Chapter Seven - Chapter Six
CHAPTER SEVEN
Chapter Six
I LEANED AGAINST the wall, the pulsating beat of the nightclub vibrating through my chest. My eyes locked with Madeline’s again for the hundredth time tonight. She moved behind the bar, her tiny red bikini catching the light, each curve of her body highlighted in a way that made it impossible to look away. She looked so fucking hot that it made my mouth water, and my cock take notice, but it was more than that. There was something about her presence—confident yet guarded—that made it hard to reconcile with the girl I used to know.
Memories of high school flickered through my mind, and I couldn’t help but compare then and now. Back then, I spent countless hours at those damn ball games, just to catch a glimpse of her in that sexy cheerleading outfit, her smile lighting up the stands.
Hours well spent.
But it wasn’t just her looks that kept me coming back—it was her kindness. Even in high school, she treated everyone with the same warmth, no matter where they fell in the social ladder. That was rare, especially in my world. My dad had always drilled into me that you take care of number one first, and everyone else can go to hell. I wasn’t as mean as my old man, but that lesson stuck.
I watched her now, that same sweetness still evident in the way she smiled at customers, those damn dimples making an appearance with each genuine laugh. But seeing her here, in this place, unsettled me. The pounding music, the swirling lights, the haze of smoke and sweat—it didn’t fit her. I’d imagined her life turning out differently—married, kids, a house, the whole suburban dream. The thought that she might be doing “extra” like some of the other dancers bothered me. It just didn’t sit right.
Before I could dwell on it, Snipe’s gravelly voice cut through my thoughts, leaning beside me with a casualness that only years of working here could develop. “No problems tonight?”
“Not yet, but you know how it goes,” I replied, my eyes still glued to Madeline. I hesitated, knowing I should let it go, but the words slipped out anyway. “What do you know about Mandy?”
Snipe raised an eyebrow, following my gaze. “She’s been here about a year. Exceptional dancer, liked by everyone, doesn’t stir the pot... why?”
“She just doesn’t seem like the type to work here,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but the crack in my voice gave me away. The bass thumped louder, shaking the walls as a new song started, amplifying the dissonance in my chest.
“She needs the money. I hear she works at a dance studio too; Hillbilly has her teaching those bar dances over there.” Snipe paused, giving me a once-over. “You got a thing for her?”
I forced a shrug, though my heart hammered in my chest. “We went to high school together. Surprised to see her here, that’s all.”
Snipe chuckled, a low, knowing sound. “Small world, huh? But yeah, she’s different from the usual crowd. Seems... decent.”
“Yeah,” I muttered, but my mind was spinning. The Madeline I remembered didn’t belong in this world. She was better than this, better than me. But life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect, does it?
“When I used to walk her out at night, I always got the feeling she’s just trying to get by,” Snipe added, pushing off the wall. “You know, doing what she has to do.”
“Hey, one more question,” I stopped him, the words out before I could rethink it. “Does she... you know, do extra?” The question hung in the air between us, heavy with the implication I hated to voice.
Snipe’s expression hardened, his voice dropping an octave. “No, Valley, she doesn’t. Not even lap dances. She’s not like that, so don’t go there.”
“I was just curious,” I defended, but relief washed over me, almost knocking the breath from my lungs. “Makes sense with the girl I used to know.”
“Makes sense,” he parroted my words, his tone flat, as if challenging me to deny what we both knew. He walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts, the silence in my head louder than the music pounding through the club.
I turned my attention back to Madeline, our eyes meeting across the room. There was a flicker of something—expectation, maybe, or a connection I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. Pushing away from the wall, I made my way toward the bar, each step heavy with the weight of old memories and new realizations.
The club seemed to fade around me, the noise and lights dimming as I focused on her. Talking to her couldn’t hurt. We worked together; it’d be strange if I never spoke to her.
Talking nothing more.
But deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple. The pull I felt wasn’t just curiosity or nostalgia—it was something more, something dangerous. And as I approached her, I realized I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face it or if I should turn back while I still could.
HE WAS FINALLY coming over. The air seemed to hum with anticipation as our eyes locked again, one of countless times tonight. His intense gaze never wavered, leaving me both thrilled and unnerved. It was just like high school all over again—except this time; the stakes felt higher, the tension more electric. We weren’t teenagers anymore, and I knew the incredible sex this kind of attraction could give me... if it went that far.
