Chapter Nine - Chapter Eight
CHAPTER NINE
Chapter Eight
“TWINS!” I EXCLAIMED in surprise. I stared at Midnight in disbelief, my mind struggling to wrap around the idea. “There’s no way Hadleigh’s hiding two kids in that stomach!”
Midnight nodded, running a hand through his disheveled hair, the dark locks still damp from his earlier shower. A broad grin stretched across his face, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—something deeper. “It’s true, brother. Both girls, and it’s scary as fuck.”
“Holy shit, man, you’re gonna have your hands full,” I chuckled, shaking my head in amazement, trying to picture Midnight with two daughters clinging to his legs. “I can’t wrap my head around it.”
Midnight’s smile faded slightly, the weight of reality settling in. “It’s not the twins that worry me,” he admitted, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. “It’s my mama, Haddie’s mother, and Vittorio. You’d think these babies were theirs the way they’re acting. I’m about ready to take Haddie and run away.”
I laughed, but his words lingered, the tension in his voice obvious. Midnight had always been the steady one, the calm half of our friendship, but now he looked like a man caught between the joy of fatherhood and the fear of losing control. “Family’s a double-edged sword,” I said, my voice more somber. “But at least they care. Some kids don’t get that opportunity.”
Midnight sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “True, and I can’t fault Mama for being excited,” he continued, his voice softening, as he spoke, “She believes that since God took Kezia, he’s making up for it by blessing us twice.”
The mention of Kezia hit me like a punch to the gut, the reminder of her loss casting a shadow over my excitement. It was like an icy hand reaching up from the past, squeezing my chest and making it hard to breathe. I didn’t need that reminder, not tonight when I was trying to focus on seeing Madeline, trying to keep my head straight.
“So, you’re working at The Devil’s Den now?” I asked, steering the conversation away from painful memories, needing to break free from the chains that threatened to pull me under.
“Yeah, for now,” Midnight replied, a spark of hope lighting up his eyes. “Haddie’s got plans, big ones. She wants to open a greenhouse, a way she can earn money and raise the girls without babysitters. And I’m going to chase some bounties with my brother’s part-time. The property we bought has plenty of room, and it feels right, you know?”
“What about runs for the club?” I pressed, my thoughts drifting to the changes that were happening between us all. The club was more than a brotherhood; it was our life, our identity. But things were shifting, and I wasn’t sure where we all stood anymore.
“I’m still doing them when Patch calls. Haddie understands how important the club is, and nothing will change that,” he said firmly, his voice steady, but there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He gave me a long, assessing look, as if trying to gauge where I stood. “We’ll still hang out together, Valley. That’s not going to change.”
“I know we will,” I replied, forcing a smile even though it felt hollow. I signaled for another beer, the clock seeming to crawl as each second ticked by. I had an hour before work, but going in early wouldn’t help. Madeline wasn’t due until six, and she was the only reason I was anxious to go. The anticipation was a knot in my stomach, a feeling I wasn’t used to having when it came to chicks.
“I better get going,” Midnight said, standing up with a slight groan, his exhaustion showing. “Need to drop Haddie off before heading to The Devil’s Den for my shift.”
“Later,” I said, leaning back in my chair and checking the time again. The clubhouse was buzzing with activity, laughter, and the clinking of bottles, but my mind was elsewhere. I couldn’t stop thinking about Madeline, she just had that something that I couldn’t stop wanting.
“Valley,” a soft, familiar voice interrupted my thoughts. Tracy slipped onto my lap, her arms winding around my neck like she belonged there. “You haven’t come to see me for days.”
I lifted her onto Midnight’s now-vacant seat, wondering how to get rid of her without being an asshole. “Was I supposed to?” I asked, my voice light but my thoughts far away. I liked Tracy. She was nice, easygoing, but it was just casual fun. Now, my sights were set on Madeline, my mind only thinking of her.
Her face fell, her smile faltering as she tried to hide her disappointment. “If it’s about what I said, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. We can still have fun on your terms.”
I sighed, feeling a pang of guilt even though she knew the score. All the sweet butts did. “Listen, Tracy, I don’t want to make you feel bad, but I have to be honest. My mind is somewhere else, with someone else . I’m not interested, feel me?”
