Page 21 of Autumn's Coming

I was going to find the girl from last night.

I was starting to get a little suspicious of something, and wanted to find out if I was right.

My moment came when Dylan grabbed my shoulder. “Hey, we’re gonna go to a club. Dance with some hot chicks.”

I nodded. “Have fun, okay? I’m gonna head out.”

“What? Already?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I have an early day tomorrow.”

Dylan groaned. “You’re no fun.”

“I’m lots of fun. Just not tonight.”

I reached into my wallet and removed a fifty, tucking it into his hand. “Have fun. On me. Don’t get stupid.”

“Okay, man. Well, thanks for coming.”

I nodded. After paying my tab, I called a car and was out.

* * * * *

I walked into Bounce half an hour later.

Last night, we’d gone straight to the stage. Tonight, though, I hung back. A gorgeous black woman spun around the pole onstage.

The girl from last night wasn’t around.

I frowned, leaning back against the wall to wait. A girl in a pink bikini asked me if I wanted a dance; I declined. Another girl offered me a drink, but I declined that, too.

I wanted what I had come for.

But if she wasn’t here, then I had no reason to stick around.

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