Page 140 of Along Came Amor
Ava stifled a laugh at the look of abject horror on his face, and suddenly Michelle’s dubiousness from earlier made sense. Ava would bet her meager savings that no one had told him about the expanded bachelorette party guest list.
But Ashton was a professional, and his smile snapped back into place after only the barest lapse.
“All right, Jasmine,” Taylor called from the stage. “Are you ready to see what these guys can do?”
Jasmine screamed her assent. A remix of “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee came on and the guys flew into motion. They bopped around in a choreographed dance routine that combined breakdancing, hip hop, and nineties boy band moves with hip thrusts, body rolls, and subtle crotch grabs. It was clear the men of The Adonis Experience were all dancers or gymnasts, as they incorporated impressive spins, backflips, and surprisingly balletic leaps, with hip gyrations and dropping down to hump the floor. But Roman, Ashton, and Gabe kept up with them, never missing a beat.
Ava wasmesmerized. She couldn’t take her eyes off Roman. And if anyone had spared her a look, they would havenoticed, but luckily, they were all just as enthralled by the performance.
He’s mine!she wanted to shout.That’s my man!
The secret that had once felt so special and exhilarating now sat in her gut like a lead weight. She’d wanted Roman all to herself, had done things she wasn’t proud of to hide their torrid affair behind the boundaries she’d set. Now? Those very walls she’d diligently erected to keep her safe were threatening to crush her.
She glanced to the left at Jasmine, who was clapping and cheering for all she was worth. To the right at Patricia, who was doing the same, but slightly more subdued.
What would they say if they knew? What would they say when it was over?
She remembered their responses when Hector left. They’d both been supportive, of course, but also concerned. Pitying. Anxious, as if waiting for Ava to break.
Which, of course, had made her feel like she couldn’t. Like she had to hold everything together, even as her life was falling apart.
Can’t disappoint or inconvenience anyone, that sarcastic little voice sing-songed.How dare you burden anyone else with your mess?
Exactly. Haven’t I done that enough?Ava couldn’t go through it again. She just couldn’t.
You’re being ridiculous, the voice urged.Just tell them.
No.
God, she was losing it. New Ava, Old Ava, Sarcastic Ava—all of the conflicting impulses were mixed up in her head, in her soul, and she didn’t know who was in charge anymore.
Scared Ava, came a little whisper, and she quashed it down.
The music changed to something with a slower tempo and a more pulsing beat, and Taylor pushed through the crowd of guys, drawing Ava’s attention away from her own heavy thoughts.
“Now wait just a second.” Taylor’s expression was comically distressed. “I heard this was a bachelorette party!”
She waited for the audience reaction before gesturing at the men’s costumes. “These boys are wearing far too much clothing. Jasmine, are you ready to see some skin?”
Jasmine screamed so loud, she’d probably be hoarse the next day.
Taylor pointed the mic toward the crowd. “How about the rest of you?”
More screams.
“All right, guys.” Taylor spun her arm like she was throwing a pitch. “Let ’er rip!”
At Taylor’s command, all seven men began a coordinated striptease, pulling at their respective costume tops. Ava’s eyes were glued to Roman as he loosened his tie with slow, seductive movements. The suit jacket was next, sliding down each bulky shoulder before he pulled the blazer off and flicked it in quick arcs like a whip. He tossed it to Ava with a wink, then his hands went to the buttons on his shirt, which turned out to be snaps. He undid the first two slowly, then yanked the rest of the shirt open, revealing the muscular expanse of his torso. The smile he sent her was pure sin.
Ava’s cheeks flushed. She’d gone commando tonight in the hopes of stealing a moment with him, but now, as she rubbed her thighs together and fidgeted in her seat, she wondered if that had been the best idea.
The choreography moved him out of her line of sight andGabe took his place. Gabe’s jersey was open and he shrugged it off, revealing multiple tattoos.
Jasmine grabbed Ava’s arm and leaned forward, narrowing her eyes. “Are Gabe’s nipples pierced?”
Michelle gave her a surprised look. “You didn’t know?”
“Why would I know that?”
