Midnight Ballerina (35 page)

“Are you gonna eat that? I know how you are about your salads. Believe it or not, Mamaw makes a pretty mean one. She calls that one everything but the kitchen sink.”

“I can see why.” I poked at the salad, which barely had any actual lettuce, with my fork, pulling my attention back to it instead of Miller’s own personal strip tease. I would have to put that on the back burner. For now. “So, you have to head into the club tonight?”

“Yeah, I need to check up on Luke, make sure things are running smoothly. Are you still planning on hanging out with Amelia?”

“I am.” I nodded my head, taking another bite out of my salad and trying to figure out exactly what I just ate. Miller must have noticed because he pointed to the half that was still remaining on my fork.

“Okra,” he explained.

“Interesting. So, yeah. I’m hanging out with Amelia. I have no idea what we’re doing yet, but she says she has something planned, which should be interesting, especially since she’s not on good terms with her parents right now. Whenever that happens, she tends to have a little bit of a wild streak.”

“Amelia? I would’ve never guessed.” He chuckled. “Call me if you need me to come get you, got it?”

“Got it.” I pulled out my napkin, ready to wipe away the salad dressing that was running down my chin, but just before I did, I saw those three words that always made my day, written in Miller’s handwriting, making my heart pitter-patter just like it did every time. “I love you, too.”

I LOOKED UP from my phone, having just sent Carter a return message. He just asked me
again
if I planned on coming home during summer break. The past couple of years, I’d come for a few weeks all together, one week at the beginning of break, one in the middle, and one at the end, since I still had work to worry about, my apartment, and paying all of my bills. This year, I wasn’t sure. I had yet to talk to Miller about it work-wise or relationship-wise. If I thought about it, three weeks away wasn’t too bad, but I really didn’t
want
to spend that much time away from him, even spaced out. I didn’t answer Carter since I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to get his hopes up anyway. He seemed to be calling and texting more often. Miller knew and didn’t like it, but I assured him that I was strictly friends with Carter.

“Where in the hell are we, Amelia?” I already knew the answer to that question since the surroundings were looking pretty darn familiar, but I had to ask. I couldn’t actually
believe
that we were sitting in the parking lot of Pure, dressed for a night out. This wasn’t my idea of a night out.

“We-ll, I’ve always wanted to go to one, but I’ve always been too nervous. Your boyfriend owns the place, so I figured this one would be safe. Plus, you worked here. I’m sure you can catch up with some of your old co-workers, right?”

I loved how she tried to spin it so I would want to go in. I’d never been to a strip club in my life for leisure, but I suppose I was going to start now or get left in the car because Amelia was already outside of it, straightening the short dress she chose for the night, and fluffing her blonde hair.

“C’mon.” She waved to me. “Oh, look,” she pointed. “Isn’t that Tanner?”

I followed the direction of where her finger and saw that it was Tanner. He spotted us instantly, and surprisingly didn’t think anything of us showing up at a strip club. What in the hell was going on here?

“Well, lookie what we’ve got here.” He put an arm over both of our shoulders and I was surprised yet again when Amelia didn’t try to slug him in the face. “Mind if I join you ladies?”

I looked at Amelia who was doing this weird thing with her eyes. I couldn’t figure out if she wanted to tell him to fuck off or if she was excited about the prospect of spending our night out with Tanner. Either way, it didn’t matter because Tanner was inviting himself since he’d been met with nothing but silence. “All right, The Cox will take care of you tonight, then. Miller know you’re here?”

“Nope.”

“Well, this should be interesting then.”

Tanner led us to a booth near the front and I had to pull Amelia in next to me because her mouth was gaping open. Her eyes were glued to the stage where one of the dancers was swinging around the pole, and her feet seemed to be frozen. A waitress I didn’t recognize came over to take our drink orders, and after asking for a round of shots, Amelia finally seemed to shake out of her state of awe or horror. I really wasn’t sure which she had been in.

“This is probably the most action you’ve gotten in a while, right?” she directed at Tanner who was sitting across from her. I was in-between the two of them and I felt like I was going to be the referee all night.

“Oh, trust me, I don’t have to come to a strip club to get some action. The girls line up to have their turn with The Cox.”

Amelia snorted, grabbing a shot glass straight off the server’s tray, downing it quickly and slamming the empty glass back onto the table, eyeing Tanner the whole time like she was challenging him to keep up with her. I doubted he would have a problem with that as he took his own shot, never breaking eye contact with Amelia, licking his lips as he turned the glass upside down on the table and slid it to the edge.

The tension between the two of them was ridiculous and the night had just started.

“So, what do we do now?” Amelia asked, her eyes bouncing back and forth between the stage, where there was now a new dancer, to Tanner who was staring in that direction with his mouth hanging wide open.

“What do you mean, blondie?” Tanner looked sideways at Amelia, his eyes darting back quickly to the stage. “You watch the show. Do you want me to buy a lap dance?”

