Danny got a gleam in his eye. “I dunno, I think Wilder’s holding out on us. He hasn’t even mentioned that he gave the guy a lap dance.”
Cash gave a loud gasp.
“Aw, come on,” I said to Danny. “You’re meant to have my back, asshole. Now I gotta deal with the evil twins here knowing.”
I wasn’t really angry, and we all knew it. I was just giving him shit for it because I could.
Danny shrugged. “Should have given me the details when I asked.”
“Only one of us is allowed to be an evil twin,” Chase said. “And I already called it.”
I looked between him and Cash. “I dunno. That fuzzy blanket Cash is rocking could be a clever disguise. That might not evenbeCash. Who knows with you assholes?”
Cash flipped me the bird, which didn’t actually prove he wasn’t Chase. That was a total Chase move.
“Anyway, tell us about stripping for Hottie McTeach next door,” Chase said, “and don’t skip any details.”
I knew from the way he was sitting forward with his elbows on his knees, grinning like he’d just discovered buried treasure, that he wasn’t gonna let this go.
“Fine,” I said. “When I worked the club last Friday night, he was there. One of the other teachers slipped me a twenty to give him a lap dance. I gave him a lap dance. The end.”
“That gets a fucking D minus for storytelling,” Chase said. Cash shot him a look and Chase nodded. “Right? Wilder, you missed all the good bits. Like did he pick you out of a lineup and say, ‘I want that hot daddy to dance for me’?”
Cash snorted into his blanket.
“Jesus,” I said. “How do you think strippingworks? It’s not a fucking buffet. It wasn’t like a private dance or anything. For that song I pull someone up on stage, is all, and his friend paid so that I’d pick him, and neither of us recognized each other until I was facing him and practically riding his dick. It was awkward and embarrassing, and I’m so happy I’m reliving it again.”
“I’m glad you are too,” Chase said and gave me a shit-eatinggrin. “It’s super entertaining. But it also means he’s probably gay, right?”
“So what?” I asked.
“Well, I’m single,” Chase said, his grin growing. “And he’s new to town. And Iamsorta cute.”
“Also, if he doesn’t know anyone, maybe he hasn’t been warned about your personality yet,” Danny suggested.
Chase wrinkled his nose. “Shit. I hope he hasn’t been to the gas station. I might have already ruined my chances.”
“What chances?” I asked. “You have zero chances. Avery probably has standards.”
But a tiny part of me was forced to admit that maybe Chasedidhave at least a small chance with Avery. When he wasn’t being a sarcastic asshole—which was admittedly rare—Chase could pass for halfway decent, and he wasn’t terrible to look at. And hey, I didn’t have any idea what Avery’s type was. He might be totally into sarcastic assholes with codependent twin brothers.
My gut twisted for reasons I couldn’t quite name. “You’re not hitting on Gracie’s teacher,” I said. “It’d be creepy.”
Yeah, that was the reason. I didn’t want to make things awkward for Gracie, that was all. Totally just my parental instincts kicking in.
Danny must have sensed my weird discomfort. He slapped me on the shoulder and said, “Go grab us more beer?”
“Am I dressed like a server?” But I was grateful for the excuse to escape Chase’s curious glances.
While I was in the kitchen, I made Cash a sandwich since I knew he’d be hungry after his shift—see? Parenting instincts—and when Cash saw it, he made grabby hands from his recliner. I handed it over along with his beer, and he gave me a small, grateful smile.
“Where’s my sandwich?” Chase asked.
“Did you just pull a double?” I shot back. “Make your own.”
Cash grinned around his sandwich.
Once we’d finished our beers, I stood and said, “I’m going to bed. Get out.”
