Page 69

“Oh my God, Hunter … I—” Her mouth popped open, but her words were held hostage. Instead, she pulled me by the tie around my neck and locked her lips with mine.

This kiss was more aggressive than the last one. Each bite to my lower lip and swipe of her tongue against mine was her way of thanking me.

She hadn’t said anything yet, because her face was buried in mine, but I figured it was safe to assume her answer was ‘yes.’

“You were saying?” I chuckled when her lips pulled away from mine.

“I was saying, there you go again playing with my life plan, and I don’t even fucking care because … A director of a whole dance team? For a professional hockey team? I don’t even know what it all includes, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes.” She hopped off the counter and began pacing again. This time, I couldn’t help but sit back with a giant smile across my face.

“I need to go home and invite Avery over, so I can tell her and Peyton that I’m quitting sex work forever. I need to go shopping and buy professional clothes. I need to thank you properly, because holy fucking shit this is huge. I … I need to quit my fucking job.”

I wanted to tell her not to get ahead of herself, that she’d still have some paperwork to fill out, choreography classes to take, some shadowing and plenty of training to do before the current director left. But watching her excitement spill out in real time did something to that organ thumping away in my chest, and I didn’t want it to ever stop.

All along, I was scared that Andi would think I was trying to change her, but as it turned out, we were glued to the same page. She just needed to fill in the gaps of what would come next, and I was in the position to be able to help with that.

The moment I clocked out from the club, I eagerly sent a text to the group chat with my girls telling them to meet me at Bluff City. Colton was working tonight, and I wanted to get my three closest friends together to tell them the big news.

Normally, I was the kind of girl to get all dolled up before strolling into my favorite dive bar. At least with a face full of makeup and my hair done, there was a slight chance my sweats over my lingerie would go unnoticed.

“Colton!” I screeched, jogging up to the bar only to notice that I was the first one here.

“Baby girl! No offense, but … did you forget your mini skirt at home?” Colton looked me up and down with a grimace.

Yeah, it was dumb of me to think Colton of all people wouldn’t give me shit.

“Very funny.” I narrowed my eyes, offering a fake laugh. “I came straight from work, I have big news to tell, and the girls are meeting me here.”

“Oh! Now you have me excited.” Colton rubbed his palms together with a sneaky smirk. “Is this going to be more big news like the other week when you blew your boy toy with everyone in the other room?”

“First of all,” I lifted a finger in the air, pulling out a bar stool to sit down, “the news wasn’t that I blew him. It was that me and Hunter are together, okay?”

“Mhmm and second?”

“And second,” I threw up another finger, “you’ll just have to wait on the juicy details. You know I prefer telling my news only once. So, be a good boy and shake up some espresso martinis. We are celebrating.” I winked.

“Ma’am, yes, ma’am. I think my cock just shriveled up.” Colton shivered, clearly poking fun. He was one of the few people in my circle used to me barking orders—all in good fun in his case, of course.

As he finished shaking up the first round of drinks, Avery and Peyton came barreling through the large wooden door.

“Are we hosting a pajama party at the bar tonight that I was unaware of?” Colton’s eyes wondered over both Avery and Peyton in their leggings and oversized T-shirts.

“To be fair, this one,” Avery pointed toward me, “told us if we didn’t meet her here ASAP then she’d tell you without us, and you know we don’t like to be left out.”

I turned toward Peyton.

“Speaking of being left out, should we call Jayson? Better yet, should we ask him to swing by the bar, too?” I gasped with all the sarcasm I could manage.

I’d never let her hear the end of it.

Her pretty light blue eyes narrowed in my direction.

“Nope. No need for that.” She sipped her espresso martini, and even though it was only meant to be a joke, something in her demeanor felt off.

“What? You don’t want to give me shit back?” I matched her narrowed eyes, lasering her with a look of my own.

“I’m not here so we can exchange banter. I’m here for you to spill this big news you have.”

Mhmm … I’d circle back to my best friend and her odd behavior later.