Page 165 of Scattered Glitter

Compensation.

By the time Carl returns, his expression is unreadable, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes, concern maybe orjust acknowledgment. He doesn’t say anything, just gives me a small nod before stepping aside to let me pass.

Euphoria’s pulsing bassline swallows me whole, and with each step toward the locker room, I shed the tension like a second skin.

The familiar routine of peeling off Glitter begins. I strip away the wig, the glitter-dusted G-string, and the towering heels, revealing Novalee underneath.

As I reach for my phone, I notice a missed call from Annabelle, just thirty minutes ago. It’s already past one in the morning, but she wouldn’t call this late unless it were important. Frowning, I hit her contact and bring the phone to my ear while pulling on fresh underwear.

The line rings twice before she picks up. “Babe!” Her voice is bright, too chipper for this hour. “Finally. I was about to call again.”

“It’s the middle of the night. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah,” she assures me quickly. “Couldn’t sleep. Just wanted to see how you’re doing, you know? Thought maybe you’d gotten over your dry spell.”

“Well, considering I’m on the phone with you right now, I’m clearly not hooking up at the moment.” I pull on a cami and a pair of jean shorts.

“Boring,” she teases, her voice laced with mock disappointment. “Come on, Nova. I’m living vicariously through you over here. You’re supposed to be the exciting one.”

“How’s the new job, by the way? And the apartment? Living the dream yet?”

She sighs dramatically, but I can hear the contentment beneath it. “It’s good. Really good, actually. The job’s stable, the apartment’s cute, and everything’s... fine. It’s boring as hell, but it’s a dream, right? That’s why I need you to keep being you. The exciting one.”

Exciting.

I’ve always been good at playing the part, keeping things light, never letting anyone get too close. That’s the trick, isn’t it? Stay unattached. Keep things simple. When stuff gets too real, too close, you just walk away.

Like now.

I’ve been feeling it, this thing with the guys. It’s too much, too real. Sylus is… well, Sylus. Always there, always relentless, breaking through cracks I don’t even realize I have. Koen? He’s in my fucking head like he knows my thoughts before I do. And Alaric, he’s too intriguing, too raw, too much like a mirror I don’t want to look into. And now there’s Nicholas. This little crush creeping in like I have room for anything else.

I can’t walk away from the plan. I promised them that much. And I do want to help. I want to see it through to make sure we get justice for Oscar and take Veronica down. But emotionally? I have to pull back. Get some distance, at least from my side.

Because it’s not like I promised anyone anything. I don’t owe them more than what I’ve already given. And if I let myself start feeling—really feeling—this is going to get messy in ways I can’t afford.

I could just go out tonight, find someone, hook up like I always did. It’s easy. No strings, no expectations. Just a way to remind myself who I am and how this works. Because if I let myself sink any deeper into this, intothem, what happens when it all falls apart? When they realize I’m not what they need? Not what they thought?

Hooking up won’t fix it, not really. But maybe it’ll help with this feeling like it’s all getting too close. Like I’m about to step off a cliff and can’t see the bottom.

That’s the thing about being exciting. People don’texpect you to stay. They don’t ask for more than you’re willing to give. They take what you offer, and you move on before anyone can ask why.

“Fine,” I quip, smirking. “I’ll go be exciting. Heading to Vortex now.”

“Call me with all the dirty details tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure thing,” I reply, my voice lighter than I feel. We hang up, and I tuck my phone into my pocket before stepping into the Vegas night and follow the familiar path over to my favorite club.

Vortex is already pulsing with life when I step inside, the air thick with the scent of sweat, alcohol, and anticipation. It’s packed, bodies moving to the pounding rhythm of the music. A few guys swarm toward me, their voices blending into the chaotic hum of the club.

“Where’ve you been, pretty girl?” one of them calls out, his grin wide and eager.

Another steps closer, leaning in to help me hear him over the music. “Haven’t seen you around. Thought you disappeared on us.”

I force a smile, my mind working to piece together who they are. Hookups blur after a while, their faces fading into the background of meaningless nights.

One of them brushes his fingers along my arm, and I force a laugh, shaking him off gently. “I’m here now, aren’t I?”

My gaze sweeps toward the bar, but Sylus isn’t there. Of course, he’s not, and somehow that is enough to keep me from getting myself a drink at said bar.

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