Stevie smiles and waves one last time. I turn to the guys. “Please tell me you guys didn’t hire a stripper.”
All three of them laugh. “Let’s just say we’re not headed back to the hotel for the next two hours,” Will says from the side.
Turnsout the guys never did hire a stripper. My best friends know me well enough to know that isn’t what I wanted. We’re onour way back to the hotel after two hours of playing laser tag and go-karting like a group of teenagers.
The clock at the gaming place showed that it’s only nine p.m. and the wedding doesn’t start until two p.m. tomorrow.
The entire time we were there, our phones and whatever else we brought were kept in a locker. In all honesty, I hesitated. I didn’t want to be away from my phone just in case Stevie needed me, but we are getting married. Once we’re back in classes and back at work, I’m going to have to get used to not having my phone with me all the time.
She’s with the girls, so I’m sure everything’s fine.
My screen lights up because these dumbasses made me turn it off as soon as they told us to put our things away. They said it would “interrupt the momentum that is laser tag and go-karting.”
It takes a while for it to get some signal since we’re in the middle of nowhere, because Jake decided to take the back roads. He’s the DD tonight even though I’ve only had two beers.
When we finally get back to civilization, my phone starts pinging with a couple of texts from Em and Kami. Everyone else’s in the car pings as well. My stomach drops at the texts.
Fuck no.
Hell no.
Emma: Andrew’s here at the strip club. He asked to talk to Stevie.
Emma: We tried to intervene, but she said it was fine.
Kamila: Andrew’s here. He and Stevie are talking, but don’t worry, we’re keeping a close eye on them.
Emma: She’s near our table. Don’t worry.
What. The. Fuck.
‘Don’t worry’? Is she insane? Are they insane?Of course I’m going to fucking worry.
Jake looks at me through his rearview mirror with a straight face. I know Will and Cam are looking at me too, but Jake’s the only one who gets the message.
“Buckle up,” he says right before taking the harshest and fastest U-turn I’ve ever experienced.
“Fuck, man!” Will yells.
Stevie owes that piece of shit nothing. So, why is she talking to him? Did he threaten her? Threaten to hurt her?
I’ll kill him.
“We’re twenty minutes away,” Jake grits out.
Taking in a deep breath and controlling the urge to crush my phone with my bare hands, I respond, “Make it ten.”
Chapter Forty
STEVIE
“Thong Song” by Sisqó plays overhead as three half-naked men dance onstage. Emma whoops and calls one of them over with a twenty-dollar bill. All of us laugh when he takes it and tucks it into his golden underwear before giving her a wink.
“I’m requesting a lap dance from him later!” she yells over the music.
Kamila’s eyes widen. “Emma Faye Haywood! What’s gotten into you?!”
Em shrugs. “Our best friend is getting married, I’m finally twenty-one, and it’s not like I’m sleeping with the guy.” She twirls at the switch of music, and Cameron’s friend Zoey dances with her.
