“No, but I can find out.” Quickly, I head for my car.

  “Don’t make me regret telling you this,” he calls after me.

  I hold up a hand, but I don’t slow. “You won’t. I promise.”

  Car running and heat blasting, I pull away from the curb, headed for War’s house. Pretty sure I’m going to need his help convincing his daughter to talk to me.

  FORTY-SIX

  CAMDEN

  “Why do you have to live so far from Boston?” I grumble when War opens the door. “The drive is a pain in the ass.”

  With a nonplussed look, he waves me in. “It’s thirty minutes, tops. And if you really need my help, let me tell you: complaining isn’t the way to get it.”

  “Is she here?” When I called, he told me I was in luck because Josie and Ava had made plans to watch a movie tonight. It’s their thing. Once a month or so, they hang out in the game room in the basement, just the two of them. They watch rom-coms and play board games like they did when Josie was young and going through cancer treatments. Damn, life has changed so much since then. Josie was a long-term resident at the hospital the first time I met her. She couldn’t have been more than eight.

  It’s crazy to think how much life has changed since that time. It’s even weirder to think I’m now dating her friend.

  Okay, not dating. Pretty sure I was broken up with when Savannah moved out. Or maybe I broke up with her when I texted her. Fuck, this is a mess.

  “Yeah, she’s in the kitchen.” He leads me to the massive open kitchen and living area. There’s a fire roaring in the fireplace, and the view out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the back of the house is as breathtaking as always. Nothing but trees and quiet out there. And the little pond they turn into a skating rink every winter. Right now it’s lit up with Christmas lights like it was years and years ago when War taught Ava, Josie, and Scarlett how to skate.

  It’s the picture-perfect home for a family.

  Maybe, if I’m lucky enough to get a second chance with Savannah, I’ll look at houses in this neighborhood. The thirty-minute drive would be well worth it for this view alone.

  Ava and Josie are standing together in front of the oven. When Ava spins around, her red hair sways, instantly making me think of Savannah. Damn, I physically ache for her. I’m such a sorry fuck.

  With a plate of cookies in her hands, Ava grins at me. “You look like you could use a chocolate chip cookie.”

  A step behind her, Josie glowers. “He doesn’t deserve one.”

  I wince. This family has been such a big part of my life, but if I can’t fix this, I’m not sure Josie will want much to do with me. “She’s right.” I cuff the back of my neck and squeeze. “I don’t.”

  Ava hip-checks her daughter. “He’ll make it right. Camden always does.” With a smile at me, she pads around the island. “Come on, Ty. Let’s let these two talk. You can help me set up Monopoly.” She stops in front of me, presses a kiss to my cheek, and hands me a cookie. Then she disappears with her husband.

  “Get on with it,” Josie says when they’ve gone. “You’re already ruining my favorite night of the month.”

  With a sigh, I rough a hand down my face. “Do you know where Sav is working?”

  Josie frowns. “Um, at Jolie?”

  I shake my head. “No. I went to her place to talk to her, but she wasn’t there. I was told she’s working somewhere at night.”

  Eyes narrowing, she cocks a hip and leans against the counter. “Who told you that?”

  I set my hands on the cool surface of the island. “Listen, I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.”

  “Why are you even here?” she demands. “You broke her heart, Cam.”

  The name slashes at my skin like a sharp knife. Not Uncle Cam; just Cam. I guess I deserve it.

  “I’m trying to fix it,” I promise. “I just want to make this right, but I’m worried that she’s in some sort of trouble. John overheard her say that she couldn’t make rent on time. Did she say anything to you?”

  Josie shakes her head, her shoulders falling. “She asked me to give her some space. Do you really think she’s in trouble?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m concerned. Could you call her and make sure she’s okay?”

  Josie hums out a groan. “I don’t know,” she whines. “She’d kill me if she knew I was helping you.”

  “I’m not asking you to help me.” I hold up a hand. “I’m asking you to check on her. That’s all. I swear it.”

