One of Them Girls by Cala Riley (the gingerbread man read aloud txt) 📕

the girls will wish they looked as good as you out on that floor.”

Virgil’s a smooth talker, that’s for sure.

She gives me one last look before sliding her hand into his and letting him lead her to the edge of the dance floor. They talk a little as they wait for the next song to come on. Once it does, he pulls her out, placing her left hand on his shoulder, while taking the other in his hand.

Then they are moving.

My mind goes back to seeing him dance with Cassi. She made it look effortless. She looked gorgeous under the dim lights as he twirled her around the floor. Like she was born for this.

The dance with Tinsley is similar, but not as complicated. He keeps the steps simple, moving her easily across the floor. Before I forget, I pull out my phone, recording them.

Once they are done, she gives Virgil a hug before coming back to me.

“Oh. My. God. That was so much fun! I want to do that all the time.” She takes a long swig of her soda.

“I’m sure if you ask, he’ll keep dancing with you. He’s kind of known for dancing with the ladies.”

She chuckles. “Oh, I plan on it.”

“You should send this to Fin.” I motion toward the video now playing on my phone.

She laughs. “He will love that. Send it to me.”

“Have you talked to him?” I ask casually.

She sighs. “He won’t tell me what he had to take care of, but he assures me he’s safe and that he wanted me away from it all. I knew when he stopped working for Rocky that he would owe him a favor.”

“It must have been a big one for him to send you out here. He hates me.”

She swats my arm. “He doesn’t hate you. Finley trusts you. He knew I would be safe here with you and you wouldn’t let anyone mess with me.”

“Well shit, now that you say that, you better delete that video or else he will never let you visit me again.” I try to grab her phone, but she pulls away.

“No way! I’m sending it. You already sealed your fate, buddy.”

“Damn, X, you’ve been holding out. Who is this dime piece?” I shake my head as I turn to greet Jack.

“Hands off, Jack. This is my best friend, Tinsley, who is off-limits.”

He places his hand over his chest. “I’m wounded. Why would you put someone as pretty as her off-limits?”

I push his shoulder. “It’s not me putting her off-limits. She has a psychotic boyfriend who wouldn’t think twice about burying your ass, and then I would likely get a shitty ass roommate. I’m simultaneously saving your life while keeping mine pleasant.”

“Hey,” Tinsley protests. “I can handle myself.” She reaches out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

He looks at her hand with wide eyes like he’s afraid, but then he smiles, shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you too, ma’am.”

“Ma’am? I’m not eighty.” She rolls her eyes.

“That’s what we call all the pretty ladies down here. Speaking of pretty ladies, X, did you know your girlfriend is on the other end of the bar in a sexy little get-up getting all the guys riled up?”

My heart races. “Cassi’s here?”

“Funny, I thought she wasn’t your girlfriend?” Tinsley quips.

“It’s complicated,” I mumble.

“Well, complicated or not, let’s go say hi.” She gets off her stool, but I wave her off remembering the look on Cassi’s face earlier.

“Let me talk to her first. I’ll be right back. Jack, will you keep Tins company?” I give him the look that says this is serious.

“Of course. Go get your girl.”

I walk toward the end of the bar, spotting her instantly.

Fuck, does she take my breath away. She’s a walking wet dream. In a black, lace dress that barely covers her ass, her legs look sexy as fuck. She has her hair curled, falling across her back, ending just above the hem of her dress. Her tan legs peek at me between the material of her dress and her high, cowgirl boots. She looks like she just stepped out of a country music video.

The group she’s with burst out with laughter, shaking me from the trance she pulled me under.

Walking up to her, I let my hand fall to the small of her back as I whisper in her ear, “Fuck, you look sexy as hell right now. I could just eat you up.”

She stiffens. “Xavier, what are you doing here?”

Her voice is emotionless, which tells me that look I saw earlier was something.

“Tinsley invited you to come with us. You said you were busy.” I can feel myself getting defensive.

Why is she acting like this?

“I guess I just assumed this wasn’t her scene.” She gestures to the table that has gotten eerily quiet.

“Can we go somewhere to talk?” I change tactics.

“Nope, I’m busy. Run back off to your little girlfriend,” she dismisses me, turning back to her friends.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her my girlfriend is sitting in front of me, but before I can say a word, one of the guys from the table stands up, offering his hand to her.

“I would love to dance, Ian,” she answers his unasked question, getting up from her stool.

Seeing her hand in his snaps something inside of me. Before I know what I’m doing, I pull her from his grip, placing my body in front of hers.

“Get your hand off my girl,” I grit out.

“Sounds like she doesn’t want to be your girl anymore. Take the hint, buddy.” He tries to step around me, but I sidestep to block him.

Cassi pushes me back. “Get away from me, asshole.”

“No,” I say over my shoulder. “You’re not going with him.”

“Oh, and who is going to stop me?”

“Me. Your boyfriend. Now we need to talk.” I turn, facing her, but her face is pure fury.

“I’m not going anywhere with you and you’re not my boyfriend. You made that abundantly clear earlier with your size two model.”

Fuck, she’s