Page 25 of War Hope
13
Finn
The cold airstings my cheeks as I walk to the front of the little black club. I don't fucking like going places, but specialoccasionscall for me sucking it the fuck up. And tonight,Kyanwon his 100thfight.
Kyanpats me on the back as we step to the back of the line. "We'regonnatake one of the lovelies home tonight."
"A stripper?"
"Yeah..." A sleazy smile curves across his lips. "They ride your knob likenooneelse."
"I'm not fucking a stripper."
"Youain'tlived till you've poked one of 'emin the bum."I shake my head. That's about all you can do withKyan. He's an immature fucking twat.
"Fuck my life..." I wince when I hear Hope's shrill voice. "You couldn't go to the high-end strip club. Had to come to this shittyfuckhole."
I turn around and look at her. She's wearing this tight black dress and silver heels. Her red hair falls in messy waves around hershouldersand she hasthisfuck-me smoky eye thing going on. She's vulgar as shit, but something about her is endearing. It could be that the way she looks tonight is like she's begging to get fucked, shit.Since when did I want to fuck Hope?Just don't talk to her.Don’t get drunk and don’t talk to her. Do not think about fucking her.
"Fuckhole?"Kyanasks, turning around with a shit-eating grin. "I swear, treacle, we're soulmates." He brushes his fingers over her arm and sheswatsat him with her clutch.
"Oh, fuck offwith you, you slut. Anything with a gapping hole could be your soulmate. Don't take much." Her green eyes cut over to me and one side of her lips tilt up into a sexy smirk. "Bet he didn't have to bring youlasagneto get you here,did he?"
Swiping my hand down my face, I groan.
"Lasagne?"Kyansays, glancing at me.
"Yeah, fuckinglasagne," Hope says. "I take the ungrateful fuck food and he can't even play bloody-fucking-bingo without whinging."
"Are you two fucking?"Kyanasks, his gaze shifting between us.
"God," I groan and toss my head back.
"No. He's too surly to be jabbing me in thevag."
The line moves forward and Igladlytake theopportunityto get away from that shit. I walk through the doors,Kyanand Hope behind me. I'm barely three feet inside the door before I hear Larry's twangy American accent. He's at a table right by the stage, a few of the other guys from The Pit and Lou, his wife, right next to him.This is going to be grand...
"Aw, look, Lou's so fucking cute, coming to thecooterclub with Lars," Hope shouts and I keep on walking. Sometimes if you just ignore her, she'll eventually shut up.
"Cooter club?"Kyansays and Hopelaughs.
Larry lifts a glass of ale, smiling when he sees me andKyanand—"Wee-doggy,red, look at you!" Larry whistles and Lou swats him. I place my hand on the back of the wooden chair andpull it away from the table before I take a seat.Kyansits on one side of me and, of course, Hope sits on the other fucking side. The lights dim and a low bass begins to thump through the speakers.
"Welcome to the stage,” the announcer’s voice echoes through the sound system, “for her first time, Crystal Chandelier."
"Aw, hell-fucking-yeah,"Kyansays. "Popping her stripper cherry."
"Jesus, he'sa fucking delight," Hope whispers by my ear.
"Yeah," I laugh because, well,Kyanis a fucking dog.
A waitress in spandex shorts andtittietasslestrots up and stops at our table. "Red Bell and vodka for all these fucks," Larry shouts with ajovialchuckle.
I divert my attention to the curvy blonde strutting out on the stage, watching as she wraps her hands around the silver pole on the middle of the platform. She whips her hair around before hooking her leg on the pole and swinging around. Strobe lights flicker. The music thumps, and I settle back in my seat as I check my watch. An hour. I told myself an hour would be sufficient. Have a few drinks. Tip a few strippers and then book it the fuck out of here and back home to my routine. My control. My life.
I feel a warm finger brush over my arm and my muscles tense. "You like the looks of that one, huh,Finnley?"She's such a creep.
I don't say a word. Just stare at the stage. A drink's shoved in my direction. I glance over and Hope's holding my drink out with a smile. "Toss it back, you ungratefulfuck."