I pretended not to notice him heading toward the bar, forcing myself to focus on wiping down the counter, though my heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it.
Finally, he was there, leaning against the bar with the kind of presence that commanded attention, even in a place as loud and chaotic as this. The years had only sharpened the edges of his confidence, and it radiated from him in waves. “Hey, Madeline, can I get a beer?” he asked, his voice smooth as velvet, and that smile— God, that smile —sent shivers down my body, just like it used to.
“Madeline?” I echoed, feigning surprise as I turned to face him, though the flutter in my stomach betrayed me. “So, you remember me?” My voice trembled slightly, betraying the nervous excitement inside me.
His smirk widened, eyes twinkling with that familiar mischief that had always made my heart skip a beat. “Forget you? Never.” The way he said it, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, made warmth spread through my chest. “Never expected to see you here, though,” he added as I set the beer in front of him, his gaze lingering on me longer than necessary.
“Honestly, me either,” I admitted, trying to sound casual, even though my pulse was racing. “But sometimes life...” I shrugged, searching for the right words. “... has a way of spinning you around,” I finished, my voice trailing off as memories flooded back.
“At least it spun us both in the same direction,” he said, breaking the silence that had grown thick with unspoken words. His eyes locked with mine, and I couldn’t break free. The way he looked at me, with that confident ease, made it hard to breathe. His smile widened as he took a swig of his beer, and I couldn’t help but notice how the years had only added to his appeal—the broad shoulders, the way he held himself, like he knew exactly who he was and what he wanted.
I was just about to respond, to say something— anything —that might keep him there a little longer, when a man shoved his way toward us, his presence instantly souring the atmosphere. It was Rick, a regular at the club, notorious for his crude remarks and lewd behavior after a few too many drinks. Tonight, his demeanor was darker, more menacing, and my heart sank as he leaned in too close, the smell of alcohol heavy on his breath.
“Hey there, pretty Mandy,” he slurred, his hand reaching over the counter to touch my face. The move was sudden, and I flinched, stepping back in disgust, the easy atmosphere evaporating in an instant.
Before I could react, Jarrod’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. “Hands off, asshole,” he growled, his tone low and dangerous. The change in him was immediate, like a switch had flipped, and the air crackled with the intensity of his anger. The burly man blinked at him, a sneer forming on his lips as he realized he was no longer in control of the situation.
“Oh, what? Got yourself a knight in shining armor now?” he jeered, his words dripping with malice as he eyed Jarrod up and down. “She’s a fucking stripper; they love this shit.”
A rush of hurt and anger bled through me, the words cutting deep, but before I could react, Jarrod was already on his feet. His jaw clenched, muscles tensed, and he stepped closer to the man with a fierce protectiveness that made my heart race for an entirely different reason.
“You need to leave. Now,” Jarrod said, his voice icy and filled with a threat that was impossible to ignore. The man hesitated, glancing between us as if weighing his options. For a moment, I could see the gears turning in his head, but ultimately, he backed down, muttering something under his breath.
“Just having a bit of fun,” Rick mumbled, raising his hands in mock surrender before stumbling away, the sourness of his presence lingering in the air.
As the tension slowly ebbed, Jarrod turned back to me, his eyes softening, the fierceness melting away as quickly as it had appeared. “You okay?” he asked, his voice gentle now, a big difference to the dangerous edge it had just held.
I nodded, trying to steady the stir of emotions inside me. There was a mix of gratitude, relief, and something deeper, something that had been simmering beneath the surface since he walked back into my life. “Thanks,” I whispered, my voice barely audible, but the sincerity behind the words was clear.
“For you, anytime,” he replied, his smile returning, warm and genuine, sending another wave of warmth through me. “I better make my rounds,” he said, and for a brief second, I wanted to reach out, to keep him there with me a little longer. But I just nodded, watching him walk away, my heart still pounding from the adrenaline and the thrill of finally speaking to him.
As I turned back to the bar, trying to calm my racing heart, it had been getting one heck of a workout since seeing Jarrod again. There was something in his eyes, something that told me our paths were far from done crossing, and I was helpless to stop it—not that I wanted to.
“Mandy, can I have a whisky neat?” John, another regular, called from the other end of the bar, pulling me back to the present.
“Sure thing,” I replied, shaking myself out of the daze and getting back to work, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Jarrod. His smile, the way he stood up for me, the way he made me feel like I was the only person in the room. This night now felt charged with something new, something exciting, and I couldn’t wait to see where it would lead.
