Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
It had only been a couple of days but Z felt like he’d been away for years. While he was gone everything had changed. Even the air outside the club smelled different. His stomach clenched in anxious anticipation the way it used to when he was young. That tightening always meant bad shit was about to happen and he had no control over it. It was a reaction he’d grown used to as a kid, whenever he wasn’t alone in his room or being ignored. He hadn’t felt it since he’d left his aunt and uncle’s house, not since he’d decided to be his own man and fuck everyone else.
To have it happen now put him on edge immediately and he pushed through the club door more wary than he should have been. The door slammed behind him and everything stopped. Tam’s eyes widened from the stage where he was standing. Ansel and Lirim, who were sitting at one of the tables offstage, turned to look over their shoulders.
And a dozen guys lined up along the outer wall, all slender femmes wearing heels, swiveled their pretty heads toward the sound.
“What the hell is this?” Z asked, even though he knew damn well what it was.
“Nice to see you too, asshole.” Ansel crossed toward him.
“An audition,” Tam said at the same time.
An audition for his replacement. He tightened his hold on the crutches. Damn it, he’d gotten hurt on Saturday. It was only Tuesday, for fuck’s sake.
“A bit quick, isn’t it?” He managed to force the words out and shook off Ansel’s helping hand to cross to the stage.
Tam bit his lip. “I, um, I kind of posted on a few forums back when Ansel was going through his stuff. I thought maybe it would be good to have backup. Just in case.”
“It’s a good idea.” Easy for Ansel to say, he wasn’t the one whose spot was being filled.
“Why the hell did you make me come here?”
“We thought you’d want to be a part of it.”
“I don’t.” He turned to leave, but Ansel moved to block his path.
“Sit the fuck down, Z.”
“Why should I?”
“Stop being a fucking drama queen. That’s Ansel’s job.” This was from Lirim, who still hadn’t risen.
“This is just temporary until you’re healed.” Tam crossed his arms in a defensive self-hug, his shoulders up around his ears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spring it on you, but you weren’t answering your phone.”
Ansel pushed him toward where Lirim waited. “Stop embarrassing yourself in front of the newbies.”
Z glanced again at the line of waiting dancers. None of them would meet his eyes, fucking cowards.
Chapter Nineteen
“What’s your name again?” Z asked the dark-haired dancer leaning against the wall.
He had black hair cut asymmetrically and buzzed near his right ear with a neon-pink stripe on the long side. His skin looked unbelievably soft and made him seem younger than he probably was. He stood around five-eight, the five-inch heels bringing him over six foot. He had beautifully high cheekbones, prominent thick brows, dark eyes accentuated by winged liner, and a full mouth currently painted a bright pink that glistened under the lights.
“Kim Jaeyong. Most people call me Jae.” He raised his voice above the music, but his accent still made it hard to understand.
“You were pretty good up there earlier.” The compliment wasn’t as forced as he’d expected it to be. After sitting through the solo auditions, most of his anger had bled off. Only five dancers had made it through to the choreography with Tam and only three had performed well enough to be considered.
Jae was one of them. His audition had been unique and he’d moved on heels like he’d been born wearing them, using his natural sex appeal and androgynous features to work against the macho lyrics of the song he’d chosen. Similar to Tam’s choreography style, which was probably why the boys had been so excited.
“I’m sorry you were injured.” The guy’s dark eyes lowered to Z’s ankle. “I had a similar sprain during my training period. It was quite painful. I hope you recover quickly.”
“You sure? The faster I get back to dancing the sooner you might be out of a job.” Okay, that was bitchy but Z couldn’t help it. He’d been feeling like a dog guarding his territory all afternoon.
Jae just looked at him with those knowing eyes. “If I cannot prove my worth with my own talent I don’t deserve to remain part of the group. Your well-being plays little part in my future.”
Z had been ready to have a bitch fight, but Jae’s words made him feel like an asshole. He exhaled. “You’re obviously not from around here.”
“No.”
“New Yorkers are competitive and territorial.”
“I would’ve said argumentative and arrogant but your description is more polite.”
Z actually laughed. “What’s that, some Zen Buddhist shit?”