Page 17 of Diamonds & Deception

It’s been four days, and I’m horny, nervous, and excited. Part of me is hoping Drake will make an appearance atThe Club, and the other part just wants to have fun with girlfriends. Avery sent me a text two days ago, telling me she got my number from Drake, and asked me to meet her and the girls in their room at the casino for pre-dance club drinks.

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to a club, andThe Club, as unoriginal as the name sounds, is a classier joint than the ones I frequented in college, so I rummage through Lenora’s closet. I hadn’t packed clothes appropriate for fun, slutty dancing. Not that I’m going for the slutty look tonight.

I turn every which way, studying myself in the mirror in Lenora’s room. The electric blue spaghetti strap dress fits me quite well. We’re close in size and shape. My boobs and ass are a little rounder, but her hips are a little wider. We were always able to share clothes in college, and neither of us have changed much in size or shape since then.

The ruching on one side of the dress stops mid-thigh. I contemplate shoes. Again, mine aren’t appropriate for tonight. I decide on a pair of Lenora’s white wedges instead of stilettos. My feet are going to be sore tomorrow, regardless.

I take an Uber to the casino and try not to glance around in search of Drake. He knows I’m meeting Avery and her friends, and I don’t doubt he knows what room they’re staying in. He hasn’t said anything about seeing him tonight in our texts, but he’s said a few times to have fun and be safe.

Safe from what? Killers? Drug lords? Even if he is associated with the like, I feel confident he won’t hurt me. Then again, maybe Carly felt the same way about Owen.

I don’t see Drake or Trey in the lobby and make my way to the row of elevators. A few minutes later, I’m knocking on Avery’s hotel door.

“Oh my god. You’re stunning,” Avery says when she opens the door. She tugs me inside and introduces me to her friends, Jessie and Amber. By the look of the almost empty tequila bottle on the end table, they’ve been at it for a while.

“Have a shot with us, Nora. And by the way, we’re not jealous one bit that you’re shagging Drake. He’s a fucking god!” Jessie says as she hands me a shot and a lime wedge.

“I’m notshagginghim,” I say before doing the shot.

“Don’t mind Jessie. She just got back from two years in London, and she’s horny as hell. I won’t let her sleep with my little brother, and when Drake came by to see if we needed anything, she practically dry-humped him.”

I find myself tingling with jealousy. Jessie is cute and perky. She’s rocking a tight, black miniskirt and halter top. A guy would be a fool to pass her up.

“I did not.” Jessie fills my shot glass after I drain it. “And he didn’t give us a second glance. He was totally looking for you, Nora.”

“Oh.” I tip back the second shot and suck on the lime.

“By trying not to be obvious, he only made it worse.” Avery laughs. “He brought us up a charcuterie board and scanned the room with disappointment. He could have had room service delivered.”

Maybe hewaslooking for me.

“He’s really hot. I normally don’t go for a guy in a suit, but he can fifty shades me anytime,” Amber adds.

The tequila is making my insides warm, and apparently their lips loose. We hang out for another twenty minutes, snacking on the food Drake delivered. I find myself laughing harder than I have in a long time. Definitely not since Carly’s death.

Avery and her friends are fun, and they are well past tipsy. We finally make it to the tenth floor where the dance club is, and Avery shows the bouncer our VIP tickets. I’m like a kid at Disneyland taking in the sites.

A good beat drops, and I can literally feel it through my shoes. It’s dark, but not so dark I can’t see people across the dance floor. We all hold hands, following Avery, who has proclaimed herself the leader. We make it to a set of stairs guarded by another burly man. She flashes our badges, and he lets us up.

It’s a little quieter up here, and we get an awesome view of the entire club. There are four dance floors and four bars stationed by each one. Tables and chairs are scattered throughout, as are lounge chairs. Up here in the VIP area, we have our own bar and more seating.

There are a few dozen people here, mingling with their groups. We leave our purses and phones in a fancy locker and order a round of drinks. Needing to ease off the shots, I order a glass of wine.

Amber and Jessie are going to be hurting tomorrow, but they’re having a great time tonight. Avery is somewhere in between. We take our drinks and head back down to the dance floor closest to the stairs.

I have no idea how long we’re dancing. We’re singing, grinding, laughing, and sweating. I’ve had three glasses of water and am still dehydrated. There’s so much booty shaking going on between the four of us, we’ve now turned it into a competition.

“Girl. You’ve got moves,” Avery yells over the Missy Elliot song. “Someone’s been eyeing that booty for a while now.”

We dance and I laugh. “They can look but can’t touch.”

“Oh, I guarantee he’ll be touching it very soon.” She glances up over us at the row of windows from the VIP lounge.

I follow her gaze and see Drake standing in the window, staring down at us. He’s too far, and it’s too dark to read his expression. He can’t be mad. I’m at a dance club. His friend’s club. With his friend’s sister and her friends.

I haven’t danced with a single guy all night, not that they haven’t tried. Even if I did, it’s not like Drake and I are together or in a relationship. Avery’s been acting as my guard while she makes herself the sandwich and grinds with the guys who approach us.

I don’t know if I should go upstairs and talk to him or continue dancing. Missy Elliot turns into a Salt N’ Pepper throwback, and I know the lyrics too well to skip out of this one. By the end of the song, I need more water. Instead of getting a cup from the bar downstairs, I tell Avery and the girls I’m going up to the lounge to rest for a minute.

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