StarPyre by Jade Waltz (ebook reader 7 inch .txt) 📕

I wouldn’t be doing that again.

Nope.

I was happy to be friends with male ravers and hook up with them when the time was right, but I would never date a raver again. The whole point of a music festival was to enjoy yourself with acquaintances, no strings attached. Every raver I’d ever dated hadn’t wanted to stick by my side at events, to dance, make out, and have fun as a couple. Instead, they’d acted as if they were single, making out with girls and grinding on them without a care. And yet, whenever I’d danced with my girls or gay guy friends, jealousy had reared its ugly head, and each one had caused a scene.

If Clay was willing to hang out with me for the night, we could have a good time. As soon as he showed any signs of being a jerk, however, I planned to ditch him. After all, we hadn’t come here together as a pair. I was under no obligation to go home with him if I didn’t want to.

“Clay sounds fine to me.” I gave his costume a once-over. He was wearing a shirtless NASA uniform with blue shorts that had a big NASA Rocket Launch Pad patch right above his crotch. And I could tell by the smoldering look he was giving me and his choice of attire, he clearly believed he’d nabbed a one-night stand, or at least someone he could have fun with for the night.

He leaned forward, his lips next to my ear. “And what might your name be?”

Deciding to entertain him and play along, I traced one of his pectorals. “What do you think it should be?”

“I can call you Nova, for now,” he replied, pulling away. “But I hope to catch your real name before the end of the night.”

“Perhaps,” I chuckled and pressed my hands to his chest, giving him a playful shove. “If you can keep up.”

“That sounds like a challenge,” he purred with heated eyes. “Good thing I always win.”

“Now’s the time you’ve all been waiting for!” The energetic host announced at full volume into the sound system. “All beauties who believe they have what it takes to win, come to the stage.”

Clay’s hands tightened on my hips before he released me. “I guess this means that I have to let you go.”

“You make it sound like I won’t be returning.”

“Not after you win.” He frowned. “Everyone will want to dance with the hottest chick here.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well, I’ll have to win first.” I tugged on my space fairy top, exposing more of the top of my breasts, before doing a quick twirl. “How do I look?” I asked over my shoulder, shaking my ass toward him as my hair smacked my rainbow LED wings, the lights shimmering on their surface.

His gaze traced my body and paused on my ass. “Like I said: out of this world.”

Giving him a short, teasing twerk, I blew him a kiss. “Thanks, Rocketman.”

He was too stunned to reply as I turned and made my way to the stage. His reaction gave me the confidence boost I needed, especially since Kaylie hadn’t shown her face yet. I checked my smartwatch one more time to find no reply from her. Whatever. If she didn’t want to come tonight, then she shouldn’t have told me she’d be here. I joined her at all of her events, even the ones I didn’t care for. She could at least attend the one that I was most excited about.

I wasn’t going to allow her absence to ruin my night. Besides, even if she were here, there was no way she would stand in the crowd while I was on stage. I loved the chick, but she hated missing a chance to be in the spotlight.

None of that mattered. The night was young, the event was terrific, and I could leave with Rocketman when the night was over. If he played his cards right, I might assist him with his blast off.

I chuckled to myself at my joke. While I didn’t originally plan on leaving this rave with a guy, after being stood up by my bestie, the idea sounded more and more enticing. It had been a while since I’d been with someone, and the thought of riding Clay was starting to appeal.

The stage’s security guard asked for my pre-registered event number, and I flashed him my lanyard before ascending to the raised platform. The whole stage was packed with a line of contestants from one edge to the other. For a moment, I feared I was the last one to enter the contest, until a blonde girl with a handlebar ponytail, dressed in a hot pink Princess Leia slave bikini, quickly filed in beside me. I sighed as my worries fled me.

I hated being last—or late, for that matter. A late arrival always drew unneeded negative attention.

“Cute costume,” the hot pink Leia whispered. “What are you? A space elf?”

“Thanks.” I shot a glance at her. “Space fairy, but close enough. I wish I could rock your costume.”

“Yeah, I never was a fan of Star Trek.” She shrugged. “But I figured the costume was too perfect not to wear to an event like this.”

“You mean Star Wars,” I deadpanned as I tried not to cringe at her mistake.

“Yeah, whatever,” she scoffed, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. “It’s basically the same thing.”

I decided to drop the subject. It was apparent she didn’t care. The most important thing to her was looking hot and winning this contest.

I tried not to let myself get annoyed with her comment. My costume was clearly superior. Anyone could find a golden bikini, strap a few window curtains to it, and call that original.

Usually, I wasn’t this bitchy, but something about her attitude rubbed me the wrong way. Top that off with my night not going as planned. Maybe I was transferring my irritation with Kaylie onto the