Page 32 of Ransom

Nick sidles up next to me, followed closely by Maverick and Kade. "Uh, Ransom? What's happening?" Nick asks, his voice a mix of confusion and amusement.

I shake my head, still watching the dancer. "I have no fucking idea."

The guy's good, really good. His moves are fluid and precise, each step perfectly timed to the beat. It's... impressive, to say the least. I find myself tapping my foot along with the music, almost against my will. I mean, a guy in sequined overalls starts dancing, you're gonna stop and watch.

"Damn, he's got moves," Maverick says, a grin spreading across his face.

Kade nods, his eyes wide. "No shit. I didn't think a guy that size could move like that."

As we watch, transfixed, the dancer builds to a crescendo. Then, with a dramatic flourish, he stops. In one smooth motion, he grips his sparkling pink coveralls and rips them off, revealing an equally sparkly pink thong underneath.

"Holy shit," I breathe, my jaw dropping. It's like watching a car wreck. You know all kinds of bad things are coming, but you just can't look away.

The dancer twirls in a full circle, giving us a 360-degree view of his... outfit. Then he slaps his bare ass with a resounding smack that echoes through the lobby. When he turns to face me again, his expression has shifted from performer to serious messenger.

"I have a message for you from Blair," he announces, his voice deep and theatrical.

My stomach drops at the mention of Blair's name. Suddenly, this isn't funny anymore. I brace myself, knowing whatever's coming can't be good.

The dancer clears his throat and, with all the drama of a Shakespearean actor, declares, "Leave me the fuck alone. I'm not selling, and I'm sick of you harassing me. It’s getting pathetic."

I feel the blood drain from my face as the words hit me. Who else would send a dancing stripper to deliver a "fuck you" message?

The dancer throws his discarded coveralls over his shoulder like a fashionable scarf, picks up his boombox, and starts chanting as he walks toward the exit. "Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you," he repeats, his voice echoing off the walls.

Just before he reaches the door, he turns back to us with a cheerful wave, the abrupt shift almost giving me whiplash.

Nick, Maverick, and Kade burst into laughter, waving back at the departing dancer. I stand there, frozen, my mind reeling from what just happened.

"That was fucking awesome!" Kade wheezes between laughs.

"Did you see his moves?" Nick adds, wiping tears from his eyes. "And that outfit!"

Maverick claps me on the shoulder, still chuckling. "Gotta hand it to Blair, man. That's one hell of a way to send a message."

I nod numbly, unable to form words. Blair's always been creative, but this... this is a whole new level.

Suddenly, Colton bursts past us, running toward the exit. "Wait!" he shouts after the dancer. "I need your card! I'm gonna hire you for everything!" Where the fuck did he come from?

As Colton disappears out the door, I finally find my voice. "Well," I say, running a hand through my hair, "I guess Blair's not interested in selling."

The guys laugh again, and I force a smile, trying to play it off. But inside, I'm a mess of conflicting emotions. Part of me wants to laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all, but another part aches at the reminder of how much Blair hates me now.

I stand there, my jaw clenched tight, as Colton bursts back through the doors, waving a glittery business card like a trophy.

"Got it!" he exclaims, grinning from ear to ear. "This guy's gonna be at every party from now on." His smile falters as he takes in our expressions. "So, what the fuck's happening?"

Kade nods and points at Colton. “What he said.”

I can't bring myself to speak. The weight of Blair's message sits heavy in my chest, making it hard to breathe. But beneath that weight, there's an annoying flicker of hope that won't fucking die. I've tried. Over and over. For years.

Mav and Nick exchange a look, silently debating who's going to explain.

Nick clears his throat. "Well, you see, Blair is..."

"Ransom's foster sister," Mav jumps in. "They grew up together in Badger Falls."

Colton's eyes widen. "Foster sister? Holy shit, Ransom, why didn't you tell us?"

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