“That was not the dance I was expecting, but I loved it nonetheless. In fact, I think it was better. I don’t really want anyone else seeing your body but me,” I whispered.
“Why do you think we opted to embarrass ourselves? We don’t want you looking at other men, Beautiful.”
“Well, I’m glad we’re on the same page.” I kissed him when what he said sunk in. “Oh, please tell me that you’re all going to do this?” My eyes rounded as I waited for him to answer me.
Nicco smiled, his eyes even getting in on the action. “Not just us, but Beau, Byron, Topher, and even Seb. If we were going to embarrass ourselves, they also had to.”
Laughing, I kissed him again, pulling him toward the couch to sit with us. Nicco obliged, dragging me into his lap as the next performer came out. When the fog cleared, we found Seb lip-singing a classic Dolly Parton song. “He pulls off the boobs,” I whispered to Cami, laughing. She and Lark were in tears as they watched him prance around the stage with his balloons.
Over the next hour, we were entertained by Monroe, Wells, Topher, Beau, and Byron. The only two left were Sax and Atticus, and I had to say, I was the most eager to see the both of them. This was so out of character, I had no idea what to expect. It seemed Sax was up first. The music started, showing us his back as he tapped his foot to the music, and I lost it.
He had on a long wig, and when he turned around to sing, it was everything. He belted out, “Natural Woman,” making anyone who would dare give him grief about it think twice because his performance was so good. I never thought the giant of a man, who often wore a scowl, could perform and move so well. We all stood when he hit his final pose, clapping and bowing in his honor. He tossed his wig over his shoulder and strutted off stage with all the grace of a diva.
“I don’t know how anyone could top that,” I said around a wheeze. We’d learned after the second one that we had to score them as well and pick a winner. It was apparently the only thing that made them all take it seriously. They wanted the bragging rights.
I’d had a few drinks by this point, so I was feeling good and enjoying the evening. To be honest, it was the best bachelorette party I could’ve ever hoped for.
We all started to cheer when the next song started, already loving it. When Atticus came out on stage, my jaw fell open, and I wondered if my heart had stopped. Nicco pushed it up, mimicking that he was wiping some drool.
“I don’t even care. That’s hot.”
The men laughed at me, having replaced the girls around me as their guys finished and joined us. Atticus was in tight jeans and a white tank-top, rocking the iconic Freddy Mercury look as he lip-synced along to “Bohemian Rhapsody.” We were all shouting it out by the end of the song, singing along with the music as we danced in our section. Clapping loudly, we roared our applause as he took his bow and joined us at the foot of the stage.
“So, Bellezza, who’s the winner?”
“Like I could choose.” I laughed, shaking my head. “I loved every single one of them because it was you all. Thank you, this was the best night ever.”
Atticus smiled, walking over and pulling me to him, kissing my lips as music started to play over the speakers. The six of us were in our own little bubble for a few moments as we danced and laughed, reminiscing our favorite parts from their performances.
“You happy, Lore?” Atticus asked me a few minutes later as I snuggled down into his embrace.
“The most happiest,” I said, kissing his chest.
“I’m glad.”
The girls all began to break off, leaving with their significant others, and I felt bad for Pixel when I realized everyone else had paired up. When I looked around the space, I found her talking to one of the bartenders, easing my guilt slightly.
“Come on, let’s go home, Wife.”
Saying my goodbyes, I hugged my friends, thanking them for the perfect night. As we stepped out through the back door, reality crashed into us again. There was no such thing as a night off in the mafia.