Second Chance Boyfriend (Drew + Fable #2)(10)
Author: Monica Murphy

Straight down my throat, as fast as I can drink it.

“Having fun?” Logan nudges me, the leer on his face wobbly. He’s drunker than me, fitting since he’s the one we’re celebrating. May as well get shit faced like him, right? I’ve got nothing to lose and nothing but sorrows to drown.

Woe is me. I’ve turned into the worst sort of broken record.

I shrug. “The beer’s good.”

Logan laughs. “The beer is shit. The women are fine. They all have great racks.” He tips his head toward a dark-skinned girl dancing not twenty feet away from where we sit. “Ty’s arranging a lap dance for me with her.”

I scowl. Hearing Ty’s name irritates me. We’ve sat on opposite ends of the group the entire time, no interaction between us whatsoever. Probably best, considering if he comes near me again, I might hit him.

And keep on hitting him until he’s bloody and broken. Only then would I feel an ounce of satisfaction. Though why I keep wanting to defend her when she’s out f**king around with another guy while I mourn the loss of her, I don’t know.

Fuck.

“I’m sure he could arrange a lap dance for you too,” Logan continues.

“Hell, no. I don’t want one.” I shake my head and down the rest of my beer in one swallow. I feel hot. My head is spinning. I’m definitely losing control and for once, I don’t really care.

“That you say you don’t want one only makes me want to get you one even more.”

I turn to see Ty standing there, beer in hand, smirk in place. I want to slap that shitty look off his face but I remain calm. Nonchalant. “Why would you want to waste your money on a lap dance for me? Get one for yourself.”

Ty laughs. “I want to see you squirm, Callahan. I know this isn’t your scene. Hell, I’m surprised you’re here with us. I’m even more surprised at how you tried to kick my ass over a stupid girl.”

I say nothing. I’m surprised too but I’m not going to let on that I am.

“You know Fable? Been with her or something?” Ty shakes his head. “I took her out once, a long time ago. It was mostly forgettable.”

If he so much as goes into detail about their supposedly forgettable date, I’ll bash his face in.

“I don’t know her that well,” I bite out, every word sharp because I’m a complete liar. “But you don’t disrespect women, Ty. It’s an a**hole thing to do.”

“I’ve never said I was anything but an a**hole.” The smirk on Ty’s face disappears. “That’s why I already got you that lap dance, buddy. With a pretty little blonde who reminded me of our mutual friend.” He flicks his head and I turn around.

“Hi.” She smiles at me, all bright and fake, and I’m momentarily taken aback. She does eerily resemble Fable at first glance, much like my fake classmate Fable, but then I realize she’s nothing like the girl I’m in love with.

This fake Fable is taller, skinnier, with shorter hair and bad skin. Her nails are long and painted neon pink. She tosses her hair behind her shoulder and thrusts her chest out, her hard n**ples poking against the thin fabric of her neon pink bikini top.

Ty plants his hand in the middle of my back and shoves me toward her. “Aren’t you going to greet your present? You need to respect women and all that other shit you talk about, right?”

Asshole. “You don’t have to do this,” I tell her, ignoring Ty’s snicker. I glance around, looking for Logan, but he’s long gone. Probably off getting his own dance.

The girl frowns. “He paid me to do it. It’s my job.”

“Just keep the money,” I tell her, reaching out to grab her arm so I can take her somewhere else. Somewhere we can pretend this is happening instead of putting on a show for everyone.

She shakes her head, touches my chest with her free hand. “Don’t you like me?”

I study her, my vision blurry. If I squint, she could almost pass for Fable. She strokes my forearm, her light touch sending a shiver through me. “Come on,” she murmurs, her voice low.

Seductive.

No way should I do this, but I let her lead me over to a chair and she pushes my chest so I have no choice but to sit. I fall into the chair heavily, my head spinning, and the music starts, the woman on the stage begins to move.

Just like the woman in front of me.

For a moment, I let my imagination run away from me. Instead of a stranger, it’s Fable in front of me. Dancing for me, so beautiful as she moves, her lips curved in a seductive smile, her eyes glowing as she watches me. I stare back, my mouth going dry, my skin tight and hot…

I hear Ty’s unmistakable laugh, snapping me back to reality.

The girl smiles at me, her hands on my shoulders, her barely covered br**sts in my face as she twists and turns to the beat of the music. Her h*ps roll and thrust toward me as she reaches behind her back, deftly undoing both straps on her bikini top so it falls from her chest and lands on the floor.

She has small br**sts and big n**ples, nothing like Fable. Of course she’s nothing like her. I need to stop comparing all women to her. It’s a mistake. Hell, it’s a sickness. One I need to cure myself of and quickly, since she already has someone else.

The realization makes me almost sick to my stomach.

“Put your tits in his face!” Ty yells and she tosses her hair and laughs, thrusting her chest directly in my face as Ty commanded, her skin brushing against mine. I smell sweat, cheap perfume and alcohol emanating from her pores and I wrinkle my nose.

