“I’ll say,” she laughs. “So I’ll see you at my place tomorrow then? Aunt Carol said everything will be ready around three.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be there.”
Today is the last day at McKinley before Thanksgiving break. As we reach the parking lot, I realize that I forgot a book in my locker so I break away from Bree to retrieve it. Students are anxious to begin their long weekend so the halls empty out quicker than normal. School is almost tolerable when I don’t have to worry about all the assholes whispering behind my back.
“Miss Kennedy, I’m surprised to see you’re still here.”
God, I love his voice. Every time he speaks, I feel it in my bones. I imagine him saying all sorts of naughty things in that deep timbre, and it makes me uncomfortably wet. Even with our limited interactions, my body still craves his incessantly. Second period has become an exercise in self-control. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to be excused so I can rub one out in the bathroom stall. He probably thinks I’m incontinent.
I close my locker and hitch my bag over my shoulder. “Mr. Cooper, long time no see.”
He chuckles. “It’s only been about five hours.”
“Right…it seems longer though.”
“I know what you mean.” He gives me a sad smile.
We stare at each other in silence, yet at the same time, we’re conversing. I feel dizzy as I study gray flecks in his eyes that are slowly undressing me. He licks his lips and my knees go weak because I know that he’s thinking about tasting my bare skin. The whole conversation occurs within a matter of seconds but it feels like hours. The physical effect we hold over each other is disturbing. The way we’re able to communicate without words is disarming. No matter how much we resist, or how much distance we keep between us, we’re helpless to change it. We attract each other on a visceral level.
I force myself to snap out of it. “Well, I should probably get going.”
He clears his throat. “Right. Do you have any plans for Thanksgiving?”
“A friend invited me over for dinner.”
“Mr. Taylor?”
“No.” I feel a moment of sadness at the mention of Dylan’s name. He’s trying to pretend that nothing’s wrong but things haven’t quite been the same since that night at my apartment. “His mom wouldn’t let me anywhere near her house. I’m working tonight then I’m going to spend tomorrow afternoon
with my friend, Bree. Do you have any plans?”
“I do,” he nods. “I’m leaving in the morning to go back home for the weekend. It’s a quick trip but it will be nice to see everyone. I promised them I would try harder to keep in touch.”
“Tell Elle I say hello.”
He smiles. “I will. Have a good break, Miss Kennedy.”
“You too, Mr. Cooper.”
I’M AT THE END OF MY FIRST SET when I see him. His eyes are cold, assessing, without an ounce of their usual brilliance. He’s standing in front of the bar, radiating malevolence. I’m so caught off guard that I stumble as I walk off stage. My hands are shaking so violently that I have trouble working the combo on my tip locker.
“Lass, you were lovely out there, as usual.”
“Thanks, Shawn.”
“So much so, that a lad has already requested a private dance. An extended dance. They’re setting him up in the champagne room.”
Thank God. It will give me a chance to get away from that arctic stare. Maybe he’ll leave by the time I’m done. What’s he doing here anyway? I wouldn’t have pegged him as a strip club kind of guy.
“I’ll be out in just a few. I need to pick something to wear.”
I try calming my nerves while I slip a sheer red negligee over my bikini. I haven’t had the jitters since my first night on stage so why are they coming back now? You know why, I say to myself. You’re not nervous about performing; you’re nervous about him. You’re afraid he’s going to judge you like all the others. I throw my shoulders back and raise my chin. Screw it, I’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. I’m doing what I always do—I’m surviving. Besides, the champagne room is right next door so it’s not likely that I’ll run into him anyway.
I walk through the door with a sexy swagger and recite my standard line. “Hey, handsome. Are you ready to have some fun?”
“I’m certainly ready to see what you have to offer.”
Gavin sits in the cream leather chaise located in the center of the champagne room, named for its color scheme of rose, white gold, and shades of cream. A bottle of champagne is included with every dance. I walk over to the bucket of ice and pick up a flute.