Chapter 47 Savannah
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.