by Debbie Civil
Chapter 27
Jake
Strippers! Damn. I’ve had my share of them. But I guess that Malcolm hasn’t gotten the memo. They actually have to be attractive. We’re in a hotel suite eating pizza and watching sports center when the doorbell rings.
“Hey brother,” Malcolm says. “Maybe you should go get that.” Nathan, who had been sitting on the couch nursing a beer, glares at his brother.
“Why?” Malcolm laughs.
“Trust me. It’s interesting.” Nathan walks over to the door and Malcolm discretely fumbles with his iPod. He connects his iPod to the system and as soon as Nathan opens the door, Malcolm starts playing “Shake it off” by Taylor swift. I’m expecting a scantily clad woman but see Donald and Matt in drag instead. I start laughing so hard that beer sprouts from my nose. They look terrible in short skirts, bras, and blonde wigs. Nathan, who’s serious, doesn’t know how to react at first. But then, he clears his voice and says, “you’ll are some ugly girls.” Unfortunately for us, the two of them decide to give us a show. Malcolm, being the DJ, switches to “Anaconda” by Nicki Minaj, and it all goes downhill from there. They don’t take off what they are wearing. They just dance and shake their butts in our faces. I duck and hold up a hand when Matt swaggers over to me. He flips me the bird, shakes his butt once, then walks off to harass Dom, who’s completely drunk and laughing. At least this takes my mind off of Carmen. I felt bad for ditching her at the dinner, but talking to her is very difficult because I’m trying to avoid certain topics.
“Strippers,” Dean groans as he sits beside me.
“Ugly ones,” I mutter as I finish off the summer ale.
“I wonder what Danny has planned for the ladies,” Dean says.
“Something boring,” I mutter. Dean grins and pulls out his iPhone. He has a thing for Stephanie, which is a mystery for me. She’s stiff and proper. But maybe that’s what Dean likes. He taps his phone, then his eyes go wide at something on the screen. It doesn’t bother me much. What’s the point of caring what Danny does? She’s perfectly responsible.
“Oh no,” Dean mutters. He continually curses, and I get the feeling that Stephanie has probably found someone else. I’m not about to ask him about it. I have my own problem, and her name is Carmen Philips. “Jake, check this out.” Dean thrusts the phone at me, and I take a look at the screen and curse, loudly. Bridget, being an airhead that she is has posted pictures on Instagram, and they aren’t flattering. In one shot, my little sister has her shirt off, and she’s waving it in the air. Another picture is of Eli getting a lap dance from a naked man. That caption reads, “My naughty best friend, having fun.” Well, this is just perfect. I’m being a tool right now, but I’m angry. I punching someone can be explained away. After all, I’m a guy who was defending someone’s honor. But Danny, waving her shirt in the air like a trophy isn’t a misstep. Uncle James is going to have a heart attack. I pull out my phone and dial Carmen’s number. She should have known better than to allow something so reckless.
