Gator had already left. On his way out, he asked them not to make too much noise. For a while longer they sat at the table, finishing breakfast. After draining their coffee, Frida clapped her paws.
"Alright, we need to prepare for the party. I suggest this: me, Callisa, Astrid, Ylva, Ingrid, and Mira go shopping. The rest stay behind and get the house ready. Any objections?"
No one objected.
"Good. So Morona and Aiko stay with the boys. Any questions?"
There weren't any major ones.
"Which outfit did you choose, Evan?"
A resigned Evan gave his answer.
Some time later, the boys were finishing cleaning the house, while the girls were working in the garden. The vacuum cleaner went back into the closet, and Rufus collapsed onto an armchair, shooting Evan a look full of reproach.
Evan had chosen Callisa's outfit. He decided it was what he understood best and felt the safest wearing. Rufus, however, felt bitter about it. He would have to wear the same thing at the party—or walk around the house naked. Both options were awful, but the first was only slightly less so. Shawn commented that fishnets and a thong were a good choice, though he admitted he would've chosen Frida's outfit.
"Damn it… Shawn, what have you gotten us into, you… you… I don't even know how to insult you properly…"
Rufus tilted his head. Shawn just smiled at him.
"Look on the bright side."
"And that would be?"
Shawn laughed.
"So many girls. If you're lucky, you'll finally get laid."
Rufus sighed and rolled his eyes, his ears drooping.
"I know you don't plan to live long, but I want to get married and have kids. I don't want to wake up in an oven."
Shawn looked at him. The fact that over half the invited girls were predators was something he still couldn't fully grasp. At least, it wasn't obvious to him anymore. Why be that afraid of taking an opportunity?
"Maybe try a matchmaker?"
"You know I can't until I turn twenty-one and finish school."
"Right… fair."
After a while, the girls returned, dragging bags of groceries and two huge sacks bearing the logo of the meat processing plant. Evan swallowed hard. Not just him—Rufus did too. Shawn, meanwhile, seemed relaxed. Astrid tossed one of the sacks onto the couch next to Rufus, who jumped as if burned.
"Heavy."
"Well, it's a lot of meat," Ingrid stated.
Evan, however, was thinking about something else. He knew that logo and that facility. In his mind, the thought kept swirling that its contents might have been alive just an hour ago…
Callisa took the second, smaller bag into the kitchen. She wiped her forehead and turned to the boys.
"Shawn, maybe you could teach Evan a few tricks?"
Aiko added, fiddling with her fingers, "We want to see the dance, so…"
Shawn gave a thumbs-up.
"No problem. We'll figure something out in a few hours."
"Yeah…"
Evan sighed heavily. He didn't feel particularly comfortable in the role of a stripper, but he didn't want to embarrass himself either.
"Great. That leaves—" Frida spoke up and fixed her gaze on Rufus. After a moment, the other girls did the same.
"Why are you all staring at me?" He realized a second later. "No way. I'm not dancing."
The girls stared at him even harder. The pressure mounted. It was clear they wouldn't let this go easily. Their looks demanded he dance on the pole. Rufus trembled slightly.
"I can make drinks," he offered.
The girls looked at one another. They ordered a few drinks and, after tasting them, allowed themselves to be persuaded.
"Something with cola for me."
"Something with vodka, shaken."
"Something with orange juice."
They gave Rufus a few more orders. Their eyes said it all: if he didn't satisfy them, he'd be forced to dance. Ylva, playing with her phone, seemed to confirm it.
Rufus dragged himself to the kitchen, guarding his ass. Ingrid, Astrid, Ylva, and Mira made no effort to hide their impure intentions. Rufus, a desperate and frustrated guy, might've tried going upstairs—but unfortunately for him, their desires didn't extend beyond the ground floor. The only thing he could count on was getting groped, with no chance of retaliation.
While Rufus was making drinks, Shawn began instructing Evan.
"It's not about tricks. What matters is showing that you know what you're doing."
Touching the pole, he continued.
"Don't rush. And remember eye contact."
Eventually, Rufus finished the drinks. The girls settled around, watching everything closely. Rufus brought the drinks over. The girls were already undressing him with their eyes. Callisa took her drink and said coquettishly:
"If it's not good enough, you dance."
Shawn's ears drooped slightly, and he stomped his foot softly in irritation.
Callisa and the other girls tasted the drinks.
"So?"
"Pretty good."
For a moment longer, the girls watched Evan before returning to the rest of the preparations.
The party was coming soon.