Page 15 of Claiming Atlas

I glance at his friend whose smile is more of a leer.

Yep. Scar definitely got the better of the two.

Looking back at Brandon, I smile and shrug. “Friday night’s my last gig.”

Brandon shakes his head. “That’s a shame, man, a real shame. I’ll have to come in with the guys to help you celebrate.” He holds my gaze for a few long seconds, then turns to Scar. “You’ll be there?”

“Oh, absolutely.” She practically vibrates with excitement.

I’ll leave out the fact that she said she was taking a few days off.

Brandon looks at his buddy. “Sure you can’t stay for the final show, Chad?’

Chad. His name is Chad. If I say it out loud and write it down, I might stand a chance of remembering it.

Two hours and three bottles of vodka later, my best friend’s ass is exposed for all to see as she straddles her boy of the week. He runs his hands over her cheeks as they slobber all over one another, lifting her micro dress higher in the process. If it were anyone else, I’d do something, but she lives for this shit. Any chance to expose herself, and Scar’s on board.

We’re going to get kicked out.

That would be such a shame.

I finish my fourth bottle of water, then stand.

Chad stands with me, eyes flicking between me and Scar’s ass, so very torn between the two of us.

“Excuse me.”

He meets my gaze.

I nod toward the rope. “I’m going to use the ladies’ room.”

“Oh, okay, yeah, cool.” He returns his gaze to his buddy’s hands on my best friend’s ass.

This fucking guy.

“You’re in my way, Chad.”

“Oh, shit, sorry.” He finally wakes up from his Scarlet trance, and steps aside, though he doesn’t unhook the rope for me.Why so single, Chad?

I leave the booth, then head for the main entrance. I’m about to pee my pants, but it’s not that long of a cab ride home. This girl’s going to turn into a pumpkin if she stays out much longer. I send Scar a quick text to let her know I’m out as I leave the club and make my way through the casino.

As I wait out front for my Lyft, I hear my name, and Scar rushes out the doors to meet me. “Why are you leaving, babe?” She runs her fingers through her hair, trying to fix whatever Brandon’s hands have done to it.

“I’m exhausted, Scar. I’m sorry.”

She narrows her green eyes at me. “You’re going to bring your A game out on Friday, right?”

“Of course.” I smile, then nod toward the door of the hotel. “You’re okay if I leave you with Brandon and what’s-his-butt?”

“Yes.” She sighs, smiling lazily. “I think I’m in love with him.”

I groan. “Oh, Scarlet.”

“What, Kayla? I’m not stupid, okay? I know we just met, obvs. But this feelssodifferent.”

She’snotstupid. Really she’s not. What she is, however, is a hopeless romantic. The most hopeless romantic in the entire freaking world, and in this industry, that means heartbreak after heartbreak after heartbreak. We’ve done this dance before. These guys don’t come to Vegas to fall in love. They come to Vegas to fall inlust.

There’s a pretty huge difference there that Scar has yet to learn.

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