you up,” I say, pushing my way through the crowds. It’s going to be nearly impossible to find anyone in here. It’s so dark and crowded I can barely keep track of Maddie.
“Just water for me,” Maddie says when we reach the counter.
I look over at her. “Is this because you’re still a health nut, or are you finally pregnant with my niece or nephew?” She and Connor only got married four months ago, but I’ve been begging them nonstop to put their honeymoon phase to good use and get me a new best friend. Well, I’ve said it nicer than that.
Maddie just rolls her eyes and takes the offered cup.
A hand lands on my shoulder and I jump.
“Where have you been?”
I turn toward the voice. “Excuse me?”
“You’re not supposed to get drunk before the show. You can do that on your own time.” The middle-aged man grabs my arm and tries to pull me from my seat, but I pull back.
“I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding.”
“Yeah. You’re supposed to be in the back with the rest of the dancers.” He rubs his hand over his sweaty forehead. “I do not get paid enough for this job.”
“I’m not a dancer.”
He scowls. “You’re not? Then why are you wearing our costume?”
Maddie snorts.
“I found it. I looked great in it. That was the entire thought process.”
“Well…” he seems conflicted. “You do look fabulous.” He studies me intently. “You even did the makeup right. Can you dance? We’re short a member.”
“Can the pope sing?” I scoff.
He raises a brow. “I don’t think that’s the correct phrase.”
I wave my hand in the air. “Show me the choreography.”
The guy motions me to the back and I wait for Maddie to follow, but she holds up her phone. “Don’t worry, I’ll record the whole thing.”
I appreciate her sacrifice. Caleb is going to need evidence of this.
Five minutes later, I’ve determined he will never get to see this footage. They only let me watch a video of the dance twice. I needed at least fifty-two run-throughs.
“Wait!” I grab the nearest dancer’s arm as the group of them crowd around me, forcing me onto the darkened stage. “I don’t think I’ve got it.”
She just laughs. “This is Vegas, honey. All they want is a show.”
A show? Now that I can do.
Barbie Girl plays. A bit cliché, but I can dance to this song in my sleep. Usually, I’m not front and center on a stage in Vegas, but I think it’s safe to say I’ve found my purpose in life.
The lights beam down and I go blind. Then I remember the dance moves and start doing them to the best of my memory as the club slowly comes back into view. I shimmy to the right and spi—I crash into another dancer, who thankfully takes it in stride. I can see now, but I’m also behind. Crap, what comes next?
A leap? I do it, and… kick the dancer in front of me in the head because she just went down in the splits. I guess I did the splits, just the aerial version. People hoot and laugh, but I don’t leave the stage. I continue to dance like no one is watching. Unfortunately, many people are watching, and my mind has gone blank on the rest of the routine.
Two men grab my arms and I startle before realizing they are lifting me. I hold my arms stiff, but the move tests my upper body strength. Are they trying to rip my arms off? This looks much easier on TV.
I bring my knee up like I’ve seen people on TV do.
But it connects with something—a face. A man below me glares at me before grabbing his now bloody nose and stomping off the stage.
It’s not my fault he was at my knee.
I spot Maddie in the front, phone held high. I won’t be posting this video online.
Another man grabs my waist and I yelp as he puts me on his shoulder. Gee, these guys sure are handsy.
The song ends and the audience applauds. Everyone in the front couple rows at least; the rest of the club hardly seems to care. Especially that guy on his phone who just…wait, did he just take that woman’s purse?
He did! And no one’s stopping him. Why isn’t anyone stopping him?
The thief’s eyes connect with mine, and I gasp.
It’s him! Thane!
“Stop that man!” I yell, but my words disappear in the noise.
The men holding me set me back down. The second my feet hit the stage, I run and jump off the edge.
No one catches me. That was overenthusiastic of me to assume that might happen twice in my lifetime.
My legs crumple beneath me and I crash to the floor. What a show.