Page 76 of Dessert Flirt Repeat
“The Grant-Calzado clan are a pack of stone-cold weirdos,” Maya says. “We should have warned you.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Not at all. I think it’s so cool how you’re all so open and supportive of each other. Not a lot of families are like that. You guys are really lucky.”
A warm look passes between Millie and Maya. “You’re right about that,” Millie says. “We’re cousins, but we grew up next door to each other, so we’re practically siblings. We always want to be there for each other, no matter what.”
“Even if we’re apart,” Millie says, pulling her cousin in yet another hug. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”
“I know. We thought you went off-grid completely,” Tyler says as he and the others return with their drinks.
Gage settles next to me and slides his arm around my shoulders. I let out a quiet hum at how good it feels for him to be so openly affectionate.
Maya stiffens slightly, sitting up straighter. She sweeps her long, wavy hair over one shoulder. “I’m not off the grid. I’m just busy and don’t like to be glued to my phone.”
“Except to post on Instagram, right?” Tyler elbows her lightly.
She rolls her eyes. “So I like posting to Instagram. Sue me.”
“But you’d think that if you’re posting on Instagram all the time you could at least send a text to your big brothers.”
As teasing as Tyler’s tone is, I can tell this is a soft spot for him. He probably wishes his sister would keep in contact more often, just like Gage does.
“Why? So you can lecture me for the millionth time about how I travel too much and should focus more on finding a solid career?”
My eyes go wide at Maya’s pointed tone. I glance between her and Tyler, wondering if they’re about to have a full-on argument right now.
“Tyler, we all wish that Maya would call us more, but she’s allowed to live her life how she wants. And there’s nothing wrong with liking Instagramandtaking a break from your phone,” Austin says. He winks at Maya, who flashes him a grateful smile.
“You always take her side,” Tyler mutters before sipping his drink.
“And I always will,” Austin says. Maya blows him a kiss.
“Maya and Austin are best friends,” Gage says to me in a low voice so only I can hear. “She was the first person he came out to when he was a teenager. Some of our relatives weren’t very supportive of him when they found out he was gay, and Maya blasted them over it. All of us cousins have been supportive of Austin and defended him, of course, but Maya has always been the closest to him. They’ve always stood up for each other. It’s kind of like them versus the world.”
“That’s great that they have each other,” I say.
“It is. We all give each other shit, but we don’t dare go against Maya and Austin together. We wouldn’t stand a chance.”
I laugh along with Gage. When I look around, I see the place is packed now. A trio of young women joins us, and they’re introduced as Millie’s friends. The lights above us and onstage dim.
“Who’s ready to get wild?” a low, growly, teasing voice booms across the speaker system.
Everyone screams and cheers.
“That’s what I like to hear! Let’s give it up for the strapping young lads who will be your entertainment tonight!”
The noise in the club is deafening as six tall, muscled, and oiled-up men appear on stage wearing nothing but fitted jeans and work boots. They kick off with a choreographed dance routine before they start to wander into the audience.
Gage glances over at Millie, who’s cheering. “Get ready.”
“What do you mean?”
Before he can answer her, one of the ripped dancers waltzes up to our section. “Who’s the lucky lady?”
Gage points to his cousin. “Right there.”
Millie’s eyes go as wide as her grin as the dancer holds out his hand to her. He helps her down the steps and onto the stage, where there are four empty chairs, and guides her to sit in the one near the middle.
I gasp and smack Gage on the arm. “A lap dance!”
