Stripped Love (Guys Next Door #1) - Baylin Crow Page 0,62

be getting out of there for several more hours. Maybe the party had been a bust, I considered.

I walked toward the stations and stood at the entrance to where Isaac worked, head bent and lips pursed in concentration. "Hey, Uncle Isaac. Phoenix needs a ride. Since we're slow, do you mind if I cut out early?"

He glanced up and absently waved me off. "Go ahead. Dylan can take over when he finishes up any minute. Until then, the shop will survive."

"Thanks." I tapped out a reply as I headed back toward the register.

Me: On my way.

I signed out of the system, and then headed for the back room where I grabbed my keys and went out the back exit.

The club's bright sign lit up the night. As I drove closer, it became clear the party hadn't been a bust after all. The parking lot was packed full, and when I entered the garage, the empty spaces were limited.

After finding a spot in a back corner furthest from the elevator and stairs, I parked and checked my phone. There hadn't been a response since I’d told Phoenix I was coming to get him, which I thought was off. He always messaged me back.

Me: Hey, the lot was full so I'm parked in the garage. Where are you?

My fingers stroked back and forth over the steering wheel as I waited. Ten long minutes later, I called his phone, but it only rang until an automated woman’s voice told me to leave a message so I rattled one off for him to call me.

I wasn't sure whether I should go looking for him, because he'd told me about the party. The event was invitation only, and you had to be on the list to get in.

As the minutes ticked by, my mind wandered to many scenarios. Maybe Phoenix wasn't getting my messages and calls because his phone died. What if he'd chanced making the trip home anyway? He hadn't specified what was wrong with his car, and I hadn't driven behind the club to see if it was still parked outside.

Deciding to do that first, I pulled out. Behind the building sat a parking lot, and I easily spotted his silver car, reflecting the city lights in an array of colors.

So, he was still there. I rolled my lips together as I once again found my parking spot. Only after a slight hesitation, I climbed out and sought out the stairs. Only one floor up, I quickly reached the ground floor and crossed the street.

Fast-paced, thumping music hummed behind the closed doors as I joined the short line. Standing alone was uncomfortable and only made worse when I scanned the outfits of those in front of me.

Dressier than the crowd from my birthday, men and women were decked out in evening finery edging on garish. Silk suits with Italian leather dress shoes met high heels and embellished gowns that swished from the warm breeze. The clothing struck me as odd at the entrance of a strip club, even if it was a high-end establishment.

Then there was me. My jeans and soft forest-green t-shirt were complemented with a pair of plain white sneakers.

"It's fine. I'm not going inside anyway," I muttered to myself. The goal was to have a message delivered to Phoenix.

The line moved quickly, and once it was my turn, I stepped in front of the bouncer, a different man than my last visit.

"Hi, I… I need to get a message to my boyfriend inside." I pasted on an optimistic smile. "I was hoping you might be able to do something."

He lifted his gaze from the tablet, eyes hidden behind sunglasses, and his nostrils flared as he scanned me over.

"Name?" his rusty voice choked out.

"Archer West." When he looked down at his tablet, I cleared my throat. "You won't find my name there. That's why I was hoping you could deliver a message." I eyed the high-tech earpiece and mic on the right side of his head.

"If you're not on the list, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do."

A frustrated breath rushed from my lungs as I considered what other options I had. None. "All right. Thanks anyway."

As I turned to leave, he held up a finger, and I paused. "Now wait a minute, kid. You said your name is Archer West?"

"Yeah." My eyebrows scrunched together. "Why?"

"You're on the list." He tapped on the touchscreen. "Show me your ID and I'll let you in, but fair warning, you may be asked to