Carly is in a shimmery dress and sky-high shoes. She’s showing enough skin to make my mouth water. Who am I kidding? She made me drool in that fuckin’ onesie.
The girl can move, too.
Meryl is dancing a bit awkwardly, she’s definitely not accustomed to clubbing. Ally spots me and smirks and then elbows Carly and gestures to me.
The color drains from Carly’s face and she freezes.
And then she stomps off the dance floor.
I signal for a drink and wait, seeing she’s not heading for the door. She’s heading back up here.
She’s coming at me a minute later.
“What are you doing here?” she demands.
“Havin’ a drink. I gesture to the table where Jude and Austin sit, looking deep in conversation.
She glances at them and her eyes narrow on me. Suddenly, the girls are behind her. Meryl looks uncomfortable and Ally’s trying to fake surprise.
“How fortuitous! Get your brother and that hottie beside him and join us for a drink.”
Carly’s head spins to Ally behind her and she shoots her a filthy disgusted look.
Ally shrugs and then heads to their table.
I signal to the boys and we move to the girls’ table and introduce Jude to everyone after I hear the tail end of “think you’re doing?” coming from Carly, who is practically hissing at Ally. I wink at Ally and sit down across from her. This puts Meryl across from Austin, Ally across from Jude. Ally and Jude get caught in an eye lock and my eyes move to Carly, who is doing her best to strike me dead on the spot with a dirty look.
A waitress brings over a tray of drinks.
“We didn’t order,” Meryl says.
“I told her to keep ‘em comin’ for all of us.”
“Mine half a shot of the liqueur?” Meryl asks the girl. The girl shrugs.
Meryl tastes it and shrugs.
Carly is shaking her head.
I smile at her. She doesn’t return it.
“So, Jude. Tell me about you,” Ally leans forward, propping her chin on her palm, elbow dug into the table.
Jude’s eyes drop to her cleavage.
/> “I’m goin’ to dance,” Carly announces. “Either of you coming?”
“I need a minute,” Ally says, eyes on Jude. Jude gives her a smirk.
“I’ll come,” Meryl says.
“I’ll come, too.” Austin announces.
“I’ll watch,” I say, winking at Carly.
She glares and slides out of the booth. I’m there, waiting to take her hand as she does. She rejects it and storms ahead.
***