Breaking Even
in bed. Ash thought she was perfect for Wren.”
    So Wren gets the sweet girls with a good heart, and I get the crazy girls with a banging bod.
    “Maybe I like breakfast in bed,” I mumble like a sulking baby.
    His laughter pisses me off as I pull up at the club, and seconds later, I see his Mercedes pulling up. He talks to me on the phone, even though I can see him.
    “She's not the porn-star babe you normally go for,” he says. “That's all I'm saying.”
    I put my phone down as we near each other before I say, “You have no room to talk. Your wife looks like every guy's fantasy.”
    He glares at me as he decides how to answer, and then he shrugs. “True. But she's also pretty fucking incredible. She's more than a pretty face.”
    Fucking dick. He gets it all, but I'm shallow for expecting as much of my dates?
    “Sounds like a double standard,” I grumble, following him into the loud club.
    He just laughs as we make our way through the crowded bodies. It's only eight at night, but you'd think it was midnight with this many people crowding the place.
    “Why are there so many people here?” I yell, letting my voice carry over the music.
    I didn't notice that many cars parked out front. Then I hear him—Tag's cousin. Base Masters is jamming away on the stage, and I shake my head as to say never mind when Tag turns to answer.
    Base's group, The Fallen , are always a big draw for this area.
    “Hey,” Rain Sterling, the sexiest blonde I know, says as she comes closer.
    Dane Sterling is an ass for having her, but she comes with drama tattooed on her forehead. “Hey,” I say as Tag walks off, leaving me behind.
    “Ash said you were coming. I'm surprised she thinks you and Brin will be a good match, but I'm proud of you for getting your head out of your ass and wanting a real woman instead of one the shallow girls you've been dating.”
    Glad her opinion of me is so high.
    “Thanks,” I mutter dryly, not bothering to mention that I'm merely standing in for Wren.
    “She's so sweet and so pretty,” she says, and that makes me cringe.
    Girls only call other girls pretty when they're ugly as hell. Wren owes me for this.
    “We're taking a break. You guys are awesome,” Base Masters says into the microphone, waving at his crazed fans as he hops down from the stage. I can't believe Tag didn't tell me his cousin was in town.
    “There they are,” Rain says, guiding me toward the group standing at the bar as Dane talks to them.
    Dane eyes me when he sees Rain's hand on my arm, and I do what I can to move away from her grip. Rain Sterling—who used to be Rain Noles—is one girl I've never tried getting with because of that dick. Even when we were kids I knew better. Ethan—her cousin—always told me she and Dane would end up married.
    The only body in our group that I don't know is the one with her back turned. Her waist is hugged by a semi-tight dress. It stops mid-thigh to show her short, lightly tanned legs. But it’s her perky ass that gives me the most hope.
    Her hair is down and shoulder-length. It's a light brown that I don't normally care for, but I can play nice for a night.
    “Wren had something to do,” Ash says to the girl as the club DJ prepares to play music and kill the silence. “But Rye is cool.”
    I'm cool. Wow. That's like saying they see no hope in this going anywhere. Not that I'm looking for a relationship, but I'd like for Ash to build me up a little better than that.
    Tag walks over and hands me a Corona, and I take a long sip, reaching for the ability to bite my tongue.
    “Rye,” Ash says with a smile.
    The girl beside her turns around, and my beer spews from my lips, soaking Tag who curses me. You've got to be fucking kidding me.
    ***
    BRIN
    Ah, hell. What did I do in a past life for karma to punish me so brutally?
    Staring at Mr. Sexy who is just as shocked as I am, I almost cry. I should have known better than to think someone like Wren Prize wanted to go out on a date with me. But

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