Page 275 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 9
Monday
I was so nervous. I had never done anything like this before. The first few girls had already walked up on stage to the cheers of the crowd. They were all much more well-endowed than me in all the right places. Kristen would have been a better fit for this contest. I was about to run in the opposite direction when I spotted my lifeguard in the crowd. He was standing with a few of his male friends, the blonde girl nowhere near him. I wondered where she went.
Kristen was standing a few feet away from J.J. She gave me two thumbs up. I gave one weak one back, hoping it didn’t look like I was about to piss myself.
"You'll have to take off your shirt and shorts," a woman said to me who was standing by the stage directing the other girls. "It's abikinicontest. The judges need to see you in yourbikini,” she added, like I was dense. Maybe the other girls on stage needed it explained to them five times, but the idea was pretty straightforward to me. A bikini contest meant showing off your bikini.
"Right." I unbuttoned my shorts.Can I really do this?Any confidence I had when I came back here had suddenly disappeared. But seeing J.J. had made the flight response searing in my brain come to a halt. Sure, he'd probably just tease me about this afterward. Or maybe…he’d finally see me the way I wanted him to see me.
"Actually, do it on stage. Everyone will get a kick out of that. Like a striptease, minus the actual stripping."
I buttoned my shorts back up.I can't pretend strip on stage! Fuck, I can't do this.I was about to bolt when the woman grabbed my arm.
"Okay, you're up." She directed me toward the stage. It felt a little forceful, but only because I had been stepping in the opposite direction.
"I don't think I..."
"You'll do great." She lightly pushed me up the steps.
Shit.I couldn'tnotdo it now. I was already halfway up the stage. I took a deep breath and walked up the last few stairs. The stage was slightly blurry.I'm so drunk.Or maybe I was about to blackout from nerves. I didn’t even like when professors took attendance and I had to say “Here.” What had I been thinking agreeing to this?
I walked toward the middle of the stage and stopped. All I could see was J.J. He smiled at me. I had finally gotten his attention. I needed this to work. I didn't have any more tricks up my sleeve. And I wasn’t wearing sleeves for that matter, so this was my one and only shot.
"Take it off!" someone yelled.
J.J.'s smile faded. He turned his head toward whoever had said it.
I needed him to look atmeagain. I slowly pulled my shirt off over my head and tossed it toward him in the crowd. He looked back at me just in time to catch it. His lips were slightly parted. He was shocked by what I was doing. Was that good?
My semi-striptease had gotten a few whistles and hollers from the crowd. Even though I was still wearing my bikini top, I felt so exposed. But J.J.'s eyes were glued on me. I couldn't stop now. I unbuttoned my shorts and turned to the side. I arched my back and bent forward slightly as I let the fabric slide down my hips and to the floor. I kicked my shorts toward J.J. He had to take a few steps forward and snatch them away from some random guy.
I was glad I was wearing my nicest bikini. I twirled around during the applause. This was actually super fun. Why had I been so scared? I was a natural stripper. Well, down to my bathing suit, not my birthday suit. I’d never actually strip.
"Let's hear it again for Mila!" the announcer yelled, which caused even more applause.
I walked over to the other girls standing to the side of the stage.
"Such a good move," one of them whispered to me. "I wish I had thought of that. You’re totally going to win."
I smiled to myself. I had J.J.'s attention for the rest of the competition. He didn't even look at the other girls. But I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. He looked kind of…pissed.
"Okay! All the votes are in!" said the announcer. "And the runner up is Mila!"
What? Oh my God.
"You’ve just won a 100 dollar gift certificate to Salt Air!"
I just stood there.
"Mila, come claim your prize!"
I walked over to the announcer and grabbed the gift certificate. It was so surreal. I looked out at the crowd but J.J. was gone.Shit.I didn’t even listen to who the winner was as I quickly got off the stage. A bunch of guys crowded around me, blocking my path.Fuck. Where is J.J.?
"You were awesome up there," one of the guys said.
"Thanks." I tried to see around them, but they were all taller than me.
"So, are you seeing anyone? I'd love to take you out to dinner sometime."
