Danger! Bad Boy(22)

The stripper finished off her performance, whispering in my ear again, “I’m off in an hour.”

Yeah, how much would that cost me?

Guys like Levi or Brooks would’ve taken her up on that. The old me would’ve had her in my hotel room in an hour and a half, making Dante find somewhere else to be.

But that was the old me.

The stripper was in her early twenties and she wouldn’t have been the first female I let think I was older than my years. Not that I hadn’t been with older girls with them knowing full well I was too young for them.

Abruptly, the thought of older guys doing the same with Gianna popped into my head, making me see red. Which was ridiculous since I was the only guy in Gianna’s short sexual history. As much fun as I’d had getting laid in the past, the thought of Gianna acting the same way disgusted me. Whether it made me an asshole or not, I couldn’t help feeling that way.

The stripper sauntered off, on the prowl for her next easy money. Lost in a mass of conflicting thoughts, I stared off after her.

Levi got my attention by saying, “Hey, man, when you’re done having fun with Gianna, can I have a little fun of my own?”

I pushed his shoulder to get him away from me. Incredibly pissed off, I couldn’t shake the feeling of doom. I was playing a game with Gianna tonight I didn’t fully understand. Had I made the wrong decision with the stripper? In retrospect, Gianna could have been testing me in a way I’d just failed.

Gianna got up, announcing she was going to the restroom with Rita. Before I realized what was about to happen, Levi grabbed her around the waist to pull her down on his lap. “My turn. How about giving me a lap dance, Gianna?”

Gianna hands went up, maybe to wrap her arms around his neck, maybe to push him away.

I didn’t wait to see. Standing up, I yanked her off his lap, giving him a killing look and debating whether or not to start a fight in a strip club. I definitely didn’t want to be dragged out of here by the gargantuan bouncers.

Looking unhappy, Gianna laughed humorlessly. “What’s the matter, Caleb? We’re only having fun. It’s not like we’re in love.”

So that was her game.

I retained my grip on her arm and told the idiots we’d met tonight, “We’re leaving.” No reason to exchange numbers, except for maybe Liberty they were all dumb shits.

Our new friends looked a little alarmed, but didn’t make a move to interfere. That solidified it. I knew I’d never physically hurt Gianna, but they didn’t know me well enough to make that call.

Maybe there were instances when meeting new people was a waste of time.

Gianna called out, “It was nice meeting you guys!”

Stepping out into the warm Vegas night, she turned to me. “I thought we were having fun?”





CHAPTER SIX




“True love cannot be found where it does not truly exist;

nor can it be hidden where it does.”

-David Schwimmer



CALEB



Tonight was not going as planned. Gianna had managed to throw all my words in my face. My idea of a committed relationship with no love involved hadn't turned out as planned either.

We were driving back to the hotel sitting on opposite sides of the backseat in our taxi. Gianna had her eyes closed and was leaning her head against the window. I stared at her for a whole minute as she ignored my presence.

"Quit pretending to sleep, Gianna."

"Caleb," she paused, "It’s in both of our best interests that I'm pretending to sleep."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I asked in aggravation.

Her eyes remained closed. "I don't want to be the drunk, crazy girlfriend. I think I've made enough of a fool of myself during this trip."

I grabbed her arm and dragged her towards me. "Come here, princess."

She tried to pull away. "Just leave it alone, Caleb."

"Leave what alone? I still don't understand what the hell is going on!"

I noticed the cabbie looking at us in his rearview mirror. When she didn’t respond, I let it go for now. Minutes later, we were dropped off in front of our hotel and I handed the driver money before rushing in after Gianna.

We traveled in silence through the hazy hotel casino, up the elevator and into our hotel room. As I shut the door, flipping the latch, Gianna escaped into the bathroom. After ten minutes she hadn’t come out and I couldn’t hear the shower running.

Moving over to the closed door, I put my ear against it.

Dammit!

She was crying.

Restless, I knocked on the door. "Baby, open the door."

She didn’t answer, but I heard the faucet turn on.

I said calmly, but in a tone that let her know how serious I was, "Gianna, I will break this door down. I really don't want to have to pay for it, but I will."