‘More like I’d hate to cramp your style. I’ll see you later,’ he paused, about to leave but glanced at Jaz, his eyes holding hers meaningfully. ‘Congrats on your win, you deserved it. You have great footwork.’ He stood staring at her as if he couldn’t believe it himself. Then he turned and walked out of the gymnasium, taking all the female eyes with him. Jaz wondered if she’d see him at The Ring tomorrow.
Now that he knew her age, would he still flirt with her like he had when she was doing her yoga? Would he treat her differently? Taylor took her hand and dragged her towards the team and that was the last she thought about Ryan as she was swept away in the celebrations.
Chapter 7
‘Okay, here’s our new fake IDs,’ said Anna, handing them out to Taylor and Jaz as they stood in his bedroom. They were staying the night at Taylor’s because his dad was always busy with work and didn’t ask too many questions. Which Taylor thought was hilarious for a cop.
‘These look real,’ said Jaz. ‘I better not let Mum find it.’
Taylor shook his head. ‘My God, you could go into business selling these. Dad would freak. Anna, you have a scary talent,’ he said grinning at her. ‘Where do you get this stuff?’
Anna shrugged. ‘You’d be amazed, Tay. Pax has so much stuff, I kinda just borrowed the bits I needed. I don’t think he will notice, at least I hope not.’ Anna bit her lip. ‘I’m sure I can persuade him it was for the greater good of our youth.’
‘Well I don’t know about you lot, but I’m going to get changed and then we’re off dancing.’ Jaz grabbed her bag and headed into the spare room where they were sleeping. Anna followed excitedly.
Twenty minutes later, Taylor began banging on their door. ‘Come on you two. Surely you’re ready by now.’
Anna cracked open the door and whispered out. ‘Do you know how hard it is being a girl? The pressure to look good isn’t easy. Statistically speaking a — ’
‘Anna,’ said Taylor cutting her off before she began her tirade. He pushed the door open so he could see them. He hooked his finger into his trendy jeans nervously. ‘You look amazing,’ he said, blushing slightly.
‘That’s what I’ve been telling her,’ said Jaz as she pushed Anna out. ‘Little black dresses always work, especially teamed up with heels.’
Taylor glanced at Anna’s elegant shoes, then to Jaz’s feet, covered with knee-high boots that hardly had a heel. He raised his eyebrows.
‘What? I might need to run or something,’ said Jaz.
‘You are always prepared for everything, Jaz. But they’re still sexy boots,’ he added. She smiled.
Jaz had left her hair out, wore an off-the-shoulder top and she’d added big hoop earrings at Anna’s insistence.
‘I think we are ready to go. So where to, Tay?’ Anna looped her arm around his, while Jaz went to his other side. The three headed down the passage.
‘Well, I was thinking, seeing as Anna’s done such a fab job on our IDs, that we should see if we can get into Ramblers.’
Anna squealed. ‘Really?’
‘That joint is all anyone talks about.’ All Jaz could think was, wait until Minka hears they went to Ramblers with Taylor. Oh, she’d just be green with envy. ‘Let’s do it.’
Ramblers was the ‘it’ nightclub in the city at the moment. They’d only ever gone to smaller clubs or bars where they had a chance of sneaking into without an ID check, so tonight would be a treat.
‘Let’s go, girls.’
As they climbed into the waiting taxi, Jaz couldn’t help but feel totally excited. The three of them off for a night of fun. They laughed and joked all the way into Northbridge. They probably gave their Indian taxi driver a headache but nothing was going to spoil their fun.
‘Hey, I told Mum we were watching the latest Vampire Diaries season. Everyone cool with that?’ said Anna as they got out of the taxi onto the lit street.
Taylor paid the taxi man before he added, ‘Yep, righto. But I doubt your folks will call to check. They trust us.’
‘Huh, I don’t think my mum trusts me. I have to tell her everything and she always knows when I’ve been up to something. It’s like she has a sixth sense.’ Jaz pulled out her phone. ‘See, she’s already texted to see if I’m okay!’ With a groan she handed her phone to Taylor to keep in his jeans pocket. She had no room for it in her sexy black skirt.
‘No, your mum just has a great bullshit detector, Jaz. Always has,’ said Anna. ‘I’ve never been able to lie to her face. Oh my God, we’re here,’ she said nervously, flapping her hands.