Cage’s eyes narrowed on him even further. “You’re telling methat you didn’t have some fancy-ass computer program simulate a bid so you could get out of a date?”
Keys shook his head vigorously. “I didn’t! Promise.” Although, he kind of wished he’d thought of it. Standing up on that stage with a silent audience staring blankly while Louisa looked at him with such pity, trying to talk anyone in the crowd into bidding on him… Yeah, talk about humiliating.
He didn’t know if Glitch actually had fifty thousand dollars. Even if she did, he didn’t want her paying that sort of money for him. The implications would be hard for either of them to ignore. He’d transfer the funds from an anonymous source so no one could trace it back to him and renew his humiliation.
Cage nodded once. “I believe you. But look me in the eye and tell me you don’t know who did.” Cage must have seen something in Keys’ expression, because he suddenly laughed. “You do! Way to go, kid!” Before Keys knew what was happening, Cage grabbed him up in a bear hug and started slapping him on the back. “Good for you.” Stepping back, Cage grabbed Keys by the shoulders. “Who is it? Why didn’t you tell me you were seeing someone?”
Keys stared wide-eyed at his club brother for a solid minute before he managed to stutter out. “I’m not. I mean, we’re not. I don’t… She’s… We’re just friends.”
“She?” Cage’s eyebrows lifted and he squeezed Keys’ shoulders tighter. “Brother, I seriously have the wrong friends if you’ve got one who would dish out that sort of cash. Mywifewouldn’t even pay that to save my life, let alone go on a single date with me.”
He said it like a joke, but Keys knew that Angel would do anything for her man.
“I don’t… I mean… I just… I didn’t know she was going to do that.” Jesus, he sounded so ridiculous.
Cage, thankfully, backed off. “Deep breath, kid. I’m proud of you. I’m sure you want to run home now—which is fine—but I’llleave you with a bit of advice. There weren’t any open bids for you. She didn’t have to go that high. If I were you, I’d be questioning that friendship. Maybe this is her way of showing you she wants to be more than friends and take that next step with you.”
Keys watched Cage walk away, rejoining his family who was waiting for him by the churro cart.
Next step? No… Really? Keys’ heart hammered in his chest at the possibility. What if Cage was right? What if Glitch wanted to be more than friends? The thought was…intoxicating. At the sudden tightness in his pants, Keys glanced down at his groin. Oh shit! Well, clearly more than his heart liked the idea.
Fuck, he needed to get out of here. Quickly untucking his shirt, he tried to hide his erection as he scurried away from his club brothers and that godawful stage. There was a lot of work he still had to do. Steel was in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, and Keys was working with Toni Anderson, the club’s criminal defense attorney, to make sure they had all their ducks in a row come Monday to get the charges dropped.
He shouldn’t be spending his time worrying about dates and romantic relationships. Not when his club needed him. Hecouldn’tlet Steel down.
* * *
It wasthree in the morning, and Keys couldn’t take it anymore. He reached for his phone.
WiseWave620: You still up?
Gl!tch.OS: You act like I should be sleeping right now.
WiseWave620: A normal person would be.
Gl!tch.OS: What does that make you??
WiseWave620: Very, very NOT normal
Gl!tch.OS: Wow, and here I thought I was the only one.
WiseWave620: You really aren’t going to talk about this?? I expected a message or something tonight but you’ve been quiet.
Gl!tch.OS: It’s no big deal. Just forget about it.
WiseWave620: Forget that you paid $50k for a date with me?
Gl!tch.OS: I did it for charity. Not for a date with you.
Ouch. Well, there went Cage’s theory.
Gl!tch.OS: We’re friends, Keys. Let’s not ruin that.
WiseWave620: You say that like I asked you out. You didn’t have to do what you did. I just want to make sure I’m reading the situation correctly.
Gl!tch.OS: There is no situation. I did it for charity, nothing more. I apologize for getting your hopes up.
WiseWave620: My hopes? Hell, I don’t even know what we are to have had any hope. What would we have done? Had an online date? Gone virtual bowling?
