Gray Area (sequel to White Noise)

Ch 19 - Pump and Dump

We ended up going to the same club we had gone to the last time we were all together in Sydney. That, of course, led to some reminiscing.

"I thought for sure you were going to rip that guy's head off if he didn't back off," Ashton said to Calum, talking about the drunkard who wouldn't let go of Tori's arm. The friends who had tagged along had no clue what we were talking about, so Ashton told them the story.

"I damn straight would have hurt that dude if he hesitated one more second." No doubt. Calum would do anything to protect his woman.

"So, Lex," Luke said, getting my attention. It didn't take much for him to get my attention these days. I'm just saying. "Are we going to get the privilege of a table dance this time?" he asked with a not so subtle wink. Luke was getting braver lately, and I was kind of digging it.

"You never know what you'll get once I have a few drinks in me. I'd say there's a pretty good possibility," I said, giving him a wink in return.

"Anyway," Michael interrupted, changing the subject, "someone pass me one of those beers, will ya?"

Tori handed one over to him, which made me think of something. "Hey, Tor, how does it feel to be able to consume alcohol again?"

"Girl, it's been over a year. I'd forgotten how it even tasted. It's like I'm drinking for the first time all over again." She took a big drink of whatever concoction she was holding, then added, "It kinda sucks that I'm gonna have to pump and dump, though."

As I just nodded in agreement, understanding her struggle, every male there, except Calum, looked at Tori like she had two heads. They had no clue what she was talking about.

"Oh, c'mon guys," she said, laughing at them. "I'm talking about breastfeeding. Avery can't ingest my milk if it contains alcohol. So I'll have to pump and dispose of it."

By now, Michael, Luke, and Ashton were used to conversations about breastfeeding. They just nodded like, "Oh, I get it." But the new additions to our group looked very uncomfortable, to say the least. One of them actually got up and walked away. Maybe he just had to pee, I don't know.

But that couldn't be the end of the conversation. Leave it to Michael to make a ridiculous comment. "That'd be some funny shit, though, a drunk baby." Only he would think of something like that.

That somehow led to a discussion about some Australian t.v. show I'd never heard of. I was lost, so I just concentrated on finishing off my third drink of the night while they carried on laughing their asses off.

It wasn't long before I was feeling pretty good and decided it was time to dance. I thought I'd take a chance and see if Michael would accompany me without having to threaten him with a table dance first. However, he had taken off, and I didn't see him anywhere. I asked Tori, "Do you know where Clifford went?"

She scanned the place and found what I was looking for. "Gross. Over there," she said, pointing to the bar.

When I spotted him, I couldn't look away. It was like a bad car accident. You know, it's so horrible that you can't peel your eyes away? There was some voluptuous redheaded chick all up on his shit. And he was reciprocating. I literally wanted to puke.

I rolled my eyes as the girl giggled at whatever lame line Michael had just fed her. When she pushed out her ginormous breasts and leaned against him, I decided I couldn't watch the disgusting display anymore.

"Never mind," I told her. "Screw that."

I knew someone else who would gladly dance with me. I walked over to Luke and held out my hand. I didn't even have to ask. He weaved a path for us through the crowd right to the middle of the dance floor.

As luck would have it, a slow song came on as we reached our destination. I took full advantage of the situation and snuggled right up to my tall, gorgeous friend.

He squeezed my sides, looking down at me with a lazy grin. Then he leaned down to speak in my ear. "Are you having fun yet?"

"I am now," was all I said, wrapping my arms tighter around his neck as his arms encircled my waist. I was well aware that it was all just innocent flirting, on both sides. But, damn, it felt nice.

We danced a few songs, Cal and Tori joining us, as well as Ashton and some girl I didn't know. I found out later that she was an old friend. I didn't really get a chance to talk to her, but she seemed nice enough.

Several songs later, the music once again slowed down. We decided to sit that one out and return to our seats to take a breather. After a few minutes, Michael blessed us with his presence once again.

"Oh, look who finally decided to join his friends," I said, maybe a little too snippy.

"Well, it didn't look like you were missing me too much," he retorted.

"We're here to have a great time with our friends on one of their last nights as single folk, Clifford. Not to get laid. Just saying," I shrugged.

"Oh? And are you not trying to get laid?"

Before I could respond, Ashton, forever the peacekeeper, intervened. "Okay, you two. Enough bickering. Like you said, Lex, we're here to have a good time. Don't pay attention to Mikey. He apparently hasn't gotten any for a while."

Join the crowd, I thought.

Michael showed his disapproval by trying to hit Ashton with a bottle cap from the other end of the table. We all laughed when Ashton dodged it.

"Oh, I'm having a good time alright. And I plan on keeping it that way," I said, looking directly at Luke and taking another shot. The best was yet to come.

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Are you guys digging it or nah? Let us know! And if you are, would you please mind sharing this series with your friends? I'm kind of over being that annoying person begging people to read. They take suggestions better from people who have read than from the authors anyway. Please and thank you. xo -A