"First runner up is a fan favorite, not her first amateur night, Jessi!" Jessi was the best dancer of the group by far. I clapped politely not that it would've matter because there was more than enough noise for her.

"And tonight's winner..."

"Elly!" I jumped when someone pushed me forward, I bit my tongue and covered my mouth with my hands. My eyes were wide with disbelief.

I accepted the check and then bowed again as "Crazy" played over the speakers.

Kent was waiting for me to come back out and as soon as I was within reach he picked me up and spun me around. "Oh my god Elly, that was… Wow!"

I squealed and pushed against Kent's shoulders. "Oh my god! Put me down!" I laughed. Mike and Paul were waiting at Kent's side.

He put me down, grinning from ear to ear. "By the way, Elly. That was hawt."

"Oh my god. Knock it off." I slapped him playfully on his stomach. "This is what's hot." I waved the check in front of my face. "One thousand big ones!! Should cover the cost of this shindig.”

"After talking to Mike, I know who made the plans here. What else do you have up your sleeve Ms. Palmer?" Kent held his hand on his stomach from the slap.

"You'll just have to see." I winked at Kent and didn't protest when Mike put his arm around me, his hand low on my hip. The two of us led Kent and Paul out of the club. Mike's hand was on my bottom, pushing her into the limo gently. "More shots!" He called out as he took a seat next to me, his hand on my knee, possessively.

I abandoned my spot on the seat for a minute as I went to the little compartment next to Kent. I pulled out little bottles of Jack and was about to hand one to Kent when the limo stopped suddenly.

I fell backwards, my quick scream filling the limo. Mike reached out and tried to save me but he was tipsy and his arms weren't quite there. I landed on my back, half on Mike's lap, half on the floor. I looked up at him and he looked down at me, grinning. "That's a good look for you."

Paul snatched his bottle from my hand while I was close.

I laughed, "Don't be a creeper, Mike. You're supposed to be hitting on the strippers, n...I mean the real strippers."

"Looked pretty real to me."

"Whatever." I put a Jack in his now empty lap and then went back to Kent, sitting next to him. I put a tiny bottle in his hand and then opened mine and held it up to him. "To your last boys night."

He smiled softly and lifted it to mine, the little plastic bottle necks tapping together. "Yeah."

The guys opened their bottles and held them up in a toast. "Hey-yo!"

Chapter Twenty-Eight