  Whether Savannah can forgive me is up to her, but I won’t stop caring either way. If she needs money for rent, I’ll make sure she has it. I hate thinking of her all alone, feeling as if she has no one.

  And knowing I’m the reason she feels that way is gut-wrenching.

  Finally Josie blows out a breath and picks up her phone. “Fine, but I’m not doing this for you.”

  I nod. “I know.”

  She taps the screen a few times, then the ring tone echoes loudly through the kitchen. With the device on speaker, she sets it on the counter between us.

  After two rings, Savannah picks up. “Hey, Jose. I can’t really talk right now.”

  “Well, you’re going to need to because your boy toy just showed up at my house and demanded I tell him where you work,” Josie grouses. “And since I was under the impression that your only job was at Jolie, I was a little thrown.”

  “Fuck, sorry about that,” Savannah says.

  Just hearing her voice kills me. I want to reach through the phone and hold her.

  “It’s not a big deal,” she rushes out. “I just needed a quick influx of cash because my bitch of a mother stole my rent money.”

  It takes everything in me not to growl and take the phone. Tara is such a fucking cunt.

  “What? Why? When? Why didn’t you tell me your mother was in town?” Josie narrows her eyes at me, throwing figurative daggers, then picks up the phone and starts pacing with it.

  “Because she’s a bitch? I don’t know. I don’t want to waste any more time thinking about it, honestly. This week has been hell, but I’m finally starting to feel like I can breathe again. I made enough over the last two nights for this month’s rent. Hopefully I’ll make enough tonight to cover next month’s. Then I should be good.”

  “But what are you doing?” Josie says, her tone full of suspicion and concern.

  I feel the same way. Hands fisted, I focus on breathing evenly, even as I want to dart out of here and hunt her down.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m fine.”

  “You don’t sound fine,” Josie says. “And why did you and Cam break up? What’s going on, Sav? You’re making me nervous.”

  “Honestly,” she says, her tone resigned, “I think he found out that he used to date my mother and he freaked.”

  Josie spins around, her eyes wide.

  My own fall shut. So she does know. I assumed she did, but fuck.

  “He what?”

  Savannah groans. “It’s gross, I know. My slut of a mother cheated on Cam when she was a senior in high school. She got pregnant. The story is far too long to tell now.” Her tone gets a little watery when she continues. “I don’t know how he figured it out, but a few days ago, he told me this story about seeing his ex and her daughter in a bar. He mentioned that she was carrying around a doll with pink hair. That’s when I realized the connection. I remember being at a bar with my mom, playing with that doll while I waited for her. I put two and two together, and my suspicions were confirmed when my mother said she was in town to seduce him.” She gags.

  Face screwed up in fury, Josie stabs the mute button. “So help me god,” she whispers, “if you fucked her mother⁠—”

  “I didn’t,” I hiss.

  Her expression doesn’t soften as she unmutes the phone. “So did she? Seduce him, I mean?”

  Savannah makes another gagging noise. “I really fucking hope not. But I don’t think so. She sent me a text later that day saying she got a call from some married pilot she’s been having an affair with and that he was in Boston.” She sighs, the sound making the crumbled pieces of my heart hurt. “Yeah, my mother is that kind of winner. So she took my money—borrowed, is how she put it—and took off to meet him.”

  “Your mother sucks,” Josie grumbles.

  “Tell me about it,” Savannah mutters. “That same day, Cam sent me a text telling me he couldn’t do this anymore. And he asked me to leave his house.”

  Josie hurls a cookie at me, but I’ve still got good reflexes, and I dart out of the way.

  “Camden Snow sucks too,” she says, glaring at me.

  I do. I so fucking do.

  “Yeah,” Savannah says, her tone full of sadness, not anger. “I don’t know, Jose. I really thought he was it.”

  The pain that’s been torturing me for days only compounds. I have to see her. I have to find her. I take a step toward Josie, ready to grab the phone to tell her I am it, that I’ll fix what I broke, but before I can, a woman on the other end of the call says, “Come on, Sav. It’s your turn for the glitter.”

