Fading Out (Living Heartwood 3)

I’m listening to Jeremy and Beck’s animated debate about a play, when light spills into the darkened bar as the door swings open. Six members of the boosters amble in, shaking off the cold. I squint, as if that will help, and zero in on Ari. She’s standing beside Vee, glancing around anxiously, as the other girls head toward Gavin.

Ari’s eyes meet mine for one quick second before Gavin shouts, “Take your places, boys!” And the music stops. The flood of my teammates hustling around breaks our eye contact.

This…does not look good. I’m suddenly wary, a sinking feeling gripping my stomach and my back stiffening against the plush seat. Hoots and whistles sound out as Ari trails the girls toward the back of the bar.

The music switches back on, a sensual, slow rhythm filling the bar, and Carly leaves Gavin’s side to strut toward the mini-stage in the corner where all the band equipment has been pushed against the wall.

I’d like to think she’s getting ready to perform—sing, play the guitar, beatbox—but I almost hooked up with her back in my sophomore year—and from what I remember, she only has a few talents, and those are not among them. Luckily, she got too drunk before anything serious happened between us. I’d feel damn awkward right now, otherwise.

“I tried my hardest to bribe Todd into putting up a stripper pole,” Gavin says as he plunks down on the bench seat beside me. “But he wasn’t feeling it. Oh, well. It beats the shit out of the titty bars! At least the lap dances are free.” He woops as Carly begins swiveling her hips. She lets down her long blond hair and shakes it out.

Heat crawls up the back of my neck, slithering ever so slowly, encasing me in a feeling of dread. I avert my eyes as she begins to unbutton her shirt. “What the fuck, Gav?” I say.

“What? We’re a short ways away from the championship.” He shrugs. “I figured a little stress relief would be appreciated.” Then his gaze is back on the stage, his head nodding along to the strip club beat. “It’s just a few girls, man. They were all about it.”

Then—because my brain hasn’t even began to process everything just yet—it fucking hits me like a Mack truck. Square in the chest. Only by now it’s too late, because the other booster girls are moving into the room, my Ari trailing their lead.

My eyes are glued to her sexy body draped in a long, tight black dress, a slit running the length of her leg. It’s strapless, and her cleavage pushes over the top—all her silky skin glitters under the twinkling lights.

Anger spikes my blood, lava hot. I can actually feel my blood boiling, sizzling under my skin as she prances in front of a table full of guys, modeling off her body. I’m already thinking on my feet, about to storm over to her and drag her out of here, but I hear Gavin say, “Right here!” as he points to me. And then hands are pressed against my shoulders, pushing me into the seat.

I look up and into Vee’s eyes. They’re wide and imploring. “Please?” she whispers. “Just go with it.”

My eyebrows pull together, and I try desperately not to look at her tits. Which are barely covered by a sparkling string bikini top and right in my face.

Hell. I feel fucking degraded for her. Here she is, stripping her clothes off for me, riding my lap, just for the chance to be near Gavin. Why the hell did he do this? Why the hell did I not clarify anything to him? I should’ve known. I just should’ve fucking known. I wish I’d just told him to ask the poor girl out. Take her on a real freaking date. He’s not actually all that bad—he’s just…Gavin.

Luckily, Vee keeps her top on, and I can tell she’s never once done this before. I can feel her limbs trembling as she awkwardly tries to ride one of my legs, her knees knocking painfully against my thigh.

I’m starting to think this might not be so bad. Ari’s just here to support Vee, who is about as nervous as a trembling snowflake in August. I’ll hand her over to Gavin in a second with a stern word to keep his eyes on her. Then I’ll end the party before Ari can even think of shedding that dress for any of these losers—supporting her friend or not, I’ll be damned. It’s so out of character for her—I don’t care how much she wants to help Vee. This is over the fucking top.

I’ll also put a hurt on Gavin real soon. Just for the fact that Ari is walking around in stripper clothes.

My gaze darts around the room as Vee tries to adjust her bikini bottoms…and I find Ari.

My heart stops beating. Just stops dead in my chest. My lungs cease to breathe, and they burn painfully. She’s dancing in front of Beck, damn near grinding against him, wearing next to nothing.

I hear Vee’s yelp, and I realize I’ve seized her arms. “Sorry,” I say through clenched teeth. Then I’m looking into her eyes. “What the fuck is she doing?” I seethe.

She attempts a shrug, and I loosen my hold. “I honestly don’t know. I told her—” But I cut her off as I move her over to Gavin.

“Do not—” I get right in his face, narrow my eyes “—let this girl give anyone else a dance. Do you hear me?”

His head jerks back, stunned. I don’t give him a second to say anything stupid. “She’s Ari’s best friend,” I continue. “And I will cripple you next practice if another guy so much as looks at her. Take her to a private section.”

Eyes wide, he nods. “Yeah, dude. That’s cool.”

Then I’m stomping toward Beck, my hands curling into fists, my teeth gritted so hard my jaw aches from the pressure. I see red. As Beck’s fat hand snakes up Ari’s back, fingers grasping the string to her top, blood red pulses in my vision.

My hand clamps around his and I squeeze. Hard.

“Ah! Mother fu—” Beck breaks off as his eyes meet mine.

“Get off him,” I grind out.

Ari’s head whips around, her dark curls slashing Beck across the face as she leans over him. I’m still crushing Beck’s hand as she looks me over. “No.”

My stomach hits my boots. “Get. The fuck. Off him.” I do not like who I am right now, but I’m going to hate myself in a matter of two seconds if she doesn’t do just that.