Read Stars (Penmore #1) for Free Online Page A

uniform, I wasn’t sure I was ready for what was waiting for me behind those grandiose steel doors. Hell, I wasn’t even sure I could make it through the doors without throwing up. The music from inside the club slips through the cracks as I venture closer. The throbbing pulse of each beat shakes the air around me.
    A huge muscled man, clearly in a position of authority, stands before the doorway. With his arms crossed, his biceps bulge to what I’m pretty sure equates to the size of my head. His stance clearly communicates that no one will enter the place without talking to him first. I really wish I had checked out if the club had any back entrances during my interview. When I finally approach the mountain, who I assume must be Bo, he just mutters, “You Parker?” I just nod. Apparently, when faced with a giant, I become mute.
    Having never met a giant before, I was unaware of this fact.
    As Bo opened the doors and gestured me inside, I couldn’t help but wonder if Hagrid had been sent to pick me up as an eleven-year-old, would I have been able to ask him about Hogwarts? After how I handled Bo, I think probably not. I would probably end up stuck with the Dursleys. Even in J.K. Rowling’s awesome world, I would probably still only be ordinary.
    With that depressing thought, I make my way across the darkly lit club. The DJ is doing a sound check and the room seemed to be buzzing with the anticipation of drunken sorority girls and lost inhibitions. There are about four other girls dressed like I am walking around the room, encased in skintight leather and wiping down the small metallic tables that accompany each booth. Everyone seemed to be keeping to themselves, storing their energy and fake enthusiasm for the patrons about to walk through the doors. Marissa told me that the main bartender would train me this evening and would be waiting for me at the bar beside the dance floor.
    It wasn’t until I was almost leaning over the bar, trying to look for the bartender, that I saw him . His back was to me, but I knew those broad shoulders. Recognized his flawless olive skin. Grayson Waters was behind the bar at Lucky’s.
    Suddenly, I felt like all the air in the room was sucked out and I found myself drowning in anxiety and gasping for breath. How had this not come up?! Everyone was always talking about him. Surely someone would have mentioned he worked here.
    It no longer surprised me that Keeley mentioned everyone lined up for hours to get in here. I wasn’t sure if I could work so close to him. Sure, I went to high school with him and managed to be productive. I even managed to graduate as Valedictorian. But he was a year older, which always meant we never shared a class. I’ve never had to work with him in the same room as me.
    Well, until now. Oh, Fuck .
    With his back to me, I could see that he had on a white apron, which displayed the club’s name stitched in bold writing, around his waist. I’m pretty sure that meant he worked here.
    Otherwise, Marissa was a genius, because either way every time a girl went to check out what Grayson was packing, she would automatically be staring at Lucky’s logo.
    It was brilliant, really.
    I bet it was great for business.
    What wasn’t great was my ability to give him drink orders.
    Then carry drinks and sway my hips to the music as I walked away from him.
    No. No. No.
    This wouldn’t help me.
    I couldn’t try to be sexy to improve my tips around Grayson Waters .
    And not just because I’m pretty sure my work ethic would be lost when I stopped to stare at his thick brown hair, imposing shoulders and chiseled jaw line.
    Before I could come up with an exit strategy, the weirdest thing happened. He turned, noticed me staring, checked me out and smiled. And yes, him blatantly checking me out was super peculiar. I don’t think too many guys do that. But suddenly, I realize all my panicking was for nothing.
    False alarm.
    Now, in my defense, the guy in front of me definitely