Unexpected

Chapter Seven

THORNE

He leaned against the back wall by the entryway as he watched Kai dance with the girl who looked like Cinderella.

Thank the stars.

Thorne had been trying to hook Kai up with someone for the last year. Kai desperately needed a happy distraction from his life. A cute girl was the perfect place to start. Thorne was surprised to see Kai looking quite enthralled by someone he didn't know, though. Frankly, he'd been expecting Kai to hold out for Cinder.

Yeah, okay. It had all been a set up. Not that he'd ever tell anyone. But who could blame him? Kai would never have agreed to go on a blind date. That guy just took everything way too seriously.

After only ten minutes of talking to Cinder last week at the garage, Thorne had already begun plotting how to introduce her to Kai. Physically, Cinder was Kai's type through and through, though admittedly she could use a little freshening up and maybe even some new clothes. No big deal, though. Completely fixable. She also had the kind of personality that Kai would consider a breath of fresh air, and a sarcastic edge that echoed Kai's to boot.

The situation had been a bit tricky to maneuver, if he were honest, but he was glad that he hadn't underestimated how much he knew his best friend. He'd seen the way Kai had looked at her in his kitchen—he was definitely into her. He probably didn't even know it himself yet. Well, no surprise there. Thorne was the expert in the area of romance, not Kai. Good thing, too. Lately, Kai was just hopeless.

If it were anyone else, he'd probably be a little pissed that Kai had tried to flirt with the girl Thorne was supposed to be into right in front of him—and in his own house nonetheless. But it was almost better this way. Let Kai think that he'd come up with the idea himself. It wasn't like Thorne could ever convince him of anything useful these days anyway. Except now he was dancing with the pretty stranger Thorne had suggested, so apparently something had clicked. Well, good for him. Maybe Kai wasn't thinking about Cinder as much as he'd expected. Thorne prayed that Kai would enjoy himself and at least get her number, if not more.

Kai had been too boring throughout the evening to venture into the other dance rooms, preferring the ballroom music room. Aka the Dance With Your Parents Room. Now that Kai had found his own little Cinderella, no doubt he would be staying there. Thorne knew that his own scene was more along the lines of techno rave or club, though, and since he didn't have to babysit Kai anymore, he headed in that direction. As soon as he entered another room and felt the bass vibrating down through his core, he let out an exhilarated sigh. He loved this scene. It was mysterious, dark, and you could be whoever you wanted. No boundaries, no rules. Just the way he preferred to live his life.

Tonight, he was going to party. And it was going to be a great night. He weaved his way through the crowd to get a feel for the space. As the music pounded, the strobe lights made everything move just a little more than usual, and Thorne wondered briefly if he were perhaps a bit more buzzed than he'd thought.

It was obvious that this room had attracted the younger crowd. He saw a lot of sweaty bodies and a whole lot of grinding. And then some. Thorne chuckled to himself. Rich people. They were so uptight. But give them an open bar and some disguises, and these people let their wild sides come out. Good thing he could handle a little wild. They wouldn't even know what hit them.

Thorne caught a few ladies look him up and down with desire as he passed them. He knew he looked good, but it still confirmed his decision to not wear a costume. His mask coupled with the fedora gave him a naughty debonair look, and it was quite fitting for his intentions for the night. Women liked mystery, and he could give them mystery. It was all in good fun.