“Shut up,” I snap back at Tom, but I can’t help the smirk that crosses my face. Even I have to admit I would laugh if it happened to someone else. It bloody hurt, though. I place my hand on my bum to rub it better.
“Here, let me help you with that,” Tom suggests, making a move to come up on the stage.
I whack his hand away. “Get away, pervert.”
Everyone laughs, but Tom simply shrugs his shoulders. “Worth a shot.”
Tabatha, smiling, walks over to me. “Apart from the little mishap, that was pretty cool. You have to have a lot of upper body strength for that, so well done.” I beam at Tabitha, and the crowd cheers as I take a bow.
Jessie takes her turn, but she can’t do much because she’s wearing a dress. It makes me feel thankful that I thought of this short suit as not only is it very comfortable, it helps hide me in all the right places.
Under the circumstances, though, Jessie does really well. She certainly gets the crowd going. Jerry’s standing amongst them looking proud. It tugs on my heart a little, and again I start feeling miserable because I miss Jake so much.
“I know that face,” Jessie comments. “Come on, let’s drink some more champagne.”
We thank Tabatha before Jessie pulls me by my arm off the stage towards the table, Mandy following right behind us. We all sit, Mandy next to me, and Jessie slides in close to Jerry.
“You looked great out there, baby,” Jerry gushes, giving Jessie the come-to-bed eyes. “Very sexy.”
Jessie purrs the words “Thank you,” before retrieving her phone from her handbag. “Excuse me for a moment,” she says looking over at us. “I need to make a phone call.”
She briskly gets up to leave the three of us, so I pour a glass for Jerry and Mandy. They both thank me, then we all take appreciative sips. “I hope you don’t mind me saying, Jerry, but you and Jessie look so good together.”
He beams back at me like that thought pleases him. “Not at all, she’s perfect.”
Mandy places her hand on her heart and says, “Aww, that’s so sweet.”
Jessie soon returns and motions me onto the dance floor. We start dancing and wiggling our hips to the beat. I’m having so much fun, and I owe it all to Jessie. “Jessie, this was perfect, thank you.”
She smiles mischievously back at me. “It isn’t over yet, girl.” She gives me a cheeky wink before twirling.
After a few dances with Jamal and Brian, we go back to the champagne and continue drinking.
“This is just perfect,” Jessie says between sips. “Well done you for seducing the Italian stallion—even if he is dangerous.”
“I didn’t seduce him. He’s just being kind, that’s all.” I pull her over to the stage, and Tabatha starts to do a little dance for us. I get out some dollar bills, and she sashays over, swinging her hips. I place a ten-dollar bill in her G-string, and she winks before walking back to carry on dancing. “I’ve always wanted to do that,” I confess.
Jessie looks at me like I’ve suddenly grown two heads. “You’re so weird at times, do you know that?”
I feel someone’s hand grip my waist, and when I turn around, James is standing there. “That was sexy as hell. Do you think you could go up there and put on a show with the stripper girl for us?”
I push him away, causing him to stumble back on a laugh. “James, you’re disgusting. Why do men always find two women such a turn on?”
He starts licking his lips and looking over my body. I roll my eyes. “You’re hot. She’s hot. The combination of the two would be electric. Why don’t you come to the restroom with me for a minute?”
I gasp, hitting him on the shoulder. “James, fuck off. I’m not going anywhere with you. You’re just as bad as Tom.”
“Only for a minute, James?” Jessie snorts. “Is that how long you’ll last?”
I blurt out a laugh, kicking myself for not thinking of that first.
27
Later on, the party is still in full swing, and the dancers leave the stage to take a well-earned break.
They join the gang of boys—which they share full delight in—while Jessie and I carry on dancing without a care in the world.
“Jessie, this was the best birthday party I have ever had. I’ll never forget it, thank you.” She leans in for