“Ye—”

“Absolutely not.” I slammed my hand down on the table and then nudged Amelia in the side with my elbow. “You are not letting him buy you a lap dance just so you can prove a point or something,” I hissed. “It’s bad enough that we’re here. There’s no way in hell you want one of those dancers rubbing their boobs in your face. Don’t get me wrong, most of them are nice girls, but just don’t go there.”

Tanner smirked when Amelia quietly agreed with me and then signaled for the waitress to bring us another round of shots. It seemed like that waitress decided she better stick close to our table because she kept the drinks coming, one right after another. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d drank so much and I had a feeling I was going to regret it tomorrow, but for now, I was going to let loose with my best friend. It had been way too long.

“I really wanna learn how to do that,” Amelia slurred, pointing to the shiny pole in the center of the stage that was currently being twirled around by a very skilled dancer. Vanessa, I realized once she pulled herself upright.

“I’ll be more than willing to watch,” Tanner answered and Amelia actually shot him a flirty smile. I could tell the drinks were starting to get to her.

“I could totally teach you,” I said, ignoring Tanner who kept moving closer and closer to me, like he was trying to squish me out of the way so he could get to Amelia. “I’ve got some moves.”

“Really? Why have I not been informed of this?” Amelia slapped my arm. “I thought you were just a waitress. What in the hell were you doing learning about that shit?”

“Just for fun.” I shrugged one shoulder. “I bet I could get the keys from Miller and you’d be a pro by the end of the day. That lady up there.” I pointed my finger at Vanessa who was now sliding down the pole in slow motion, both legs extended straight behind her. That took some serious talent. “She taught me everything I know.”

“Really? Has Miller seen any of these moves because he sure as hell hasn’t told me about any of ‘em. Why in the hell does he have to be quiet about that kind of shit? Why can’t he be like you girls, telling each other everything?” Tanner whined, smacking both hands on the table. “Speak of the devil.”

I quickly turned my head, a little too quickly because the whole world seemed to spin, but I at least managed to see that Miller was standing there. Three of him to be exact.

“WHAT IN THE hell are y’all doing here? Especially you.” I tipped my head toward Monroe, trying to keep my face straight as possible because it was obvious she was three sheets to the wind. I’d never seen her have more than a couple of beers or a few glasses of wine, so this was definitely a new Monroe. And she was looking as sexy as hell in her tiny, low-cut, emerald green top that matched her eyes; her hair wrapped tightly in a bun showing off her slim neck and creamy skin; her lips painted a bright red. And she bit down on the bottom one and batted her eyelashes at me.

“Just out to have little fun, dude. I asked her if you knew she was here, but I didn’t get much of an answer. Women,” Tanner finished dramatically, causing Monroe and Amelia to burst into a fit of giggles and start whispering something to each other. Their attention was quickly grabbed by the next song that came on, and I watched as Monroe danced in the booth, throwing her hands up in the air and shaking her assets that I loved but looked dangerously close to falling out.

“Move,” I demanded from Tanner, smacking him on the shoulder as he stared at the girls open-mouthed. For his sake, I hoped he was only staring at Amelia that way or we would have a major problem. Instead of getting out of the booth, he moved closer to Monroe, making room for me to sit down on the opposite side. “Tanner.” I grabbed his arm. “Get the hell out of my way.”

“Fine.” he signed loudly, sliding out of the booth to let me sit down. Instead of sitting back next to me, he moved to sit next to Amelia, who was still dancing along with Monroe and didn’t seem to notice or care that Tanner was now next to her. I was surprised as hell to see the three of them here, but I think
that
shocked me even more. I found it hard to believe that they just happened to show up here on the same night at the same time.

Monroe smashed her body against mine, laying her head on my shoulder, and I grabbed her hand, kissing each finger. “What are you doing here?” I whispered into her ear and her whole body shivered.

“I told you I was going out with Amelia,” she explained. “And this is where she brought me.” She laughed and hiccupped at the same time. “Think we can borrow your pole sometime? Amelia wants to learn how to swing around it.”

I knew what she meant, but the way the question came out sounded wrong, and Monroe and Amelia noticed right away, even in their inebriated state. “I don’t want to borrow your boyfriend’s pole!” Amelia exclaimed. “I mean, I’m sure it’s a very nice pole and all, but that would be a little awkward. I’m just not into that type of thing. Sorry!”

“You’re jealous I have his pole,” Monroe replied, snorting loudly, and Amelia slapped her on the arm.

“I am. I’m pole-less right now. It’s so freaking lonely.”

“I’ve got a pole right here for ya,” Tanner interjected. “Feel free to swing around it anytime you want, preferably with your mouth.”

Amelia glared in Tanner’s direction, giving him her answer without even speaking, and I laughed, signaling for their waitress, Jenny, who quickly scurried over. I ordered more drinks for everyone, including myself.