This girl is nothing like mine. She’s nothing like any sort of girl I’d ever be interested in.

“You’re hot,” the dancer whispers and I tilt my head back, our gazes locking. “Want to hook up after I get off work? My shift ends in an hour.”

I slowly shake my head. “I don’t think so.” That she solicits me so easily makes me think this isn’t her first time doing this sort of thing.

She pouts. “I bet you have a girlfriend, right? All the quiet, good-looking ones do.”

“Yeah, I have a girlfriend.” A fake one, one I lost claim to months ago. But it’s easier to agree than to explain myself.

Her pout turns into a deep frown. “I’m sure your friend who bought you the dance is available, huh? I’m sure most girls wouldn’t tolerate his crap for long.”

The girl is perceptive. She’s danced for me for all of three minutes tops and has the both of us all figured out. “He’s definitely available.”

She grimaces. “Of course he is.”

The song ends, as does my dance, and she steps away from me, a little smile curving her lips. I never noticed until now her lipstick color matches the neon pink of her bikini and fingernails. She glows in the black lights, giving her a weird and unnatural effect. “You’re quite the gentleman.” She bends over and snatches her bikini top from the floor. “Take that as a compliment.”

“Thanks,” I say weakly, immobile in my chair. My head is still spinning. I drank way too much and I’m almost afraid to stand. I might collapse like an idiot. “For the dance and the compliment.”

Flashing me a smile, she wiggles her fingers at me then heads over to Ty. He immediately grabs her like she’s his piece of property. His hands are sprawled across her back and butt as he hauls her close into him. She hasn’t even put her top back on yet and he’s got his hands all over her, his mouth at her ear. She shoves at his chest and I’m tempted to go and tell her to get away from him, but then I hear her giggle and I know she likes it.

Likes him.

Disgusted with myself, I stand and glance around the room, waiting for the spinning to ease. It’s so dark and there are so many guys in the place, I can’t make out who’s who. No way could I find my friends in this crowd. I need to get the hell out of here. I need to get home, but I’m far from my apartment complex, which is clear on the other side of town. My truck is at the restaurant Fable works at.

I’m freaking stranded.

Frowning, I pull my cell out of my pocket and study the dark screen. I could do it. I practically dare myself to type in the one word that might send her to me.

Or that word might make her run away. It should. I don’t deserve her help.

Deciding to go for it before my balls shrivel up and retreat into my body forever, I tap out eleven letters, spelling a word that both makes me happy and haunts my thoughts.

Fable

My phone buzzes in my pocket just as I’m getting ready to clock out. It’s late, the restaurant was packed till the last possible minute and my feet are killing me.

I check my messages and audibly gasp at the one word that seems to fill the screen, daring me to ignore it.

Marshmallow

Anger surges within me. How dare he use that word? What the hell does he want? Does he need me to rescue him yet again? I can’t believe his audacity.

But the worry kicks in, and the anger subsides. What if he’s in trouble? He’s with those jerk a**holes he doesn’t really like and probably shouldn’t trust. What if they did something to him and he’s lying in a heap on the side of the road, bleeding to death?

God, my drama-filled brain is on overdrive tonight.

Furious at my concern, I hurriedly type in a response to him and hit send before I can second guess myself.

Where the hell are you?

He answers in seconds.

Gold Diggers.

Ugh! He’s asking me to rescue him from a strip club? I want to kill him.

Like I’m driving all the way out there. I don’t even have a car.

Seconds later, he responds again.

I left my truck at the restaurant.

Frowning, I study the words he just sent me. I can’t do this. I shouldn’t. Rescuing him gives me hope and I should feel hopeless when it comes to Drew. He’s not worth all the heartache and drama.

Is he?

No key though, I finally type, feeling sorta cheery. How can I drive his truck with no key?

“You need a ride?”

I glance up to find Colin standing in front of me, his handsome face filled with concern. My phone beeps and I read Drew’s message, a detailed description as to the exact location where the spare key is hidden on his truck.

Tempting me more and more to go rescue him, no matter how stupid I know the idea is.

“Fable?”

“Yeah, um, thanks for the ride, but I don’t need one.” I smile, realizing I need Colin to leave before I do if I don’t want him to see me drive off in Drew’s truck.

Not that he’d know it was Drew’s truck but Colin is a smart guy. He can put two and two together real easy.

“Are you sure?” He reaches out and touches me, his fingers drifting across my arm, and I don’t react. I might’ve yesterday. Hell, I might’ve about four hours ago, before Drew walked back into my life so easily, but now, there’s nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Nodding, I offer him a bigger smile. “Really. I have a ride. But I appreciate the offer.”

“All right. Jen’s catching a ride home with me so we’ll both see you tomorrow?”

My first Sunday working at the restaurant, my shift starts in the midafternoon and I’ll get off at a decent time, too, since I’m only scheduled for four hours. I’m sort of excited about it. Owen and I already have plans. Either breakfast, if I can get his lazy ass out of bed, or a late dinner after I get off work. Maybe even a movie if we’re feeling ambitious.