Page 32 of Lustful Nights

“I doubt I’ll get hurt this time.”

I realize my slip up a moment too late. “This time? You’re seeing someone?”

“You don’t have to lecture me, Nick. I’m a big boy. I can make my own mistakes.” Not that I think Jensen is a mistake, but I need him to understand that I am capable of making my own decisions.

“Who is it?” he asks gruffly.

“It’s new.”

“That doesn’t answer my question, Lennox.”

“There’s no need for you to know, Nick.”

“All right, how about another round?” Declan tries to cut in. My eyes stay trained on Nick, who’s staring back at me.

“Why won’t you tell me?” His voice sounds hurt, and I hate myself a little more for keeping this secret.

“I promise I’ll let you know if it ends up being something. I don’t want to jinx it.”

“Whatever you say, Lennox.”

The rest of the night passes by, stilted conversation between Nick and I. Declan tries his hardest to help the communication flowing, but even he gives up after a while. After paying the bill, we say our goodbyes, Declan and I staying back as Nick climbs into his pickup truck.

“So, uh, that probably could have gone better,” Declan jokes, bumping his shoulder into mine.

“Yeah, I didn’t think it would be that hard. Plus, I know my string of exes is pretty shitty, but I meant what I told him. I don’t want to tell anyone until I’m certain it’s something. I don’t want to jinx it, or risk saying anything right before it crashes and burns.”

“You don’t have to explain it to me. I’ve always got your back. You ready to head to Peaches?”

“Let’s go.”

Declan and I get into his car, and he drives us downtown toward the club. My mind is reeling; a million thoughts going a mile a minute. Parking the car, he turns off the engine and looks at me.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I need to dance it out.”

“Too bad you can’t fuck it out.” I roll my eyes and Declan busts out laughing. “I’m kidding. Kind of.”

I open the door to the car, and Declan follows behind me as we walk through the employee entrance at the back of the club.Yelling from down the hall grabs my attention, and I make my way over, seeing Jonas standing outside the door.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, my eyes widening when the shouting gets louder. What the fuck is going on in there? The door to Caleb’s office is shut, but that doesn’t stop the gruff shouting that’s happening on the other side of the door.

“It’s fine,” Jonas replies. He stands motionless at the door, arms crossed over his chest.

“Are you sure?” I peek around him, but of course, there’s nothing to see.

Declan grabs onto my shoulder and steers me away. “Come on, it’s nothing.”

I walk forward but keep looking back over my shoulder. “That doesn’t sound like nothing.”

“It doesn’t concern us. Come on, let’s go practice.”

I walk ahead of Declan, making my way to the empty stage. Bash and Tristan are already waiting for us, sitting on a couple of stools under the spotlights.

“I thought our cowboy act was doing good. Why change it up?” I ask, jumping onto the platform and doing a small twirl.

“It is. But Caleb hired a new guy and wants to add him to our set. He should be here any minute.”

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