Page 3 of Four Money (Ever and Always 1)

Slot machines chimed and colored lights flashed, but none of the casino sights or sounds prevented Trent from picking out a familiar voice that came from behind him. “There you are.”

He raked the chips from his most recent win toward him on the green felt-covered table, stacking them neatly into piles so he could count them all. It was always good to end on a high note.

“Looks like I’m done,” he said to the dealer with a grin before swiveling on the stool to face Reed and the other guys with him.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t crashed yet.” Reed chuckled, looking more mature and put together than Trent remembered from their college days, even though it had only been about two years since they’d graduated. Where Reed wore crisp dark denim and a sport coat, Trent slumped lower in his faded jeans—probably the same pair he’d had back when they were neighbors—and hunched his shoulders in his well-loved hoodie. “You stay out all night, every night?”

“It’s my job.” He tried not to get defensive. It might look like he was pissing away time or money, but he was dead serious about his goals, and this was one of the fastest ways to reach them.

“Damn. Most days we’re in bed before the ten o’clock news,” Simon said with his usual good humor. The guys weren’t judging Trent. They never did. Hell, they didn’t exactly live a traditional life either.

“Can’t help it if you got old and boring,” Trent teased.

“I didn’t say we were sleeping. Spending time with Andi isneverdull.” Cooper nodded at Reed’s innuendo. Behind Cooper, another three guys muttered their agreement. If his old college buddies had spiffed up a bit, that trio was next-level entirely. Trent tried not to be intimidated by the presence of the friends of his friends. After all, he’d been like them once. “When are you going to find someone special and settle down?”

“Those kinds of luxuries aren’t a part of my plan.” Hell, it had been so long since he’d contemplated having an actual girlfriend, the concept seemed foreign to him. He was focused on the future and only allowed himself a periodic hookup as what amounted to a living sex toy used to delight one of the women his roommates Owen and Lorenzo brought home, if the opportunity presented itself. Trent stepped aside so Reed, Simon, Cooper and the three other men they’d brought with them could take stock of his winnings. “Have to do what I can to get ahead, you know?”

Cooper whistled. “Not a bad night’s work.”

“I always knew you rocked at math, but damn, it looks like those statistics classes are really paying off now,” Simon added. “I take back all the shit I talked when you were hitting the books and I wanted to party instead.”

“I’d much rather be using my business classes, but…all in due time.” He pocketed his chips and stood, clutching Reed in a one-armed hug while Simon and Cooper slapped his back.

When they’d finished greeting each other and talking some mild shit, Reed introduced him to the guys watching them with wide grins. “Trent, I’d like you to meet some of our other friends, who also happen to be Cooper’s bosses at the law firm. This is Ford, Brady, and Josh.”

They wore jeans too, but with button down shirts, as if they didn’t own T-shirts, and their leather shoes were definitely a cut above his own scuffed sneakers. When Ford stuck his hand out to shake, a sleek gold watch winked in the halogen lights.

Oh yeah, they were high rollers all right. Whales big enough to make Trent look like a guppy.

Of course, the fact that they’d flown Trent’s friends to Vegas on a private jet for some wild weekend party probably would have been enough proof of that.

Hopefully they truly turned out to be as cool as Reed had assured Trent they were and they wouldn’t look down their wealthy noses at him. Not only at him, but especially at his roommates. Trent had spent most of his life around privileged people. Their money didn’t faze him, but their personalities might.

“Nice to meet you,” Ford said with a smile. And when they shook, he didn’t try to outdo Trent in some kind of unreciprocated pissing match like his own asshole father had coached him to do when meeting the bastard’s partners, even as a child.

“You too. All of you.” With the introductions complete, Trent asked, “Still want some help getting things organized for tonight?”

“If you wouldn’t mind.” Brady nodded. “We’re hoping to make it a special occasion.”

“Of course not. My roommates are in too. Owen’s shift is just about over, come on.” Trent led the guys through the obstacle course the various games made of the casino floor, blanketed by garish carpet that hid too many stains. He wouldn’t miss this. As soon as he’d saved enough money, he’d retire his frequent player card for good.

The first breath of quasi-fresh air he sucked in from the parking garage helped him relax. And when he saw Owen joking around with the other valets on duty, he settled even more. He hadn’t realized how much the thought of meeting Cooper’s rich bosses had set him on edge.

He preferred to ignore any reminders of his past and his judgmental, filthy-fucking-rich family.

Owen was thinner than him and taller too. The guy had a deceptively wiry build that he hid beneath his uniform. He was a fighter, a scrapper, a survivor. A kid who’d grown up exactly opposite of Trent, and yet had ended up in the same place. At least Owen was on his way up while Trent had tumbled.

And as they approached him, so did their third roommate.

Lorenzo strode up to the valet stand, his long dark hair fluttering in the blasts of air that rushed out of the casino every time the giant glass doors slid open. Trent had never seen someone better suited to his job as a male stripper. He owned it, made women scream for him, and loved every dollar bill they slid into his leather G-string.

Trent didn’t mind when the guy brought adventurous women home from his club for them to share either. A definite perk of their friendship.

“Owen, Lorenzo…” He lifted his hand and drew them toward him. “These are my friends Cooper, Reed, and Simon. And their friends, Josh, Brady, and Ford. We’re going to be helping them out with their shindig tonight.”

“Good thing it’s my night off.” Lorenzo beamed. “It’s been a while since I’ve been to a decent party.”

“Well, we’re going all out. We want this to be one people talk about for years to come, even by Vegas standards. And we’re happy to pay you for your time, of course,” Ford offered.

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