Page 71 of The Failed Audition

“John,” Camila snaps.

He lets out a breath and rolls his eyes. “I’m just making conversation.”

“Nikolai doesn’t seem like he sleeps around a lot,” I mention. Though I’m not certain about this. Katya never talks about his previous relationships. He’s a full-on mystery there, and I feel like it’s stepping out of bounds if I even ask.

“See,” Camila says, pointing a finger at John.

“Whatever,” he mumbles. “I need another drink.” He slides his cousin the empty beer bottle, and she retrieves him a new one.

“Thora James!”

I whip my head and notice Timo approaching, his face bathed in green, red and blue from three stacked necklaces. He’s added silver glitter on his bare chest and cheeks to his usual attire: no shirt, leather jacket, and dangling cross earring. He looks like part of the club folk.

John curses under his breath the minute Timo nears. He can’t keep his mouth shut though. “The under-twenty-one club is down the street,” he tells him. “It has a big giraffe and R-Us at the end.” He gives Timo a dry look before taking a swig of beer.

Timo only smiles more. “The over-ninety club is also down the street. It’s where all these headstones are, old man. Can’t miss it.” Then he rotates to me, and he lets out a long whistle, scrutinizing me from head to toe. “Thora James, turning it on tonight.”

I’m actually dressed up this time—not in sneakers or my Phantom costume. Camila lent me a tight black dress that zips in the back and lifts up my boobs. I keep tugging the hem since it rides up as I sit on the barstool, appearing shorter.

“Better than the sweats?!” I have to shout over the loud bass.

“Most definitely!” he yells back. “My brother is going to love it!”

My stomach clenches. “That’s…”not what I planned.My voice drowns in the music.Okay, don’t fool yourself, Thora.If I can’t be honest with myself, then I am fucked.

I knew Nikolai would be here tonight, as he is every Saturday.

And yeah, I wanted to look my best. I wanted to draw a reaction from him—the kind that electrocutes my nerves and tingles my skin.

Tingles.

I’m talking about tingles in association with aguy. I internally groan. Shay would call me ridiculous. But I don’t even want to take the wish back. I’m only human.

John slices through what would’ve been an awkward moment from my open-mouthed, stupefied-self. He zeroes in on Timo again. “This area…” He motions around us. “…is for people who canlegallyorderat the bar.” He shoos him away with the swat of his hand.

Timo’s blinding, magnetic smile never fades. “In another life, you were a fat old police officer addicted to donuts.”

Camila spits out her water from behind me, and the spray dampens my neck. “I’m sorry!” she says between fits of laughter. “That’s just…”

My laugh begins at the sight of hers, and she shakes her head, her stomach heaving with humor. She has to hold herself upright.

“I can’t…” She flashes her palm like she has to step away, heading to another couple who wave her down.

I reach over the bar for a little square napkin and pat my neck, my hair in an edgy French braid. (Camila did it for me.)

“Your cousin likes me.” Timo cocks his head at John.

“She likes everyone. This comes from a place of love when I say that she has theworstsense of judgment. For everything, really. Including people.”

“Hey,” I say. “She likes me.”

“And you’re sharing a bedroom with a Kotova,” he rebuts. “That kind of puts your quality at the bottom of the barrel.”

“I’m sleeping on thecouch,” I emphasize.

“Wait,” Timo cuts in with a confused look. “You don’t sleep in Nik’s bed?”

What is with everyone and this? I’m not abnormal. “I…” I trail off as his frown deepens.

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