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Gabriel
“Another drink, sir?”
I pause in my crossing of the strip- I’m sorry,gentlemen’s club’smain floor to glance at the cocktail waitress, her low-cut black top and matching miniskirt doing everything in its power to lure me into buying more drinks from her, but I decline.
“No, thanks. I’m good,” I tell her, holding up a tumbler still a quarter full.
“I’ll be waiting if you need anything else,” she murmurs throatily.
Am I imagining it or did she heavily emphasize the wordanything?
I continue on my way to where my brooding brother sits in the corner, his index finger idly stroking the rim of his whiskey.
“For a best man, you sure don’t seem to be having the best time.”
I take a seat next to Archer, away from the pounding bass of the music blaring at the T-shaped stage. A lovely woman named Crystal Waters is slowly removing her minuscule top, the act more dignified than I was expecting considering where we’re at.
I believe the main attraction of this particular club is the high-end escorts more than the strippers, but I won’t be partaking of either. Like I told Mackenzie, there’s only one woman I’m interested in.
“This wasn’t my idea,” he mumbles, taking a long draw from his glass.
“And yet, you gave Beau and Parker free rein in planning tonight.”
We went to prep school with both of them a decade ago, and while I hung out with them more in my early twenties, we’ve drifted apart the last few years.
“I thought you were friends with them. That they’d know what you’d like.”
I watch the two of them sitting at the stage, their eyes glued to Crystal’s assets. They’re both married, but that apparently wasn’t a factor in choosing to come here tonight.
“Maybe five years ago. But I haven’t spoken to either of them recently.”
“Oh.” I peek over at my older brother, the slightest hint of embarrassment on his face. “So who do you hang out with now?”
I sink further down in the soft leather of my seat, taking another sip from my tumbler, enjoying the burn of the alcohol as it trickles down my throat. “No one really. Not lately.” Not counting gorgeous hazel-eyed wedding planners, that is.
My old acquaintances just don’t hold the same appeal. I’ve tried going to parties in an attempt to recapture the same high I used to chase. People wanting me - for my status, my looks, my money.
Maybe I’ve outgrown it, though.
“When I got the text saying where the bachelor party was, I didn’t think you’d actually show.”
“I’m the best man,” he says, straightening his cufflinks. I can’t remember the last time I saw him out of a suit.
“It’s not really your scene.”
He sighs. “I’m starting to see it’s not yours either.”
Parker and Beau, along with the other assortment of guys they’ve invited, hoot and holler at a new girl on stage, her shimmery gold bikini and see-through skirt giving off some heavy Princess Leia vibes.
“No,” I say simply, leaving it at that.
“I realized when I went to plan it that I… I don’t know much about you, do I?”
I look over, his blue eyes trained on me. I shrug, not sure what he wants me to say.
“Connor told me off.”
“What?”