Page 87 of Blood Sport

I nod and swallow thickly. “Yeah. I’m good.” My voice is hoarse and my throat is tight.

“If you need anything, just let me know.”

I know what Ethan is trying to say. If you want any blood, just let me know.

“I’m fine.”

Ethan nods and goes back to focusing on the petite woman sitting on his lap. Preston and Cain are smiling like idiots as they look at the two women on their laps, no longer concerned over the fact I’m not interested in getting a lap dance.

When I first started college, I would frequent the Clubhouse many times a week because I was a horny fucking nineteen-year-old and a baby vampire. I would come by most nights and compel the dancers to give me a free lap dance. It never went as far as me feeding on them because I knew that could cause problems for me if I were to fuck things up and somehow reveal my true identity. Thankfully, the Black Rose opened in my sophomore year, so I had no reason to go to the Clubhouse. So, being back here after years of not coming is odd. Like a memory has been unlocked deep in my mind.

When we arrived earlier, a few of the dancers gave me knowing looks because they recognized me. But nothing really has changed here. The tables still have dents in the wood and most table legs are still wobbly with pieces of torn-up cupboard under the leg to stabilize it. The room still smells like cigarettes and whiskey, and the foam floor tiles on the stage still have scratches embedded in them from the heels of the dancers. Nothing has changed, besides the dancers that come and go.

“You look like you could use a dance.”

I look up at the sound of a familiar voice and make eye contact with chocolate brown eyes. The amount of time I spent staring into them, wondering whether I should sink my fangs into her neck, was embarrassing. Being a baby vampire, I just wanted to feed and fuck all the time, but knew I couldn’t. Not if I wanted to stay hidden from the hunters. Every time I stopped by the Clubhouse, I always found myself being drawn to her because her eyes were comforting, somehow talking me down off the edge. She always knew how to get me to talk, even if I didn’t want to. At first, I found it annoying, but over time, I grew to enjoy talking with her about what was happening in my life.

“Amethyst, it’s been a while,” I say, watching as she turns to sit her half-naked body on the handrest of my chair. Her long blonde wig falls straight over her shoulders.

“Long time no see,” she grins, her chocolate eyes meeting mine. “I see you have company tonight.”

“Yeah, my friends dragged me out of my apartment, much to my displeasure.”

Amethyst quirks a brow. “Is everything all right?”

I shrug and fold my arms over my chest like I’m a fucking child. “Yes and no.”

“Girl troubles?”

With a sigh, I nod. “Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

She adjusts in her spot and leans forward to rest her hand on the back of the chair, her eyes locking with mine. “I never thought I would see the day that Jaylen Black would have girl troubles. Who is it?”

“Evie.”

Amethyst’s eyes widen. “The Evie. The one you used to tell me about?”

I nod. “But I fucked up, so I’m wallowing in self-pity, as my friend likes to put it.”

“Whatever you did, it doesn’t matter,” she says, her warm eyes on mine. “You just need to make it right.”

I sigh. I understand what she and Ethan are saying, but I can’t bring myself to do it. After what happened with Miles in the hospital room, and seeing my little angel lying in that bed, I knew I needed to take a step back and let the steam cool off. It doesn’t seem like Evie is pissed at me, but I’m pissed at myself for putting her in danger like that.

“I don’t know how,” I admit. This is the first time I have ever felt lost in my life. My mind won’t tell me what I should do next. When I think I might know, a voice in the back of my mind casts doubt over my decision, and I’m left feeling lost once again because what if that tiny voice is right and I make things worse?

I just want to do right by Evie.

Amethyst places a hand on my shoulder, her long nails digging into my skin through the material of my jacket. “You know what to do, Jay. You’re a good man. I know that deep in my heart. You have a lot of love to give but not enough confidence to commit to it. Whatever you need to do to get back into Evie’s good books, you just have to trust that it’s the right decision and everything else will just fall into place.” She pats me tenderly on the shoulder and pushes herself off the handrest. “I know how patient you were for this moment when you could finally get the girl, so don’t fuck it up now. Don’t let her slip through your fingers, okay?”

“But I don’t—”

“You’ve got this, Jay,” she interjects, a warm smile touching her lips. “You always have.”

I nod, letting her words wash over me. Damn, I really did open myself to this woman when I first started WSU. I felt both reassured and called out in one breath. But I know she’s right. She always is.

Amethyst claps her hands together, her eyes focused on mine. “Now, do you want to take me up on that offer for a dance? I know it’ll make you feel better.”

I can feel Ethan, Preston, and Cain’s eyes on me as I look up at Amethyst. I shake my head. “Not tonight.”

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