Page 80 of I Blame the Club

“Thank you.”

Finally satisfied, I feel the tension ebb from my body as my mind wanders to the goalie in question. It’s unusual for Nico to not just ask me point blank to come to the party, God knows that man has no filter whatsoever.

“So will you come?” Stella looks at me pleadingly, “Nico will be so disappointed.”

“No.”

Her face falls and a twinge of guilt hits my gut.

“But I'll do my best to make an appearance.” Her face immediately brightens, and I hurry to continue, “No promises, though.”

“A quick appearance is all it will take.” I frown at my sister’s choice of words but she’s already on to the next topic before I can question it.

STELLA: Are you on your way yet??

I roll my eyes at the text message before grabbing my keys and heading out the door. It’s decently early for a Saturday night, only 11 PM, but my sister hasn’t stopped blowing up my phone since this afternoon.

I have no idea what Stella is planning, but I do know it won’t be anything good. The only good thing about this situation is that I don’t have to wear some ridiculous costume made from random items lying around my apartment. Anything But Clothes is easily the worst party theme anyone can choose and I will gladly sit this one out as a stranger just passing through.

It takes less than ten minutes for me to arrive at Taber’s one and only nightclub, BA$$. I can feel the music pounding through the pavement the second I step outside and despite my earlier resistance, excitement leaks through my veins as the music grows louder.

I pull out my phone, sending my sister a quickI’m heretext and open a new conversation with Nico. He’s probably three sheets to the wind by now, but I quickly fire off a message to him anyways.

ME: Heard you wanted me to come tonight.

Within seconds, typing bubbles appear.

NICO: The night is still young but I’ll do my best ;)

A grin hits my face, my thumbs flying over the keyboard before I have a chance to think.

ME: Promise?

NICO: Don’t go stealing my lines, mi amor.

The smile drops from my face just as my sister comes barreling around the corner.

“You made it!” Her small body latches onto mine and I force my thoughts away from Nico’s response.

“I told you I would.”

I go to wrap my arms around her but the amount of exposed skin has me pulling back with a grimace.

“Where is the rest of your costume?”

“This is my costume!” Stella strikes a pose and I let out a groan. Her chest and ass are barely covered by thinly wrapped caution tape, the edges of her scar almost completely on display.

“You’re going to get arrested.”

“That’s what I told her.” Cody wraps an arm around her, casually covering up her scarred side with his hand. She smiles up at him, leaning into the embrace as I try to look anywhere but the yellow tape barely covering my little sister’s body.

“And I told Ellsworth he'll just have to fight off the cops for me.” Stella laughs, shamelessly raking her nails down Cody’s bare chest. I shake my head, glancing at the towel modestly covering his lower half. Knowing my old teammate, he’s probably wearing underwear under the towel as an insurance policy.

Sadly, I can’t say the same for my sister.

“Cap! I need you at the pong table.”

Wes’ voice captures my attention and I turn to see the co-captain wearing nothing but a green swim ring around his lower half. He’s waving Cody over to a table set up in the corner, dragging my attention to the other players mingling nearby. The standard uniform of bedsheets and tapped garbage bags meet my eyes as I do a scan of the crowd, but the lean edges of Nico’s body is nowhere to be found.

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