Page 46 of Totally Played
“I prefer my bed over any hotel one, but that’s just me,” I say, and Calvin chuckles.
“My bed is way better than the ones in the hotels we stay in, too. I do like their pillows, though,” he says, and I have to agree.
“I actually bought a couple from a hotel I stayed in last year.”
“I did, too.” He laughs.
“You two are weird. Pillows are pillows,” Tony says, finishing off his pie.
“Can Fort and I come to the club, too?” Rachel asks, nuzzling in at Fort’s side, his cheeks growing warmer at the attention.
Tony shrugs. “If Ash is still keen to go, I don’t mind if you want to call it a night,” Tony says.
“Umm. I guess. You’re still coming, too, right, Calvin?”
“I think I showed everyone how badly I danced already tonight, no one needs a repeat of that performance.”
“You were great.”
“I wasn’t, but thanks for pretending. I guess I could come for a little while.”
“Awesome. Jo and Lyn, you got dinner last time. This time, I insist,” I say, jumping up before they can protest and intercepting the waitress headed over with our bill.
***
The club is packed when we arrive, and Rachel and Fort head right out onto the dance floor while Calvin, Tony, and I make our way to the bar. We get more than a few looks on the way, too. I wonder if it’s like that for them everywhere they go.
“I’ll get the first round,” I say, waving toward the waitress. “What will you have?”
“A beer is fine, thanks,” Calvin replies.
“Bourbon,” Tony says, pulling out his phone and taking a few steps to the side.
“Two beers and a bourbon on the rocks, please?” I tell her and hand over my card and a ten in cash for her tip.
Our drinks arrive, and she hands me back my card with a folded napkin beside it, and I open it up to find her number.
“Wow, here two seconds and already getting hit on. Pretty sure that even beats Tony’s record,” Calvin says, and I feel my face warm.
“It doesn’t count when it’s someone you would never go out with,” I say, shoving the napkin into my pocket. I won’t be calling her, I just don’t want to be a dick and scrunch it up and toss it, plus what if some creep finds it and starts calling her? I’ll throw it away on the way home later.
“It counts,” Calvin says as Tony joins us again, reaching behind me for his drink.
“What counts?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I say, and Tony doesn’t press it.
“Let’s dance,” he says, downing his bourbon in one go and grabbing my arm. I manage to put the glass on the counter without spilling it before he pulls me onto the dance floor.
Rachel and Fort find us fast, and we dance sort of in a group, both Rachel and I trying countless times to wave Calvin over, but he shakes his head and sits at the bar sipping his beer.
I lean in close to Tony, and his hands find my hips. Not what I was intending, but okay.
“How can we get Calvin out here?” I yell over the music.
“Look, I was thinking,” Tony starts, and it’s the same tone I’ve heard a bunch of times before, only usually the words are coming from me. “This has been fun, but I don’t think we’re a good fit,” he says, and I smile, because he’s not wrong and he’s being really nice about trying to let me down.
“I think you’re right,” I say, and he smiles and releases my hips. “Friends then?”
