Jace accepts my shitty excuse and leaves but not before making me another cup of coffee and kissing me soundly on the lips, lighting a fire deep inside me.
Tears stream freely downmy face as I hold my stomach, unable to control my laughter.
It’s not the best place to go on a date, but it’s certainly the most fun I’ve had all week.
When Drake told me he wanted to take me to a bar, I wasn’t shocked. I mean... there are only so many places to go in the city. Only so many kinds of dates you can plan with limited knowledge of what’s available. So, a bar, sure. Why not?
I figured we would get a few drinks, talk, get to know each other a little, and then head back to the ranch. Low key. Nothing fancy but I don’t need fancy.
What I didn’t expect was a comedy club. In what looked like an abandoned building on the outskirts of town.
I certainly didn’t expect it to look upscale when we walked in, with red velvet high-backed chairs surrounding little round tables. Or for the waitresses to be in black-sequined mini dresses.
The entire experience was shocking.
And when the lights dimmed, the audience cloaked in darkness until the first comedian stepped onto the stage, I didn’t expect them to be as entertaining as they were. Four performers later and my stomach is aching from laughter.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself,” Drake says as the lights flicker back to life, slowly rising to a comfortable level. I can see him clearly, but I’m not blinded by the drastic change.
“This was so much fun. What a great idea.” As I dab at my eyes with my napkin, I watch him closely. There’s a look in his eyes that I can’t quite place.
“You have a beautiful laugh, you know that?”
“Thank you,” I reply, shying away from his compliment.
I feel like I laugh like a man. My voice gets deep, heavy. When I think of women laughing, it’s soft and high pitched. Not me. I belt out laughter, and it tends to catch everyone’s attention within earshot.
“I needed a good laugh,” I admit after a moment of tense silence.
“I think we all do. Each day feels a little more intense than the last.”
“And here I was thinking I was the only one that felt like that.” My voice drips with sarcasm.
“Yeah well, at least you have a guarantee you’re going to still be here at the end of the week.”
“Says who?” Raising my eyebrow at him in question, he just smirks. “Seriously? What are you talking about?”
“You have no idea, do you?” When I don’t answer, he continues, “There is no way in hell Jace and Lennon are going to let you go anywhere.”
“They don’t control everything. You and I both know that. They can try and rig the outcome, but there’s no guarantees in this game.”
As much as I want to believe there’s a way for them to ensure I’ll still be here with at least one of them next week, I can’t. They’re not the only ones voting.
“It’s all a game, Presley. They’re playing to win. Both of them.”
“And you’re not?”
“No, I am, but they have the greatest advantage,” he states, pulling his wallet from his pocket and slapping money on the table before standing and offering me his hand. “They have you. Both of them.”
“And you’re telling me, what? There’s no one you’re interested in here? What about Natasha?” I ask before I can stop myself.
Drake laughs as he leads me through the crowd and out the front door. “Of all the people here, she’s the one person who turns me off the most. She wants nothing more than to create an alliance with every single one of us so she can make it to the end. No judgment, but if she thinks she’ll reach the end of the game by sleeping with all of us, she’s delusional.”
Ah! So she is trying to bed them all. That’s going to backfire on her. Especially since all the guys seem to be talking to each other. Maybe if they weren’t friends it would work in her favor.
“Well, she’s not the only option, you know. Bella’s a sweetheart,” I start. “And Teegan is gorgeous and nice.”
“What about Courtney?” he asks, grinning at me from ear to ear.