Slow Grind (Men of Mornington)

I’m saved by the bell when my phone starts ringing in my pocket, allowing me to put the idea of a naked Aubrey grinding a pole in the back of my mind. Glancing at the screen, Emma’s name shines brightly, as does the smile that crosses my lips.

“Little monster,” I answer, and Aubrey starts bouncing on the cushion next to me.

“Put it on speaker!” she whispers excitedly.

“Fine. Calm your tits,” I tell her, cutting Emma off to find the proper button.

“What do you think? Should I ask her on a date? I should, right?” Emma continues with whatever it is she’s calling me about.

“Emmerson!” Aubrey drawls, snatching the phone from my hand.

“Aubriella? Is that you

?” The animosity my sister held the day before is no longer present in her tone. I knew she was all talk—Emma and Aubrey are like peanut butter and jelly. Sure, you can have one without the other, but nothing else would ever complement each other like those two. Just like that, they’re back to being best friends without skipping a beat.

“Is there another woman who calls you Emmerson? I’ll cut her.”

“You’re it for me, babe. I heard you were back. How’s everything in New York? How’s Nate? I miss you. We’re long overdue for some girl time.” Who the hell is Nate? Max never mentioned Aubrey was dating anyone, or maybe he did and it didn’t register.

“New York is New York. Nate’s history, probably being pity fucked by Jacey. Long story. I’ll tell you over drinks? Later tonight?”

“Yes. I know just the spot. I emceed a party a few weeks ago, and this bar is exactly what we need. Sexy guys, great music and a never-ending flow of booze.” She curses loudly. “Oh, wait. I can’t tonight. I have a gig.”

“What was it you were calling for, Em?” I interrupt and try to take back the phone, but Aubrey lifts her arm above her head.

“It doesn’t even matter. No time to be taking other women on dates when my Aubriella is back in town. What are you guys doing?”

“I’m thinking about being a stripper to earn some fast cash so Max can get in this trial thing Sam found. Wanna be a stripper with me? Girl on girl has gotta pay more, right?”

Having enough with this conversation, I stand up and hover over Aubrey until she sighs and hands the phone back to me. My sister laughs uncontrollably, and I try to calm her down, but being a stripper is apparently on her bucket list. When she and Aubrey start yelling back and forth about stripper names, I quickly end the call and glare at Aubrey.

“There’s no way you’re taking off your clothes for money, let alone dragging my little sister into it,” I growl.

“How else are we going to raise the cash?” she asks, her tone matching mine. “Until you come up with a better idea—”

“Then I’ll do it,” I cut in. What the fuck am I saying? “Male dancers make more money, anyway. If anyone is gonna take their clothes off for cash, it’s gonna be me.” Are you fucking kidding me? I know nothing about stripping.

Aubrey bites her bottom lip to stop from laughing. I scowl, her reaction to my revelation pissing me off. Is the idea of me stripping really that funny? I bet I could make her squirm if I wanted to. It wouldn’t be that hard.

“Don’t you have to know how to dance to be a dancer?” she fires back. She dashes into the kitchen before I can respond, returning a few moments later with a bottle of wine and two glasses.

“You don’t think I can do it?” I cross my arms over my chest, watching as she pours the red liquid in each. I have to admit, I’m offended that she’s doubting me, even if I have no intention of doing it. All I’m trying to do is make her see what a bad idea it is. She hands me a glass and shakes her head.

“It’s not that. I mean, sure, you’re good looking, but there’s more to stripping than taking your clothes off, as much of an oxymoron as that is. You have to be able to dance and work a crowd.”

“First of all, I can dance,” I huff, my tone sharp. “Second, I wasn’t being serious. And last of all, how much you know about stripping concerns me.”

She gives me a devilish grin and lifts her glass to her lips as I roll my eyes.

“There’s a better way to pull together the funds,” I say. “Sam and I talked about a hosting a benefit in Mornington. We’ll get some bands together or something. That will bring in a load of cash.”

“No, the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of you stripping.” She blushes when I smirk at her. “Not what I meant, Drew. Listen to me. You’re on to something here. I bet if you and the guys got together, learned some moves I could totally teach you, you could make at least ten grand a night, easy.”

“Not gonna happen, Aubs,” I retort, my voice firm. I throw back the last of my drink and set it down on the coffee table. “So get it out of your head.”

“Oh, stop being a baby,” she jests, downing nearly the entire glass of wine and pouring another in both hers and mine. “What’s the point of being sexy if you’re not going to use it? Seems pointless to me. If you’re not going to do it, I will. Gentlemen’s clubs love when two girls dance together. Emma and I could clean up.”

“I told you, there is no way you or my sister are dancing. End of story.”