Chapter 58
KC
Things have been really good between Jared and me, but we still haven’t told our friends. I’m pretty sure Ajani and Brittney know something’s been going on, since I can’t keep a smile off of my face these days.
Tonight is the exotic male dancer performance at Darla’s. I’m ready for some drinks, feel good music, and to stare at sexy half-naked men. Even though I already have one of those waiting for me tonight…
Ajani texted me before I left the apartment, letting me know she got here early and made sure we got a front-row table.
When I walk through the doors, I can hear Brittney’s laughter before I spot her, and can see Ajani sitting at a table.
Britt came here straight from Skyler’s house—feels like I’ve barely seen her lately.
She has seemed much happier these days. Maybe she and Skyler were just going through a rough patch before…
Instead of walking right over to the table, I pause and take in the sight of my friends, the ones who are more like family to me. They’re laughing and clinking their drinks together. I love them.
I slowly walk up behind their seats and place an arm around each of them, pulling us together where our cheeks are touching. “My beautiful friends! You started without me.” I push out my bottom lip in a fake pout.
Their eyes are playful when they point to an opened bottle of beer, ice chips sliding down its side.
“No way! We knew you’d be here soon. We’re just excited to see some new sexy eye candy up in here!” Ajani states while Brittney giggles, nodding her agreement.
If I didn’t trust these ladies with my life, there’s no way I’d be grabbing this already opened, cold beer and taking a huge sip while sitting down next to them.
We really did get the best seats; our table is directly in front of the stage, right in the middle.
I look around the room, my eyes browsing over everyone that’s here.
Tickets for this event must have sold out; the tables and seats are starting to fill up.
Brittney leans dramatically over the table. “So, Kailey, anything you want to share with the table?”
Ajani sets her drink down and gives me her full attention.
I lightly tap my chin. “Mmm, no. Nope. Nothing comes to mind.”
Brittney kicks my foot under the table. “You little hussy. You’ve been holding out on us!
” Her finger points to herself then Ajani, before crossing her arms underneath her chest. “I knew something had been different with you. But then I overheard Beau and Skyler talking about how you and Jared are a thing!”
Ajani shoves Brittney’s shoulder playfully. “Give her a break. Maybe she was waiting until we had more alcohol in us. Then we couldn’t be sure if it was all true tomorrow…”
I hold out my finger to shush them both and chug down my beer in one go. They both start to do a drum roll with their hands against the top of the table, waiting for me.
Once my beer is finished, I wipe my mouth before finally answering their question.
“Well, we haven’t actually put a label on it…
but yeah, we’re texting, and hanging out when we both can.
” Ajani and Brittney listen as I continue to tell them about Mattie’s impromptu visit at the apartment, and how he acted off and was a bit crazy.
“He told you that the door was unlocked? But we never leave it unlocked.” Brittney looks worried.
Ajani’s tone turns serious. “But you know what he does for a living, KC. Are you sure that you’ll be okay? He did seem a little possessive over you.”
“I mean, I thought about dating him for, like, a second… but we’d always been just fuck buddies. So he couldn’t have really been too shocked.”
“So you haven’t heard from Mathew since he left your place?”
“After saying that I’d be Jared’s if I wasn’t his… like I’m some sort of property… Nope. Not a word from him.”
Brittney slumps in her chair, hands rubbing up and down her arms. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when he was. I feel like you could’ve been seriously hurt.”
I squeeze her shoulder. “Mattie would never hurt me; he cares too much.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Oh, and Jared surprised me with tickets to the ‘Only Smut and Happy Endings for Me’ event. I finally got to meet my favorite authors in person! He bought me their books—the ones that I didn’t already have. AJ Wilding and Kristina Brand are so nice in real life!”
Ajani’s mouth drops open. “Your man took you to a book event?” She sits up straighter. “Okay, he’s definitely a keeper. I mean, a man that knows you like smut and chose to go with you?”
Brittney’s smile gives her away. I knew she must have told him about my smut obsession.
“Yeah, it was really amazing. Jared is great.” A ping of sadness hits my heart, realizing how much time I’ve already lost with this man.
The overhead lights dim down as a spotlight follows Darla’s walk to the middle of the small stage.
“Welcome, ladies!!!” She shields her eyes from the light. “Ohh, and some men I see out there!”
Everyone in the audience cheers.
“I’ve got quite the treat tonight for three lucky customers…” Darla makes a show of dramatically pointing to the audience.
Ajani pokes my side. “Holy shit! Look!”
We all look as men walk on stage and place three chairs down, perfectly spaced out in a triangle shape.
Darla continues, “Before everyone arrived, some of our men secretly chose a partner. They’ve informed me that if you were chosen, you’ll find a piece of rope taped underneath your seat.”
The audience breaks out in gasps, and the room fills with sounds of chairs being pushed around.
Brittney and Ajani are both blankly staring at me. “What?” I wave down a waitress, pointing to the table, signaling we want another round.
Brittney covers her mouth but Ajani laughs. “Well, aren’t we going to check under our seats?!”
“Ha! Come on, it’s a gimmick.” I sit back into my chair, waiting patiently for my fresh beer. I miss Jared already. He knew it was ladies’ night, and I told him that I’d call him when I was finished. I’m hoping to be tangled up in him tonight. Which makes me remember…
“Hey, did Skyler care that you were coming to watch half-naked men?” I ask Brittney, knowing he’s the boyfriend that can, at times, be overly jealous.
“Actually, when I mentioned it during the week—what we’d be doing for ladies’ night—he was all for it. Weird, right?”
“Ajani should be the one scouring under her seat, hoping to find rope. She’s the single one, right?”
Ajani smacks my hand that’s pointed directly at her. “Aren’t you technically single too?”
“Nah, I guess it’s time Cap Guy and I make it official.”
Brittney smiles when she hears Jared’s nickname that I started using so many years ago.
“He really is even cuter in a hat,” Ajani coos next to me.
Mmm, he really is… I bite my bottom lip. “Now we need to find you a man.”
Ajani holds up a piece of rope, then swings it in a lasso. “I think that I'll be having one tonight.” She grins wickedly at us, then points at our seats. “Hurry up and check under your seats before the rest of the audience starts to riot.”
I shake my head, assuming that these rope pieces would have to be spread out through the audience. My fingers go under my seat, rubbing around until they make contact with a coarse rope. “No fucking way,” I whisper under my breath as I pull the piece of rope out and stare at it.
Brittney holds her rope up into the air and screams up at Darla, “We are the chosen ones!!!”
“Shit, ladies. I’ve never been to a show like this, but I’m thinking we might have to start a tradition of us going to these!” Ajani is beaming with excitement.
Okay, how much had these two really had to drink before I got here?
My phone chimes inside my purse. When I open it, I see it’s from a bartender from The Purple Room.
Val
Hey, you have a delivery that was left here for you.
Hmm, I don’t think I was expecting anything.
Me
Thanks, girl. Go ahead and leave it in the break room for me.
Val
Will do.