Page 1 of Cocky Player

One

Brenna

“Stop fidgeting.”Gina smacked my hand on the hem of my way too short and skintight white dress.

I loved fashion as much as the next girl, but I’d spent the last fifteen years at all-girls boarding schools and college.It was ingrained in me for my clothing choices to be more conservative than the strapless stretchy cloth Gina insisted was actually a dress.

“You’ve stuffed me into this thing like a sausage,” I grumbled, smoothing it down again.Too many tugs to make the length longer risked exposing my breasts.How in the heck did she think I’d be comfortable in this?The more important question was probably why did I let her talk me into wearing this?

“Well, you’re the prettiest sausage I’ve ever seen then.And the men will think so, too.”She hip checked me playfully, sending me almost sprawling to the pavement in my four-inch death trap heels.I bought them years ago but never had the guts to wear them before.

Tonight was about jumping in with both feet to my new life.Free from curfews and overprotective parents.Free from rules and Resident Advisors who acted like keeping control of our dorm at Vanderwilde Women’s College was akin to keeping inmates in a maximum-security prison in line.

And the biggie: freedom to finally lose my V-Card.Hence the dress and hair out to there and makeup thicker than anything I’d done before.Three hours at a beauty salon and I’d been plucked and lacquered and highlighted and tweezed until I walked out looking like I was preparing to step on stage at the Miss Universe pageant.

But it was for a good cause.The first choice I made after college graduation when I’d put my foot down with my parents.I would move into my own apartment, start my own life, and yes…I’d go to work in the marketing department for the Rough Riders football team, a job courtesy of my father, current owner of the organization.Nepotism was alive and well, but I’d take the helping hand when it suited me.

Yes, tonight was about finding someone for a one-night stand.He had to be attractive.He had to not come across like a serial killer or stalker.But he had to be the kind of guy who would get the job done so I could stop worrying about giving it up to someone I was dating, embarrassed that I was twenty-three years old and I’d spent so much of my life separated from guys and now men, that I’d rarely had the opportunity.I had it all planned out.

Thankfully, my best friend made an excellent wingman.

“Let’s just hope this works,” I said, clasping onto Gina’s hand while we were shoved through the line entering Glitz.

“Please.You already know you look incredible.All you have to worry about is not backing out.Trust me, you’ll have all the men falling over their feet to get you tonight.”She tugged my hand and got my attention.Perfectly coiffed brown eyebrows furrowed and her brown eyes bore into me with concern.“Although, itistotally okay if you decide not to go through with this, right?Don’t feel pressured.”

This was why she was my best friend.Gina and I met freshman year, shoved together in a dorm room the size of a sardine can.She came from an uber-rich family who helped build aircraft for the military on the east coast.She encouraged my wild side and protected my introverted side equally.Always there to jump into whatever I suggested, and yet wrap her arm around me when my common sense kicked in and I held back.

I was tired of shoving my wild side to the back burner.

“I know,” I assured her, almost bumping into the group of women in front of us.Mid-twenties, hair that smelled of hairspray and mousse when the breeze blew.“I’ll be safe.”

“I have no doubt about that.”

We shuffled along and soon found ourselves at the front of the line, handing over our driver’s licenses.It would’ve been easy to request a VIP table, but we nixed that idea as soon as Gina mentioned it.If I was going to find somebody, I didn’t want my selection to be mostly confined to the small number of people in the VIP level.

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness of the club.Chandeliers glittered from the high ceiling and above the bar on the right and a second one I could vaguely see at the back.The dance floor was already packed and lights shimmering to the beat of the music from the DJ booth made it difficult to see faces.

“This is wild!”Gina exclaimed, shouting into my ear.The noise was deafening and already my feet were tapping to the beat.If there were one thing I could do and even excel at, it was dancing.Twenty years of ballet and jazz and hip-hop, even taking classes in college when I once considered minoring in dance ensured that.

“Drinks!”I pointed my freshly manicured finger in the direction of the bar and pressed Gina in the direction.

“Excellent idea.First round is on me!”

Gina’s long and curled chestnut-colored hair bounced as she slid through throngs of people.It was only ten o’clock on a Friday.I had no idea the bar would be so packed so early.

We finally made it and while we waited to gain one of the bartender’s attention, I scanned the area around us.

Men.A hot one who didn’t seem like a creep.It was harder to find one I was attracted to than I’d originally thought.Hot guys were everywhere, but some wore that glazed expression of a night that hinted that they’d been at Happy Hour and drinking for hours already.

Patience.I had hours.I also had forever so if tonight didn’t work, I would return.

Holding onto my virginity had never been my idea.I wasn’t waiting for a serious relationship or to be in love.I never planned on waiting for marriage, although that would have made both of my parents extremely thankful.

It was simply a matter of lack of opportunity, but now, that opportunity was mine for the taking.

A cold plastic cup was pressed into my hand.

“Found anyone yet?”

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