I laugh, grabbing a piece of banana bread off the counter and tearing off a chunk. “I’m not trying to hook up with them. I just want to watch one of them poke the wrong biker and get their ass handed to them.”
Her eyes widen. “That’s dark.”
“It’d bekind ofhot,” I say through a mouthful of bread.
Ansley throws her head back, laughing. “Okay, yeah, watching Tank throw some arrogant frat boy across a tabledoessound mildly therapeutic.”
“Right? Like real-life stress relief.”
She leans in, voice dropping a little. “You just want to see Blade in action.”
I roll my eyes. “That is not true.”
“Oh please. You light up like a damn Christmas tree anytime that man grunts in your direction.”
I pop the rest of the bread into my mouth and smirk. “Whatever gets the people to the bar, right?”
She grins. “Fine. I’m in. But only if you promise to dress like we’re not librarians on our night off.”
“I make no promises.”
“Boots, Bri.”
“Iownboots.”
“Sexy boots.”
I groan. “You’re exhausting.”
“And you love me.”
Unfortunately, she’s right. And unfortunately… she’s also right about Blade. Which is why tonight? Might be a very bad idea. Or a veryentertainingone.
Back at the house, the energy shifts the second we walk through the door. Music’s already playing, some girl power anthem blaring from the Bluetooth speaker in the kitchen. Ansley disappears into her room to change, yelling something down the hall about winged eyeliner and divine feminine energy like she’s preaching a sermon.
I head to my bedroom, already knowing what kind of night I want to have.
Tonight’s not about playing it safe. It’s about feeling bold. Beautiful. A little reckless. I pull on my favorite pair of black skintight jeans, the ones that fit like they were custom-made for my thighs and don’t apologize for a damn thing. Then I slide into my boots.Theboots. Tall, black, and sexy as hell, with a little heel that makes me feel like I could strut into a war zone and leave men weeping.
The shirt takes a second to commit to, but I go for it, a red one, tight and low-cut, showing just enough to leave no doubt that Iknowwhat I’m doing. It's a little flashy, a little too much, and exactly what I need. Not because I want some guy to drool over me, though, let’s be real, one or two free drinks wouldn’t hurt, but becauseIwant to feel good. Wanted. In control.
I check myself in the mirror and smile. Confident. Bold. Like someone who doesn’t just observe the chaos, shestartsit.
Ansley steps out of her room a few minutes later, pausing mid-walk. “Damn, Bri.”
I turn, doing a little twirl. “Too much?”
She gives me a slow up-and-down and smirks. “That top is going to make at least three men lose the ability to form coherent sentences.”
“Good,” I say, grabbing my lip gloss. “Let ‘em stutter.”
She laughs, slinging her purse over her shoulder. “You’re not looking for a hookup though, right?”
I shake my head, sliding my phone into my bag. “Nah. I just want a drink… and maybe to watch a cocky frat boy get body-slammed by a biker.”
Ansley snorts. “You’re twisted.”
I grin. “I know. Isn’t it great?”
