After throwing yet another outfit back into my closet, I try on the black dress, but shake my head and groan as I check myself out in the mirror. I look great in it, but it’s just not quite right for where I’m going tonight. And it’s not like I make enough at the coffee shop to afford going out and buying a new dress just for the night. I already spent enough cash redecorating my room so I could have my dalliance with Derek. Though I do love the bright pop of blue on my walls. It really made the room come together. I just need some new sheer, flowy, gray curtains for my windows.

I peel off the black dress, standing and staring at the pile of clothes on my bed clad in only my bra and underwear. Ugh, forget it. I’ll call Scott and get his outfit figured out before I worry about mine. I need to let him know about tonight anyway. He better be available.

My trembling fingers dial Scott’s number, and I listen through four full rings with impatience. What’s he doing?

His deep voice fills my ears. “Hello?”

About time. “Hey, it’s me. I need you tonight.” My voice is high-pitched with excitement and nerves.

“Where are we going?” he asks.

“Out!” I exclaim, laughing. I want to surprise him, keeping it a secret until we arrive.

He chuckles, and in a smart move, doesn’t press me for more info.

“You need to be extra hot tonight.”

He snorts. “Uh…I’ll try my best. Do you have any specific requests?”

I love how he just goes along with the flow, willing to go on any adventure with me. And I love that he’ll let me dress him, knowing how much I enjoy it. “Of course I do. Your charcoal dress pants and matching jacket, that sexy royal blue button up shirt. No tie.” That suit fits him like a damn fine glove. He’s going to look like Tom Fucking Hiddleston, and I can’t wait to see him.

He sighs dramatically. “Fine. Are you going to tell me what we’re celebrating, at least? Clearly we’re going somewhere nice. Did you get a raise or something?” Fuck yourself out of a final?” His last question turns teasing.

I giggle, covering my mouth and shaking my head. “I decided on my next list item. Our local celeb—Brennan Jones.”

“I see.” His voice is no longer teasing. Instead, there’s a disappointed and resigned note tinging it.

Too excited to ask him about it, I ignore it for now. “Well, I gotta go and get ready. Pick me up at eight!”

I barely give him the time to say his goodbyes before I hang up and stare again in dismay at the pile of shit on my bed. After blowing out a massive breath so hard it makes my lips vibrate, I try on my last option. This dress is a shimmery gold that hugs me on top, but hangs loosely at the bottom. I’d worn it to a Halloween party when I went as I flapper once upon a time.

Adam had been out of town and I’d gone with Scott. It had been such a great night. Looking back on it, I feel like a bit of an idiot. How did I not notice how much fun I had without Adam there? How free I felt. I’d assumed it was the mix of booze and the magic of Halloween, getting to pretend to be someone else.

I grin at my mirror, swinging my hips so the fringe flows and sways across my legs. This is the one. Very Gatsby. Which is perfect because Brennan is absolutely the Gatsby of our town. Well, other than the whole mysterious air. Everyone knows who Brennan is. His secrets are all out in the open for everyone to see.

The rich playboy spreading his daddy’s money all over town, dripping charm and charisma and a little bit of crazy. The rich playboy who constantly has photos on the cover of rags, a new girl at his side in each one. It shouldn’t be too hard to get into his pants. He doesn’t seem too picky. The women are all different shapes and types. But I’ll have a lot of competition tonight, a ring of women I’ll have to fight my way through. From everything I’ve heard whispered around town, it sounds like the freaking Hunger Games when it comes to getting to him. And the other items on my list were almost too easy, so it’s probably time for one to become impossible.

I look damn sexy in this dress though, and I have a plan to attract the most eligible in town. If it doesn’t work with him, the other local celebs aren’t quite as exciting. Brennan is hot in that Colin Farrell way. Grungy and dark and a little bit dirty. And I am totally going with plenty of condoms in my purse because I do actually have an idea of where he’s been. Basically everywhere.

Not that I have any room to judge based on the way I’ve been going. Who can blame him? Or me? It’s fun as hell, making my own way around. We were bound to meet.

Before he became a club owner, there was his turn as a side character in a couple movies right after college. There was the widely publicized inheritance from his father that brought him back from Hollywood. There was the rapid realization that Brennan was not cut out for owning a chain of dealerships, just for driving the cars from them.

And more often than not, crashing them.

The gossip pages love to feature him and his incredibly popular and exclusive club, Indigo.

And by total chance, I’d covered a morning shift at the coffee shop for a girl who cocktails there and had been slinging gin until 4am, too tired to come and make coffees right after. She’d put me on the list as a thanks.

Score.