Page 22 of Sinful Nights
“All I’m saying is if I could find a way to incorporate more candy into my routine, I could earn so many more tips,” Bash says as they all come into view.
They’re sitting at the bar counter, Bash spinning himself on the stool, twirling a lollipop around his fingers. Lennox is sitting up on the counter, his legs swinging back and forth as he nods his head, listening to Bash’s rambling. Declan and Tristan are next to them, both just staring at Tristan’s phone in his hand. Declan says something to Tristan that has him swiping his finger on the phone. Probably some dating app. Scratch that, probably a hookup app. They tend to look at those a lot.
I’ve never understood the appeal of a hookup app. How do you hook up with a random person you’ve just met? I couldn’t do it. Oak tried to explain it to me before when he was using them for a while. Said sometimes you don’t want to date, you just want to have a fun night with another person, and usually the person you match with on those apps is looking for the same thing, so it makes it easier. I tried to act as if I knew what he was talking about, but it made little sense to me. Still doesn’t. But to each their own, I guess.
“All right. Now that Cole is here, we can get to work!” Bash shouts when he sees me. He looks great today; he’s wearing this plaid pleated skirt with a white button-up top. His black hair is styled perfectly like always, his lips a rosy red, like a cherry lollipop.
I step closer, trying to get a good look at his eyes. “Oh, I love that,” I say, pointing to the gold shimmer lining his eyes. “It really makes your eyes pop.”
“Thank you. I might have gone a little shopping crazy earlier today and bought way too much makeup. But I love it. I’m goingto shimmer and glitter everything on my body from now on. Actually, I bet your eyes would look amazing with this silver I got. We’ll try it tomorrow night.” He tells me, trailing his finger next to my right eye.
“Sounds good. As long as you don’t make me look bad.”
Bash chuckles, jumping off the counter and landing down easily. “Honey, I don’t think there will ever be a time when you look bad.”
Pursing my lips, I shake my head. “Out of all the guys here, I am the worst-looking.”
“Bullshit,” Tristan cuts in, hearing our conversation. “Between your athletic body, your hair, and your big doe eyes, you draw in almost every guy in the club. Even the ones who come in looking for someone else end up staying for you.”
“You think?” I preen, my confidence bubbling a little bit. I’m always worried that I’m not cutting it as a dancer here, so to know that the guys think I draw in a crowd has me pumped up.
“Oh god,” Declan says, walking toward us. “Now it’s going to go to his head. Quick, tell him something to bring him down a notch. Your breath stinks.”
I gasp, placing my hand over my mouth. “Liar.”
Declan laughs hard, slapping at my stomach. “Yeah, I was. At least now I know what to say to mess you up.”
“All right, time to get to work. I want to go home and cuddle with my man.” Lennox jumps up onto the stage, dragging a chair toward the middle of the stage.
Learning our new routine takes way longer than I thought it would. Four hours later, all five of us are lying on the stage, a sweaty mess, each one of us trying to catch our breath. I have to admit that the dance we came up with is amazing, but fuck, am I tired. All I want to do is go home and crash on the couch for a few hours. I swear this dance better last us for the next year because I don’t want to have to do this again. Learning a dancefor just Bash and me is hard enough. Learning a dance involving five people? Ugh, it was a headache trying to make sure everyone was hitting the right moves, but also that everyone had time in the spotlight.
“So, we’re all in agreement to not do this again for a while, right?” I say, sitting up and looking at everyone. There are grunts, moans, and whispers ofyes, and I chuckle, knowing they are all worn out. “I’m going home. I’ll catch you all later.”
We all say goodbye, my legs carrying me straight to the car. My couch is calling my name, and I can’t wait to crash out.
PEACHES GROUP CHAT
Tristan:Anyone else slightly curious as to why Cole ran out of the club like his ass was on fire?
Lennox:You noticed that too? As soon as we said we were done, he was off.
Bash:I wonder if he had someone waiting at home for him.
Tristan:He barely even said bye. Just looked at his phone and took off running.
Cole:I did not. I was just tired and wanted to go home.
Lennox:I don’t know, we were all pretty tired. But you’re the only one who literally ran out of the club.
Bash:Hell, if anyone was to run out of the club I would have expected Declan.
Lennox:Or Tristan. Especially since they both kept spending the whole time looking for a hookup.
Tristan:Was not.
Declan:Oh, we so were. No need to lie to them, Tris.
Cole:Seeee, they were the ones who were trying to run out.
