“We’re splitting it down the middle,” he confirmed. “All of our savings. If the finances go through, we’re splitting the loan too.”
“Shit, that’s brave,” said Mason. He sat back down in his spot, handing us each a fresh beer.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” said Corey.
“Nothing lost either,” Mason pointed out.
Corey grunted as he brought the bottle to his lips. I’d started rattling the dice, but stopped to watch the cool liquid slide down his sexy throat.
“Fuck it,” he said, letting out a gratified sigh. “You can’t take it with you.”
He looked cool and confident, but I could tell there was an underlying nervousness there too. It was a big step. A huge move. Luckily he was undertaking it with someone else. Someone who was like a brother to him.
“You guys must do well for yourselves,” I said. “Saving up enough money to open your own place.”
“As dancers?”
“She was about to say strippers,” Mason teased, “but yeah, I think that’s what she meant.”
Corey looked at me smugly and only smiled. He tipped his beer back again.
“It’s not as glamorous as you’d think,” he told me. “Or fun.”
“Oh no?” I chuckled. “Two super-hot guys dancing in front of a bunch of horny girls?”
“Yeah but 90% of them are drunk. Ever been the only sober person at an all-drunk party?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Well it’s just like that,” said Corey. “Seems like it would be fun. But then you get there, and… no.”
I looked at him carefully, watching his expression. For some reason I was still skeptical.
“Seriously?” added Mason. “You’re in Vegas, man! Everybody’s cutting loose, no?”
I nodded in agreement. “Stripping in front of all those eager bachelorette parties? All those bridesmaids, on vacation?” I stopped rattling the dice long enough to poke him. “Shit, you must have your pick.”
“We don’t,” Corey said simply. “I mean we do and we don’t.”
“Do and don’t what?”
“We could have our pick, but we don’t do… that.”
Mason cocked his head. “Don’t do what? What are we talking abou—”
“We don’t shit where we eat,” Corey jumped in. “That’s what I’m saying.”
I threw my hand forward and rolled. The dice came up with a total of 10. Two fives. I started moving my little dog around the board.
“I guess that’s why we came up with the flyer,” Corey went on. He was talking to no one in particular now. “It gave us an outlet. Something to spend our energies on. I mean, we’d have girls rubbing up on us all night long. Getting us going, getting us excited. But not being able to rub back…”
“Awww… girls rubbing up on you all night,” Mason groaned, rolling his eyes. “Sounds brutal.”
I laughed. So did Corey.
“It must be absolutely terrible,” Mason went on. “All those eager women. I’d be so sick and tired of—”
“FUCK!” I shouted.