Page 19 of Thirst Trap
“What’s the matter, Whitley? No one here going to give you a lap dance tonight?”
The sound of Emmilene’s voice grates on me like nails on a chalkboard. I was so focused on making sure the final donations for the night were coming through that I let myself forget she was likely going to be here. Her father is the CEO of the biggest bank group in Alabama. And there are single men here. That’s like catnip for her.
I take in a deep breath and plaster on the biggest fake smile I can before turning to her. “Hi, Emmilene. Are you having a good time?”
“Why, of course I am. This is much more my scene compared to last weekend.”
It takes all I have not to roll my eyes. This is the woman who, just seven days ago, was ready to fuck the entire Nashville Fury if I could have set it up. And I know for a fact she was jealous as all get out that Ella Mae grabbed me instead of her when Jake offered her the dance.
Then there is the fact that she hooked up with Trent that night. Or so Betsy said.
If there is a definition of fake-ass bitch in the dictionary, Emmilene’s picture is next to it. And I should know, I was a sorority girl at an SEC school and competed in beauty pageants.
“Your sister had fun, and that’s all that matters.”
“I mean, she said she did, but I’m not sure. She has to feel so embarrassed,” Emmilene says, and even though I don’t want her to elaborate, she and I both know I’m going to take the bait.
“And why would you say that?”
Her face lights up at my question. “I know I would be mortified if one of my bridesmaids was shown on a video getting a lap dance from a country bumpkin.”
I blink a few times, replaying the words she just said. “What are you talking about?”
Her smile turns sinister. “Why, haven’t you seen it? It’s quite… scandalous. If I do say so myself. I wonder what your daddy would think of it? And your clients.”
Now she’s just pissing me off. “What are you talking about, Emmilene?”
“Why, the video, of course. Of you and… oh whatever his name was,” she says. “It’s all overForU.”
ForU? The video app where people are famous for ridiculous reasons? Betsy has it and is addicted to it. She claims to have it for the cooking hacks, but I know the real reason she’s on it—the men. She showed me a few videos of men going from geek to hot freak. That’s Betsy’s kind of crazy.
For me? I’ve resisted it. I have enough going on. I don’t need another social media app sucking time from my day.
“I must say, when I watched it, I almost didn’t believe it,” Emmilene drones on. “I mean, I was there, but I didn’t realize until I rewatched it how into it you were. I must say, it wasn’t very becoming of you. I wonder what…”
I don’t even know what else she says because I sprint out of the ballroom before she can finish.
I make my way to the ladies’ room and unceremoniously plop on the couch, taking deep breaths to try and steady myself as a million questions go through my head.
What does it look like?
How long has it been up?
How bad is it? Will I lose clients because of this? Will my family get dragged into the mud for it?
Can you even tell it’s me? Or did Emmilene only know because she was there?
And wait, how did she see it? Did it… oh God, is it viral?
I need to see it. Now.
I grab my phone out of my clutch purse and don’t even bother sending a text.
“Hello?”
“Send it to me.”
Betsy lets out a sigh. “How did you find out?”
