SWNOVELS Finn Rhodes Forever: Chapter 40
“YOU LOOK HOT,” Sadie said, nodding with appreciation, wiggling her shoulders in the crowded community center.
She had insisted we sit in the front row. Music pumped through the sound system while people filed in the door and took their seats, and her eyes glittered in the dim lighting. Across her torso, a sash read Hot Mama.
She sipped her drink as her eyes came to my chest. “Your boobs look good in that dress.”
My boobs did look good in this dress. It was a simple black t-shirt dress but the cotton was soft and clingy and the neckline dipped low. I had slipped a black velvet choker on, drawn a subtle but sharp winged liner, and added two coats of mascara.
A little flicker pulsed in my chest, wishing Finn could see me like this. Imagining how his eyes would flare, heat tugged on something low in my stomach.
I grinned. “So do you. What’s Holden doing tonight?”
“Probably prowling outside.”
We laughed.
“No, he’s at home.” She smiled and her hand rested on her bump. “I told him not to wait up but I’m sure he will. He’s very protective these days.”
“More than normal?”
She rolled her eyes with a smile.
Avery and Hannah returned to the table with another round of drinks. Max, who worked with Avery, and Div, who worked with Emmett, sat at the table beside us. Elizabeth and a group of her friends, including Avery’s mom, were at the next.
My gaze floated over the crowd. Half the town was here.
The music volume dropped and everyone rushed to take their seats. As the lights dimmed, the conversation faded out.
“Citizens of Queen’s Cove,” Emmett’s voice came over the sound system, “are you ready?”
The crowd started screaming and we all turned to Avery with confused expressions.
She shrugged. “Miri asked him if he wanted to MC and he said he’d love to.”
“They’re handsome, they’re ripped, and they work very, very hard to please,” Emmett continued. A low beat started playing in the background. “All the way from Victoria, please welcome your entertainment for tonight!”
The crowd cheered and applauded, the music turned up, and five shirtless men strode on stage, wearing fitted gray sweatpants and sneakers, and carrying chairs. The second they appeared, the crowd went wild, and Sadie and I burst out laughing. The music turned up even louder and the men started dancing, thrusting and rolling their hips in time with the music. Dot immediately threw a handful of bills on stage, clapping with enthusiasm as a man in his twenties dropped to his knees in front of her, smiling at her.
In front of us, another dancer crawled toward me and Sadie. He eyed her sash and shot her a wink.
“Hey, Mama,” he said with a grin, and she laughed.
The dancers spun their chairs on one leg before tilting them back and thrusting against them in an insinuating way. Miri was almost jumping out of her seat with excitement.
“Why are they wearing sweatpants?” Sadie sipped her drink and peered at them with curiosity. “I thought they’d wear something like cowboy outfits.”
One of the dancers stepped closer to us. The outline of his package was clearly visible beneath the fabric of his pants.
“Oh,” I said, eyebrows going up. “I guess that’s why.”
He danced closer to Elizabeth, and she stood and tucked a twenty into his waistband, wearing a cheeky smile that looked like Finn’s. She wiggled her eyebrows at me and I shook my head, laughing.
The guys performed a series of dances, eventually stripping down to glittery gold thongs, until Emmett announced an intermission, and everyone stood up to get more drinks and use the washroom.
Sadie leaned into our table. “This is so fun. I’m glad we got all dressed up. Getting checked out is good for the soul, even if we are all going home to our loves.”
“Are we?” Hannah asked, watching me over the rim of her glass.
I shot her a weird expression. “Are we what?”
Her teal eyes glittered. “Are we all going home to our loves?”
My heart stuttered and I blinked. “Um.” A funny, weird, pleased warmth melted into my blood.
Avery waved a hand. “Don’t bug her about it.” She cleared her throat, all business. “So, Olivia, tell us about Finn’s dick.”
I choked on my drink and we all started laughing.
“Yeah.” Sadie toyed with a long lock of hair. “Does the family curse run down the whole line?”
Hannah’s face flushed bright red but her eyes shined with laughter. I tried to hide it but my grin stretched ear to ear.
“He’s your brother-in-law,” I said, shaking my head. “You perverts.”
Avery put her hands together and slowly moved them apart, glancing between me and her hands. “Say when.”
We dissolved into another round of giggles.
“We haven’t had sex yet,” I admitted. I didn’t tell them that Finn’s cock had barely fit in my mouth.
Sadie’s eyes bugged out. “What?”
“I mean, we slept together once when we were teenagers, but not in this decade. He’s trying to…” I rubbed my forehead, frowning. “… go slow.”
“Oh.” Avery tilted her head, watching me with confusion.
Hannah’s eyes sparkled. “Finn is trying to go slow,” she repeated.
“Yep.” My stomach fluttered at their surprise.
Finn, going slow for me. Finn, trying not to freak me out. Finn, who wanted me and would fight his instincts and desire for me so we could have something special long-term.
“Damn.” Avery smiled down at her drink. “I thought he’d be banging down your door every night.”
Sadie snorted and I rolled my eyes.
“Okay, folks.” Emmett was back on the mic from backstage. “We have a very special surprise for you tonight. While our guests oil their muscles backstage, we have some additional entertainers for your viewing pleasure.”
Miri glanced over at me with a smile, and alarm plucked in my stomach.
“Please welcome the Queen’s Cove fire department!”