006

In front of the mirror her long ginger hair cascaded down her back; framing her rosy cheeks, pink–lined lips and smokey eyed minimal makeup. She wore a deep emerald silky dress with a thigh slit, with delicate straps that accentuated her shoulders and golden hoop earrings. April lets out a gasps from the doorway

“Oh. My. Gosh.”

“What?”

“If Tryese Westbrook doesn't go insane when he sees you he is officially blind.”

“Wait, heels” she shoved a pair of gold pumps into her hands. slipping it on, she was handed a small gold clutch “Here, carry this your phone, lipgloss and your credit card are already inside.”

“Now let's go ruin some lives.” she said with a mischievous grin.

The party wasn't what they were expecting for one, there were strippers sliding down polls attached to the roof, a central stage that had different dancers performing to songs from a live DJ and a bar stocked with top shelf liq*or, three bartenders hard at work. The whole mansion–sized house had been transformed into a strip club complete with two bouncers outside to check IDs.

Matt, the birthday boy had became a multi millionaire during the cr*pto boom, he had been tempted to drop out of school as a freshman but he stayed to keep the promise to his grandma to be the first person in their family to graduate . He drove foreign cars that cost a quarter, went to expensive holiday destination and threw lavish parties like this one.

Skylar couldn't understand why she listened to April, but deep down she knew she was right, this was a mission and the goal was to find the answers to the feelings she has been avoiding. “West is staring ” April nudged her.

“Let him” besides he was the only one she wanted to.

“Oh he is coming.”

“Hey Skylar” he said, then glanced at April “And….”

“l’m April. Jeez Sky I forgot to feed Marlow looking at West she explained “my pet fish”

“You don't have a pet fi–”

“Bye guys”

“Didn't think this was your scene”

“It’s not April wouldn't stop nagging me so I had to come”

“You look beautiful.”

“Thanks, I figured from the numerous catcalls, it felt like walking into a Lion’s den. She said a sudden blush coloring her cheeks.

“A lot of ho*ny men here” he muttered scanning the room.

Suddenly a chick came up behind him, looped her hands through his and pulled him down for a kiss. Skylar knew her the popular Olivia Andrew, who had a nasty streak of dating only league bound athletes.

“Who is this babe?” she had a possessive hand resting on his back.

“The name’s Skylar”

“Babe, I wanna dance”

“Not now Liv”

April scoffed “ Can you please stop flinging yourself at him it embarrassing”

“You've got a mouth on you huh?”

“You have no idea”

“You think you're special, let's me tell you he’s gonna toss you aside the minutes he find something shinier”

“Thanks for the warning, but I am not an insecure wh*re like you whose existence revolves round a guy.”

There was silence for a while, then Olivia let out a huff, flipped her hair and stormed away.

“Da*n it's fun not to be on the receiving end of that fury”

“You're welcome”

“Sorry you had to witness that, once they have at taste they can't get enough”

“In plain English, you're a player, the ruin them and leave’em kind.”

“Hey it not my fault people want to h**kup with me, I always make it clear it is strictly sex, no cuddling in bed in matching PJs after or meeting the family down the line but just like her they don't get it.

“So you don't do relationships”

“I don't do committed relationships”

She closed her eyes and inhaled did she make a mistake coming here? He will tossed you out when he finds someone shinier. Olivia's words were now mocking her.

“Don't let her poison you I got you sky you are different, you are the first person I'm telling this to, I want something serious with you just think about it sky.

“There is nothing to think about honestly I am here because I can't get you out of my head, I just hope you will take it easy on me when your heartless bas*ard symptoms kick in.

“I would never do that to you Sky”

“Don't say what you aren't sure of.”

“Can I kiss you, it's the safest way to express my obsession” he said gently

She looked up at him, the Westbrook she knew had been replaced by a sincere and vulnerable being standing in front of her.

“Yes”

In the rideshare she booked, she phoned April

“Hey April”

“Tell me everything”

“Okay so while we were talking, his ex some fake girl tried to get him to dance but I told her to fck off”

“Sky I have never seen you this angry staking your claim aren't you”

“Shut it, anyway we kissed in front of everyone”

“You did what?” She squealed.