“Why are you afraid?” Dan asked. “Even the club’s owner, Trent Winterbourne, has a boy. He’s all eccentric and shit, too.”
I looked up at Dan’s relaxed face. He was always so sure of himself, so secure. I envied that. “He does? Like the owner is a real daddy?”
“Yep. At least, he is now. A real daddy.”
“How do you know?”
“Warning. Gossip rules this place. Everyone talks about the day Trent yanked a boy away from his abusive daddy and whisked him off to his haunted mansion.”
“What? A haunted mansion? Now I’m really scared.”
Dan laughed. “You’re such a little, Maddy.”
“I thought I was a boy. Or a baby. What’s a little?”
Dan only laughed harder. “A little is a special kind of boy, like you. It’s what we call boys who act very young. They’re going to love you.”
Little. I liked the sound of it. It definitely fit me.
Still, sometimes I didn’t like Dan. He was a great roommate and friend and all, but he was always so vague, assuming I knew what he was talking about all the time as if I had some ability to read his mind. Being his friend was like a constant game of twenty questions and this conversation was sort of embarrassing.
Plus, he was super handsome and, while he wasn’t my type personality-wise, I was a little jealous of his looks.
As soon as we got through security and walked through Club 99’s entrance, heads turned his way. All but one.
He looked my way.
He had thick, dark wavy hair that reflected in the track lighting. His face was the kind that might be described in a romance novel as “chiseled and classic.” The white button-up he wore was turned up at the sleeves all the way to his elbow revealing muscled forearms sprinkled with tattoos. Black wool trousers completed the look, which surprised me because most everyone, including Dan, was in some type of leather outfit.
Not me, though. I wore my comfy stone-washed jeans with holes in the knees and a tight white t-shirt with a sparkle rainbow on the chest. I hugged my floppy, white velvet unicorn, Kornie, tight to me. Dan had told me to bring him.
“Trust me. You’ll get so much attention you won’t know which way is up,” Dan said, as if he didn’t notice all the attention was on him. He never had trouble finding hookups.
I didn’t quite trust his words, but I had the attention of at least one person.
I glanced back at the stranger. The muscles of his face hardened, making him look menacing but still very good looking. Suddenly, he looked mad. My heart nearly stopped. I grabbed at Dan’s leather vest and stepped up on my tiptoes at his shoulder. “I wanna go home.”
He flipped his shoulder-length hair. “Already?”
“Yes, please.”
“No way.” He turned. “What’s wrong?”
I leaned up again and whispered, “That guy by the door is practically snarling at me.”
Dan laughed. “Oh. Don’t worry. That’s normal. He’s a bouncer. There’re a bunch of them. They back up security when things get a bit wild. It’s to keep things safe.” He chuckled. “You stay out of their way and they stay out of yours.”
My heart plummeted. I really wanted to go home but Dan was my ride. It was all a huge mistake. Dan seemed so much at ease here. He wasn’t going to want to leave for hours. Longer if he met someone. If he wanted to go home with them, then what? I was stupid for not thinking that far ahead.
Of course, I could always call for a ride, but my funds were at the bare minimum right now. Dan had paid for everything so far tonight. If I could just hang on, maybe the night would improve.
I dared another quick glance at the menacing bouncer. He was still staring at me with eyes like thunder. A chill went over me. I could tell he disapproved of me. His gaze rested on Kornie in my arms, and he rolled his eyes.
So much for Dan telling me I’d be accepted. I hoped Kornie didn’t see that or he’d get hurt feelings.
But then again, this rude guy wasn’t a patron. He was staff. Dan was right. I didn’t have to worry about anyone like him unless I made trouble.
On an uncontrolled impulse, I stuck my tongue out at the guy. Instantly, my face reddened at my horrid behavior. His look grew even harder, and he turned away as if to communicate he was above such immature antics.