  “Oh shoot, I gotta go,” Savannah says. “Kacie’s waiting for me.”

  “Wait,” Josie urges, just like I want to. “Whatever you’re doing, you don’t have to.” Her eyes are locked on mine now. We’re like-minded when it comes to this. Allies, even if she’s ready to dig my grave.

  “I do, though,” Savannah says. “I need to fix this for myself. But I love you for caring.”

  “I’ll always care, Sav.” Josie sniffs. “Be safe please.”

  “Of course.” And then Savannah is gone.

  The room falls silent, the two of us staring at one another.

  “You know where she is, right?” she finally asks.

  I nod, heart in my throat. “Yeah, I think so.”

  “You’re going to fix this.”

  Either that, or I’ll end up behind bars again. Because yeah, I know exactly where Savannah is. And I know what she’s doing to earn the money she needs to cover her rent.

  And I don’t fucking like it one bit.

  FORTY-SEVEN

  SAVANNAH

  I’ve never envisioned doing something like this for money. For fun? Sure. I have a blast on the pole when the only people watching are the other women in the class. And the idea of dancing in front of a group of hot men? Well, that never sounded terrible.

  But this isn’t that. The men in the audience are strangers. Some are decent-looking guys in business suits—out with the boys, they probably tell their wives—but a larger portion are creepy older men. Then there is the handful of belligerent assholes.

  This is night three, and belligerent assholes aside, it hasn’t been bad. And even where they’re concerned, the club has great security. They keep the patrons in check.

  And this is temporary anyway. I’ll get through tonight and be done with it. I can see how tempting it is to do this night after night, though. I made two thousand dollars over two nights, and that’s without doing private dances. I told the owner I wasn’t interested in that. I’ll earn enough dancing on stage alone, and I’m not in the mood to be any closer to these men than I need to be.

  I feel a little better after talking to Josie. It was a relief to get so much off my chest. I didn’t intend to word vomit like that before going on stage, but I couldn’t stop once the explanation started flowing.

  Josie has no idea how much it means to me that she’s on my side. That she thinks my mom is as terrible as I do. That she’s pissed at Cam too.

  Being disappointed by my mom is nothing new. She did exactly what she always does, so while it’s upsetting that she could so easily take my money like that, it’s not shocking. But with Cam? I feel like I’ve been flayed open. He hasn’t reached out. I really thought I was important to him. But with every day that passes, I’m more convinced that he really did jump into the relationship because of the bet. That it was all fake.

  “You okay?” Kacie catches my eye in the mirror. Only then do I realize there’s a tear trailing down my face.

  God, how embarrassing. I swipe it away quickly and then turn around to face her. Kacie is thirty, and she’s got the most beautiful thick black hair. She’s wearing a robe over her costume, which is red and sexy as fuck. We’re all wearing red tonight, since it’s February and the club is really embracing the month of love.

  Gag me. Not a single person in this place cares about love. It reeks of baby oil, hair spray, and desperation, tinged with alcohol and cigar smoke.

  “Just having a moment,” I say.

  “If tonight’s really your last night⁠—”

  “It is,” I say, lifting my chin. “After tonight, I’ll have enough to cover this month’s rent and next.”

  “Fine.” She sighs. “But I’m taking you out for a drink this week, okay?”

  Smiling, I squeeze her arm. “I appreciate all your help the last few days.”

  I didn’t go into many details with her. Just that I’d broken up with my boyfriend and didn’t want to talk about it. And she didn’t push. She’s the kind of friend that’s always up for a good time, but she’s not the kind of person who makes me feel safe enough to really open up to. That’d be Sutton. And sometimes Josie. Addie would rather have a root canal than talk about her feelings, so she’s probably the one I’ll call this week if I need company.

  “Kacie, you’re up. Sav, you’re on deck,” a woman calls from the dressing room door.

