Finally, the little red car parked in a pay lot downtown. Blake cursed, trying to figure out if he should circle the block and see where they were going or find a parking spot, too.
A loading zone appeared in his line of sight, and he whipped into the illegal spot and kept the motor running.
In his rearview, he watched the two women climb out of the car and walk toward a line of bars and restaurants across the street.
Tori walked in easy, confident strides like she owned the road while Kristen teetered behind her looking as if she’d never worn heels a day in her whole life.
He shook his head, amusement pricking. The humor died when he realized where they were heading.
“Don’t go in the Rusty Nut,” he muttered. “For fuck’s sake, don’t go in there.”
And they went in.
Blake’s sighed and grabbed his phone and texted James.
They’re at the Rusty Nut.
James replied a few seconds later.
Seriously? It’s, like, a guaranteed STD just by going inside. Plus it has shit beer. WTF are they doing there?
Blake let out a dry laugh and shook his head. Finding Kristen’s one-night stand. James didn’t need that reminder.
Do me a favor? Go in and keep an eye on them? Don’t let her go home with some douche.
“Oh, come on!” Blake yelled at James’s text.
He should say no. The idea of following the two women into the club sounded about as fun as visiting the dentist for a root canal. Not to mention Kristen would kill him if she figured out what he was up to.
But then the visual of her flirting with some sleazeball—maybe even sleeping with him—had his stomach clenching.
He lowered his head to the steering wheel, knocking it against it a few times.
“It’s your fucking day off, Blake,” he reminded himself.
He grabbed his phone and stabbed out a reply.
Fine. But you owe me.
He was doing this for his friend. That was literally the only reason. There was a tiny part of him that argued with that rationale, though.
Blake turned on his signal and swung out into traffic. First thing, he had to find a real parking spot.
*
“Wow.”
“‘Wow’ what?” Tori glanced over her shoulder.
Kristen forced a bright smile and tried to move faster to keep up with her friend. “I know you said this was going to be kind of a meat-market-type place, but I didn’t exactly expect this.”
The only light that filled the seedy bar came in from one window up front. While walking in heels was already a challenge, having her shoes land in a sticky substance she’d rather not analyze made it even more difficult.
A big, burly bouncer stopped them a few feet inside the building. “IDs, and it’s a ten-dollar cover.”
“I have to pay to go in here?” Kristen squeaked.
Tori shot her a hard look.