Free Something Wicked by Jillian Sterling Page B

low.
    "Is that all it takes?"
    "He just...well, he actually seems nice. I think he
feels bad about what happened."
    "This is like one step away from prostitution, you
know."
    "Oh my god, Amanda! I'm not doing this because I think
he'll drop the loan if I sleep with him!" I lowered my voice more.
"Do you think he would?"
    She crossed her arms and sat back in the booth. "Is
your pussy worth 25 grand?"
    I felt the heat creep up to my face. "Amanda!"
    She grinned. "Well, is it?"
    I snorted. "Probably not."
    "You like him?"
    "Not really. I mean, he's a giant tool when I see him
at the frat house. But away from there, he seems nice, funny. Kind of charming.
Even this afternoon, I think he almost felt bad telling me about the
loan."
    "Well, we've established that he's easy on the eyes,"
she gave in. "Just tread carefully, okay?"
    I nodded. "Of course."
    The lights dimmed and the music volume pumped up. It was
late enough that Huskie's transitioned from bar/restaurant to dance club.
    Amanda grinned. "The DJ doesn't suck!"
    "You know what that means?" I asked. She shook her
head. "We may have to dance!"
    Amanda recoiled. "Oh hell no, Izzy!"
    "Izzy?" Danny asked, returning from ordering. He
and Rick brought more beers with them. "Is that what your friends call you?
    I nodded. "Yes, my friends call me Izzy. Or Iz."
    "Can I call you Izzy?"
    "I guess," I replied.
    "So, then we're friends?" He asked, his grin
sliding back into place.
    "Tonight we're friends," I said, my red light
caution flags were waving a little. I mean, Amanda was right. I owe this guy's
family—and by extension, this guy—a hell of a lot of money.
    "I'll take that. For now."
    The four of us made small talk while we waited for our
burgers to come out. We found out Danny and Rick were going to start the
professional MBA program this semester, which explained why Danny was still
bunking at the frat house. When the burgers and fries finally arrived, we
stuffed ourselves. The guys bought a few more rounds.
    While Huskie's transitioned from restaurant to nightclub,
the place filled up. Just as I polished off the last of my fries, Tara walked
in with her entourage of sorority sisters. Her eyes opened wide when she saw
me, and she sauntered over to our table.
    "What's up, Danny? Rick? You boys slumming
tonight?" she asked. "At Huskies, I mean."
    I guess the faux smile she pasted on was supposed to take
the sting off the insult.
    "Hey, Tara. Looking good tonight!" Danny
complemented her. I noted he ignored her slumming comment.
    She beamed. "I always look my best when I am out with
my girls. I guess you didn't have time to change after cleaning toilets, huh
Iz?"
    I focused on my beer, while Tara, Danny and Greg made small
talk. Amanda's attention was on Melinda, who was leaning over Greg to whisper
in her ear.
    "Say, Iz," Tara said, her voice dripped with
scorn. "Shouldn't you be working on something?"
    I gulped down the fry in my mouth. "This morning. I did
some work this morning."
    She raised her eyebrows. "Really?
    "Any changes?" I asked, whatever hope I had left
faded at her scowl.
    She shook her head and motioned to the bar. I excused myself
from the table. Danny got up to let me out, and the bare skin of my legs once
again ripped along the vinyl booth. I made a mental note to wear long pants
next time. He smiled as I squeezed past him, the front of my body brushing up
against his. But there was no spark of electricity as we touched, and my mind
flashed quickly to my morning fantasy of Finn in Diana's Pool.
    Tara gripped my elbow and barreled through the crowd to the
ladies room. She shoved me inside and shut the door behind her. I wrinkled my
nose at the smell of beer and pee, and noticed that my Converse stuck to the
floor. My hands itched to clean the place.
    With the door closed, the sound of the music muted. Tara
leaned against the door.
    "So?" I asked, biting my lower lip. "What
happened?"
    "What happened?" Tara repeated, opening her eyes
wider. "What happened was