Page 73 of Chasing Lynda

The thin brunette next to Callie answers in her place. “It’s like Tinder, Dodge. You get matched with people in your area but with a twist. You have to provide proof of your net worth to be able to register.”

Zane shakes his head. “If that isn’t the most fucked up, elitist crap I’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is.”

Carter joins the chorus of negative commentary. “You don’t need an app to find dates, Callie. Any man who doesn’t see how beautiful and awesome you are, is certifiably stupid.”

Callie rewards Carter’s sweet remark with a smile, but her expression returns determined one second later. “Yeah, well Car, you say that but I haven’t been on a date in over six months. So I guess there’s a lot of stupid men in Bridgeport. And I’m tired of dating guys who stop calling me when they see where I live. I know this house is ridiculous and screams 1%, but coming from money fucks things up on both ends of the dating spectrum. Men either want to date us just because we have money, or they run to the hills when they realize how much money we have, because they feel inadequate.”

Skip runs a hand through his shaggy auburn hair; while his sister’s mane of curls veers more toward the strawberry blonde, his hair is an intense shade of red. Freckles are scattered all over his face and upper body. “You have the right idea by dating in your social class, but why use an app when I’m more than happy to show you a good time?”

His gaze is set on Callie more than on Denise and I feel Dodge tense behind me at Skip’s invitation.

The guy continues, oblivious to the way Dodge’s jaw is grinding and to the matching scowls on Zane, Carter and Bennett’s faces. “We’re going to a new club that promises to be exciting. It’s by invitation only and Arya has been trying to score one for weeks. It’s a swingers and fetish club. It’s called White Angels.”

Dodge snorts, sitting up behind me and pulling me closer to his chest. “White Angels? What kind of weird name is that?”

Arya explains, with a satisfied smirk. “It’s a fetish place, I told you. You can do pretty much anything in there as long as you sign a consent form. The guy I’ve been trying to get with for weeks is into cum play. You know, coming on strangers and cum feeding, that sort of thing. They have the blowjob room where you can blow or be blown by strangers or watch your partner engage in it. That’s what the place is all about and if I want a shot at him noticing me, I’m ready to do anything, even blow Skip.” She laughs at her own joke but by the way her brother adjusts himself in his swimming trunks, I don’t think it’s totally a joke or a provocation.

Bennett reacts even before Dodge has the chance to say anything. “Callie isn’t going. That’s final.”

Callie reacts immediately. “You aren’t the boss of me, Bennett! I’m not going because I have plans and that really isn’t my scene. Not because you disapprove!”

Bennett looks hurt and pissed at the same time, his light blue eyes getting as cold as ice. “I’m just looking out for you, Baby C. You know I love you like a sister—”

She stands up from her lounger, walking toward the pool and flipping Bennett off at the same time before diving elegantly into the turquoise water.

Arya looks satisfied for some reason and I immediately think that she and Denise aren’t the types of girls I’d want around me. They’re too desperate for attention at any cost.

Skip on the other hand, makes me uncomfortable; when the redhead guy stops ogling his own sister, his eyes land on my tits and stay there for the entire lunch.

I’ve been the object of looks like that more times than I care to admit; several men in the church compound looked at me and the other women like that, as if we were pieces of meat.

I instinctively cover my chest with my arms, reaching down for the cover I borrowed from Callie and took off before sitting on the lounger.

Skip isn’t just sleazy, he’s sneaky about it all; he jokes around with the guys and the other two girls, only looking at me when the guys are distracted.

The conversation around the pool veers toward football and Denise asks Dodge if there’s any chance that he’ll be able to join the Cowboys as he planned to do before his injury.

“Aww,” she gripes, “It’s such a shame! Think about all the pro athletes you could’ve introduced me to, if you hadn’t gotten hurt!”

I find her words extremely insensitive but Dodge reacts with just an eye roll and a dark chuckle. “Yeah I’m sorry, Denise! I didn’t think about you and your dating prospects when I decided to fuck up my shoulder.”

The brunette doesn’t seem to realize that her line of questioning is completely tactless as she continues on what seems an even worse topic. “Is there any chance that you can get it fixed? I mean, that’s why Chrissie broke off the engagement, right? She was counting on being a baller’s wife and—”

Dodge finally snaps. “No, Chrissie didn’t break the engagement. I dumped her after I found her in bed with my frat brother.”

Again, Denise seems oblivious to how distasteful her gossiping is. “That’s her new boyfriend, right? My mom said she’s seen them out at that new Michelin starred restaurant that opened a few months ago by the marina ...”

The guys all come to Dodge’s defense, telling Denise that no one cares about Chrissie and who she might be fucking.

“I don’t believe that,” she insists. “We got drunk a few years ago and—”

Bennett snorts, rolling his eyes. “How odd. You and Chrissie getting drunk together!”

The girl ignores him and continues with her story. “Chrissie told me that she’s fucked all four of you. You have no idea how jealous I was!”

Carter shrugs. “I don’t know why you’re bringing this shit up, D. That’s really old history. We were still kids, stuck here during a long, boring summer—”

“Boring is exactly what this is! Why are we talking about Chrissie and her lack of taste? I saw the guy’s photo on her social media and if you ask me, he’s a downgrade compared to you, Dodge. Come on guys, you used to be so much fun to be around! Maybe a few drinks will remind you how to let loose!” Arya says, leaving her lounger and walking into the pool house.

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