  “If you change your mind about the private room, we could do it together.” With a wink, Kacie turns around and struts away.

  While the money is tempting, there is no way in hell I’m going into a private room with anyone tonight.

  FORTY-EIGHT

  CAMDEN

  Thanks to my sister and her friends, it didn’t take long to find the club where Kacie works.

  “Do not get yourself arrested again,” Cora says as we pull up to the club.

  She refused to let me come alone, and after what I’ve put her through this week, I knew better than to argue.

  “I promise. I just want to talk to her.”

  My sister arches a brow. “And if she refuses to speak with you?”

  “Fine. You can come in. But stay at the bar. If I throw hands, you can step in, but I need to do this myself.”

  With a roll of her eyes, she opens the car door.

  “And don’t talk to anyone,” I add.

  Over the roof of the car, she gives me an are you fucking out of your mind? look. “Cam, I used to dance for a living. I can handle any person in this bar. Promise.”

  Of course she can. That doesn’t mean I like it. I hate that she worked in a place like this. Just as much as I hate that Savannah currently is inside, maybe on that stage now. Just the thought has me hustling to the door.

  By the time the bouncers let us in, my heart is pounding so loud I can barely hear the music. It’s dark in here. The walkways are lit, as is the bar and the stage, but the main area has very few overhead lights on.

  The smell of booze and cheap perfume hits hard, making my stomach roll. Savannah does not belong in a place like this.

  Fortunately, the woman on the stage is unfamiliar. Maybe Savannah is just bartending.

  “I’ll grab drinks and keep a look out for her,” Cora says, grasping my arm. “And remember, don’t get arrested.”

  “I won’t,” I promise. My head is on straight now. For the first time, it’s crystal clear just how much my fuck-up has cost Savannah. She’s working here because of me. I can’t hurt her again. I need to get this right.

  The woman wearing nothing but a G-string crawls across the stage and kneels on the edge. Men lean forward and push dollar bills into the string she holds open. The nausea in my gut builds. Not Savannah. But I need to find her.

  The music cuts out, and the woman on stage stands and collects the money the men in the audience have thrown at her. It’s demeaning, the way she’s forced to collect it all in front of them while almost naked. Fuck. I hate that I’ve been to places like this dozens of times and never considered the perspective of the women here to make a living. Hell, I hired strippers for my Christmas party. The same party where I met Savannah. I have no room to judge, and yet here I am, a huge fucking hypocrite, ready to rip out the eyes of every man in this room if they’ve gotten so much as a peek of Savannah.

  The next woman saunters out, a new song beginning. At the sight of dark hair, I breathe a sigh of relief. Not Savannah. Though I do recognize her. This is Kacie. Savannah showed me pictures one night last week. I was curious, and Savannah had fun with it.

  She stands in front of the pole, and when the light hits her, she flips upside down.

  The crowd of men goes wild. Since I’m guaranteed a few more minutes before the next act, I need to fucking look for Savannah in earnest.

  I catch a server’s eye, and when she smiles, I crook a finger, gesturing her over.

  “Hey, sugar,” she says. “What can I get you?”

  “The manager, please.”

  Her smile falls. “Everything okay?”

  Nodding, I pull my wallet out. With a fifty held between us, I say, “Just get me the manager. Everything is fine.”

  She slips the money into her bra and smiles again. “Will do.”

  I search for Cora, on high alert. Fuck. How is it that the two most important women in my life are in a dark room filled with horny men?

  When I find my sister seated at the bar like she said she’d be, with a soda in front of her, watching the show, I breathe a sigh of relief.

  “Heard you were asking for me.” The man approaching me is dressed in a suit and has slicked-back hair. Stereotypical seedy club manager.

  “I’m looking for Savannah.”

  The man’s eyes flash in recognition, but he covers it up quickly with a cough. “We don’t give out dancer’s real names.”

  “I don’t need you to give me her real name, I know it. I just need you to find her for me.”