"Ava, I love you. I really do. You're my best friend and I would die for you. But if you come near my lady taco with that hot wax you will get a big toe to the jugular."

"But Harpy, we are going out tonight! There will be so many schlongs we will be swimming in them! And schlong-owners are simple creatures. Bat your eyes at them once, and before you know it he's balls deep in your 'exit only' and telling you whatever you want to hear. But you have to defeat the lady bush first."

I took the largest of breaths, willing myself to have patience. Ava talked me into waxing my eyebrows with her new waxing kit, so here we are. In her bathroom having an argument about personal boundaries.

"Firstly, please don't ever say schlong again. Secondly, it's called 'exit only' for a reason. Thirdly, and I can't believe I even have to say this, I have no lady bush. And if I did, you would definitely be staying far away from it."

Ava, looking amazing in a tight black sleeveless dress that barely covered her missing lady bush, started cleaning up the wax supplies. "I was trying to do you a favor. But fine. Here's hoping your guy finds the proper hole amidst all the foliage."

I just shook my head and checked my reflection one more time. Dark washed skinny jeans and a black halter top. Ava wanted me in a dress, but that wasn't happening tonight. Her version of a dress was my version of a shirt.

I did a little smoky eye, whipped on some mascara and red lipstick, and I had to admit, I didn't look like a dumpster fire. That's about all I could say about that.

Ava was giving me the shifty eyes on the way to Club Lupo. And she always gave me the shifty eyes when she was hiding something.

"Out with it, Ava."

She suddenly was the epitome of a safe driver. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I'd figure it out eventually.

The club was packed when we finally made it inside. A song I'd never heard before thumped through the speakers as we tried to maneuver through the sweaty bodies to our destination: the bar.

No, I was not 21 yet. However Ava was. And this afternoon she all but tossed a fake ID at me, not even going to ask where she got it, and said we were going out.

So here I am.

We grab drinks, beer for Ava and a screwdriver for me, before heading to a table in the corner. The only table available that wasn't swarming with people.

"Okay, Ava. I'm here. Now what are you hiding? If you are trying to set me up with some rando, I will drown you in your own beer."

Ava just smiled at me, keeping silent for once in her life. I didn't like it. I could smell her nefarious plotting from here.

I was determined to stare her down until she gave me some answers but her gaze flickered to something over my shoulder, making her smile even wider, and then she just walked to the dance floor without a word.

I hadn't even picked my jaw up from the floor when there was a tap on my shoulder. And who was standing there?

None other than T4. My new nickname for the Clones.

I was going to kill Ava.

No, I wasn't trying to avoid them. I just wasn't going out of my way to interact. Two totally different things.

Tripp was the only one without a smile on his face. The world might actually catch fire if he ever smiled.

"Hey gorgeous. Miss us? I would assume so, since we haven't seen you since Monday. And it's Friday." Theo gave me his panty-dropping smirk.

"Well, I'm glad you made use of your education and know the days of the week. So proud of you."

Trey slid in between his brothers to wrap me in a hug. "What my brother was trying, and failing, to say was that we missed you."

I buried my face in his shirt to hide the small smile. "Well, you, I did miss."

I could feel the chuckle from Trey and hear two cries of outrage from Thane and Theo. Tripp, of course, remained silent.

Stepping out of Trey's arms, I turned toward the other three, held my arms out, closed my eyes and waited. And prayed to God that I wouldn't look ridiculous.

There was a small scuffle, followed by strong arms wrapping around my waist and lifting me off the ground. My eyes flew open as I met Thane's mischievous grin, and then he just started walking away with me in his arms.

"You cheated, you bastard!!" I looked back to see Tripp, of all people, holding Theo back by his arms.

"Never said I wouldn't cheat, brother." Thane planted a kiss on my cheek before setting me down in the middle of the dance floor. "May I have this dance?"

All I could do was chuckle and nod before I was wrapped up in his arms again, our bodies moving with the rhythm of the music.

I'm not sure when things changed. One minute we were jumping around, and the next my back was plastered to his hard chest while my hips moved with his. Everything got a bit warmer, but I couldn't seem to get close enough. I reached behind me to run my hand through his hair, something I've wanted to do since I met him.

His hands burned a trail up and down my sides, finding the hem of my halter top and taking advantage of the small patch of skin not covered by it. And I definitely did not stop him. In fact, I placed my hand on his, moving us both just under the shirt enough for his large hand to cover my bare stomach.

I felt Thane's lips on my neck a second before two more sets of hands gently gripped my hips. Opening my eyes, unsure of when I actually closed them, I met Theo's. I had no idea that ice blue eyes could hold so much fire.

Theo just waited there, not moving, looking at me. Probably for permission. And I definitely gave it to him.