Fade Out (The Morganville Vampires #7)(48)
“Are you ready yet, you girl?” Gavin’s standing at the door, staring at me. “You’re so f*cking out of it lately. Come on.”
I roll off the bed, feeling like my body is dead weight I have to lug around all night. Games usually don’t wear me down this badly, but there’s zero winning buzz to override my bruised ribs, my racked muscles. My beaten willpower.
Slipping on my leather jacket, I consider the very real possibility that Ari won’t even be there. This was all for her friend. I decide that’s fine by me as I follow Gavin into the hallway. We need more time too cool down after the heated words we exchanged. And that’s just it—neither one of us needs anything intense to fire us up for a good while. I’ll figure out what to do, how to proceed with her, after I blow off some steam.
As I make my way toward my Jeep, the sounds of elated Bobcats echo through the parking lot.
* * *
Only the town’s adored Bobcats could manage shutting down a whole beach bar to host a private party. I shake my head as Gavin and I enter, the cranked, bass-filled music hitting my chest with a rattling boom. Flashing LED lights decorate the ceiling, dripping from the rafters. Little blue lights are woven between sheer material being used to section off private seating areas.
“How the hell did you pull this off?” I shout over the music.
Gavin chuckles, a beer already in his hand. “Dude, I’m the shit.”
I have no other choice but to accept this as fact. Because I’m actually impressed.
Looking around for the boosters, all I note is the team. A bunch of dudes. No girls. And I know at least half of these guys have girlfriends, or at least their current hookups. I quirk an eyebrow in Gavin’s direction.
“Don’t worry, man. This won’t be a sausage fest.” He takes off toward the bar top to talk to the bartender.
I pull up a seat next to Jeremy and nod my head toward a bottle of water when he asks what I’m drinking. None of the guys ever mention it, but they know the reason I don’t drink. That I stay far away from the shit that turns my brother into a monster.
I’m listening to Jeremy and Beck’s animated debate about a play, when light spills into the darkened bar as the door swings open. Six members of the boosters amble in, shaking off the cold. I squint, as if that will help, and zero in on Ari. She’s standing beside Vee, glancing around anxiously, as the other girls head toward Gavin.
Ari’s eyes meet mine for one quick second before Gavin shouts, “Take your places, boys!” And the music stops. The flood of my teammates hustling around breaks our eye contact.
This…does not look good. I’m suddenly wary, a sinking feeling gripping my stomach and my back stiffening against the plush seat. Hoots and whistles sound out as Ari trails the girls toward the back of the bar.
The music switches back on, a sensual, slow rhythm filling the bar, and Carly leaves Gavin’s side to strut toward the mini-stage in the corner where all the band equipment has been pushed against the wall.
I’d like to think she’s getting ready to perform—sing, play the guitar, beatbox—but I almost hooked up with her back in my sophomore year—and from what I remember, she only has a few talents, and those are not among them. Luckily, she got too drunk before anything serious happened between us. I’d feel damn awkward right now, otherwise.
“I tried my hardest to bribe Todd into putting up a stripper pole,” Gavin says as he plunks down on the bench seat beside me. “But he wasn’t feeling it. Oh, well. It beats the shit out of the titty bars! At least the lap dances are free.” He woops as Carly begins swiveling her hips. She lets down her long blond hair and shakes it out.
Heat crawls up the back of my neck, slithering ever so slowly, encasing me in a feeling of dread. I avert my eyes as she begins to unbutton her shirt. “What the f*ck, Gav?” I say.
“What? We’re a short ways away from the championship.” He shrugs. “I figured a little stress relief would be appreciated.” Then his gaze is back on the stage, his head nodding along to the strip club beat. “It’s just a few girls, man. They were all about it.”
Then—because my brain hasn’t even began to process everything just yet—it f*cking hits me like a Mack truck. Square in the chest. Only by now it’s too late, because the other booster girls are moving into the room, my Ari trailing their lead.
My eyes are glued to her sexy body draped in a long, tight black dress, a slit running the length of her leg. It’s strapless, and her cleavage pushes over the top—all her silky skin glitters under the twinkling lights.
Anger spikes my blood, lava hot. I can actually feel my blood boiling, sizzling under my skin as she prances in front of a table full of guys, modeling off her body. I’m already thinking on my feet, about to storm over to her and drag her out of here, but I hear Gavin say, “Right here!” as he points to me. And then hands are pressed against my shoulders, pushing me into the seat.
I look up and into Vee’s eyes. They’re wide and imploring. “Please?” she whispers. “Just go with it.”
My eyebrows pull together, and I try desperately not to look at her tits. Which are barely covered by a sparkling string bikini top and right in my face.
Hell. I feel f*cking degraded for her. Here she is, stripping her clothes off for me, riding my lap, just for the chance to be near Gavin. Why the hell did he do this? Why the hell did I not clarify anything to him? I should’ve known. I just should’ve f*cking known. I wish I’d just told him to ask the poor girl out. Take her on a real freaking date. He’s not actually all that bad—he’s just…Gavin.