Page 110 of The Good Girl Effect
When our eyes meet, his features soften, and I notice him visibly relax. “I’m proud of you,” I whisper, but the words are barely out of my mouth before he pulls me into his arms.
“Stop it,” he says. Then he kisses me, holding me tightly against his body.
“Stop what?” I ask.
“Being so?—”
The doors of the elevator open, and we both peer out into the sex club. The ambience down here is far more erotic. The soft, neon lights are dimmer, the music louder.
There are more people down here too, but the conversation is quiet. Jack takes my hand this time, intertwining our fingers as he pulls me through the club. The first familiar face I see is Elizabeth’s. She’s standing by the bar, and she is the picture of grace and beauty. Her dark brown hair cascades down her back, and she’s wearing a black dress fitted to her body with a slit up the thigh that nearly reaches her hipbone.
She’s the sexiest person I’ve ever laid eyes on, and it’s alarming to see her in this light.
As she takes in the sight of Jack and me together, her gaze drifts down to our linked hands and then up to our faces. She doesn’t say anything right away; she just waits for her brother to speak.
Across from her is a beautiful blond woman I haven’t met yet, but she smiles brightly at me with piercing dimples in her cheeks and bright blue eyes.
“Hi, I’m Amelia,” she says in a greeting, putting out her hand for me.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I reply, shaking it. “I’m Camille.”
“What a pleasant surprise,” Elizabeth says as she takes a sip of her champagne with a crooked smirk against the rim of her glass. “It’s about time you listened to me, Jack.”
“Elizabeth,” Jack says in a warning.
I glance back and forth between the two, confused as to what they’re referring to.
His sister replies with a sigh. “I have to go check on the dancers,” she says before marching away.
None of us say anything as we’re left in awkward silence. I stare at the stage to avoid anyone’s eye contact. There’s a single dancer performing on a hoop hanging from the ceiling. She’s dressed in nothing but a glittery black thong. Her movements are graceful and sexy as she glides to the music.
“Everything is beautiful, Amelia,” Jack says to the woman. “You should be very proud.”
She shrugs with a bashful grin. “Thanks, Jack.”
When he places a hand on her shoulder, he does it with brotherly affection, and I can see by the look in his eyes that he cares about her. In fact, I see now just how much Jack cares about all of them, except for Julian of course. But I see the way he greets them all as if they are his family. I wonder if he knows how lucky he is to have them all.
I spot a pair of mischievous eyes across the club, staring back at me, and I recognize them as Julian’s. Clutching tighter to Jack’s side, I stare back at the man as I take a sip of my bubbly. This only makes him laugh, but he’s in the middle of a conversation with a couple, so he doesn’t bother coming closer to us.
“Is that who I think it is?” Jack asks, nodding his head toward the couple Julian is speaking to.
Amelia turns and nods. “Yep. They’ve been looking for you.”
This makes Jack tense. His spine straightens as he adjusts his tie.
“Believe it or not, but Julian has been on his best behavior all night,” Amelia adds.
“I choose to believe not,” Jack replies before polishing off his drink. “Where’s Phoenix?”
“Running around and stressing about something, I’m sure,” Amelia adds. “She wants the six of us to make a statement. Probably in about twenty minutes.”
“So I should get this part over with then?” Jack asks, glancing in her direction.
“What are you so afraid of? Go talk to them. They’ll be happy to see you,” she replies, making me curious as to who the mystery couple talking to Julian could be.
Jack’s hand touches the small of my back as he leads me by his side through the club. There are people mingling in couples and small groups all around us, and I understand that this is opening night so people are not behaving in here like they normally would.
For one, no one is having sex on the dance floor.