“I’LL WALK YOU out,” I said, leaning against the wall as I waited for Madeline to come out of the dressing room. My voice was casual, but inside, my nerves were on edge. There was something about her that made me feel like I was on the brink of something big, something special, and if I blinked, I would miss it.
“Thank you,” she replied softly as we stepped out into the cool night air. The breeze played with her hair, and I found myself staring, captivated by how the streetlights caught the soft waves.
“So, do you live close by?” I asked, desperate to keep the conversation going, to learn more about this woman who had once again become the center of my thoughts.
“We live a few blocks from the college.”
“We?” I repeated, a sudden unease wrapping itself around my chest like a vice. The idea that she might belong to someone else had my mind spinning, jealousy clawing at the edges of my sanity.
She smiled, a soft curve of her lips that did nothing to ease the tension in my gut. “Me, my dad, and my two-year-old, Ellie.”
The relief was instantaneous, washing over me like a wave, but I tried to keep my voice steady as I asked, “Divorced?” The word felt wrong on my tongue, but I needed to know. I needed to know she was free, that I wasn’t stepping into something I couldn’t handle.
Her expression dimmed, shadows of old pain crossing her features. “No, more like dumped.”
“Who would dump you?” I asked, the words slipping out before I could think them through. My hand moved on its own, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. Her skin was warm against my fingers, and I wanted to feel more, to pull her closer and feel a hell of a lot more. “He had to be blind and dumb as shit.”
A bitter, almost self-deprecating smile tugged at her lips. “I was the dumb one. I believed every lie he told me,” she admitted, her voice quiet, as if she was confessing something she’d kept locked away for a long time. “But turns out Ellie and I didn’t need him anyway. We’ve been just fine.”
“I’m glad he fucked up,” I said, and I meant it. The thought of her with some other guy made my blood boil, but knowing he was out of the picture brought a dark satisfaction. I chuckled softly as I watched her blush, her cheeks turning that irresistible shade of pink that made her even more beautiful. I opened her van door, the moment stretching out longer than it should have, both of us caught in something we didn’t fully understand yet. “I’ll see you tomorrow night, yeah?”
She nodded, her eyes meeting mine with a softness that made my heart pound in my chest. “Yeah, Jarrod, I’ll see you.” She got into the van, and I stood there, watching her drive away, my mind racing with thoughts of her, of us. Finally, I turned and walked back inside, the taste of the night still lingering on my lips.
Later, straddling my bike and roaring down the road, the fear that had been lurking in the back of my mind all night began to claw its way to the surface. I was treading on thin ice, getting close to Madeline, but I couldn’t stop. I’d wanted her for so long, and now that I had the chance, I couldn’t seem to deny myself.
Would I pay for it?
The thought kept repeating in my mind, twisting my gut into knots.
I pulled into the clubhouse and sat for a minute on my bike, the engine ticking as it cooled down. The fear of what awaited me twisted at my insides, a familiar dread that had haunted me for years. If Kezia knew what I was doing... I shook my head, trying to dispel the thought, but her memory was like a shadow I couldn’t shake. Finally, I took a deep breath and went inside, heading to my room. The shower was hot, almost scalding, but it did nothing to wash away the unease clinging to me.
Dropping into bed, I stared up at the ceiling, waiting.
Waiting for her.
But the room remained silent, the air still. Maybe she had moved on, and I was finally free to live my life. I could feel the weight lifting from my chest as the minutes ticked by without her appearance, and I sighed in relief before finally drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, I opened my eyes, the sunlight streaming through the window, warm and real. I smiled as I sat up, throwing off the covers, the lingering fear from the night before dissipating with the morning light. Kezia didn’t come, and she hadn’t come in months. My heart raced with the thought of being free, truly free, to go after Madeline.
After all these years, I could make her mine.
The memory of Kezia’s laughter sounded faintly in my mind, but I shook it off. The past was a ghost I had to bury, and with Kezia going away, I could finally do it. Madeline was here, now, real and vibrant. The fear that had gripped me last night began to fade, replaced by an excited determination I hadn’t felt since that awful day. This was my chance to start over, to build something real with Madeline, and I wasn’t going to let it slip through my fingers.
But as I stood up, ready to face the day, I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Kezia standing there, her eyes full of sorrow and accusation. But the room was empty, and I was alone.
For now.