“Oh, okay,” she murmured, her voice small and her smile forced as she stood up. “Yeah, I get you. She’s a lucky girl.” Tracy walked away, and I checked my watch again. Five thirty. Close enough, I thought as I stood and headed out of the clubhouse.
Pushing open the heavy clubhouse door, I stepped into the cooling evening, the scent of fall was in the air paired with bike exhaust, and the fading sunlight mingling together in a familiar, comforting way that seemed to tramp out those damn thoughts of Kezia.
I straddled my bike, the engine roaring to life beneath me, a sound that always calmed my restless soul. The ride to Twisted Heat was short, the streets a blur as I pushed my bike faster, needing to feel the wind against my skin. But it felt like an eternity, my mind racing with thoughts of Madeline—her smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she talked, her gentle personality that seemed to suck me in like a tornado.
It was fucking weird how you could be with a hundred other chicks, but there’s only one out there that consumes you, addicts you to her in a way that no one else ever could.
The one you’d die for.
I pulled into the parking lot, the neon sign of Twisted Heat casting an eerie glow that seemed to match the tension in my gut. Jesus, I was acting like some goddamned virgin. I killed the engine and took a deep breath and hopped off my bike. As I moved toward the back entrance, my eyes scanned the lot, and there she was—Madeline, walking toward me like she was meant to be there, like she was meant to be with me.
Man, she looked sexy even in those damn yoga pants with her hair in a messy bun. How did any man let her go?
She spotted me, her eyes widening in surprise. “Jarrod,” she said, her voice warm and welcoming, like she was genuinely happy to see me.
“Madeline,” I greeted, giving her a crooked smile. “Looks like we start at the same time.”
She laughed softly, the sound washing over me like warm rain. “Yeah, looks that way,” she replied, her eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. It made me want to forget we both had to work and throw her on the back of my bike.
As we walked inside, the thumping bass of the music thumped, matching the pounding of my heart. The lighting in the hallway was dim, the shadows playing on the wall as I watched her reach for the dressing room door. “I’ll see you in a bit,” I said, as she touched the knob.
She smiled with a nod, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink that made her even more irresistible. And for some reason, that blush made me wonder what wicked thought caused it. I continued down the hallway, a smile tugging at my lips as I imagined all the ways I’d get to know what made Madeline tick, and just what makes her blush.
AFTER RUNNING INTO Jarrod, my mind was consumed with him, and my dances for tonight suddenly seemed impossible. My confidence and bravery not showing up to work with me. The mere thought of him watching me, his intense gaze fixed on my every move, made my heart pound and my skin tingle. How could I perform when just knowing he was there would send my nerves into overdrive?
And my embarrassment was back, the shame, and feeling cheap. Plus, the worry that Jarrod only saw me as a good time. But the show must go on as they say and tonight is no different.
“Hey Mandy,” Val said, rising from her chair at the vanity with a confident smirk.
“Hi, Val,” I replied, trying to steady my voice as I put my bag down and pulled out my first costume of the night. The fabric felt cool and slippery in my trembling hands. “Everything good?”
“Yep, guys were throwing bills last night,” she said, adjusting the glittering pasties on her chest. When I was behind the bar, I always opted for a bikini. Pasties had a tendency to betray me at the worst moments. “But I’m happy to be at the bar tonight.”
“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?” I asked, feigning indifference. Val boasted constantly about her stage earnings and usually despised bar duty.
“The new guy, Valley. He’s so fucking hot, and I’m going for it,” she said, fanning herself with exaggerated enthusiasm.
A surge of possessiveness tightened my chest, but I bit my tongue. “Yeah, he’s cute,” I murmured, pretending not to care as I started undressing. The air felt charged with tension as she left, and I couldn’t shake the awful worry that he might fall for her. Val had no boundaries on stage, and her services extended beyond mere dancing.
“Mandy?” Margie’s voice sliced through my thoughts.
I looked up at her concerned face, realizing she must have called my name multiple times. “Sorry, just getting my head straight for tonight,” I said, forcing a smile.
Margie’s eyes reflected doubt, but she didn’t press further. “You go on at seven, nine, and eleven,” she informed me.
“Do you need me to waitress in between?”
“Yep, section five. You and Carlie will switch off,” she said before moving on to inform the other girls of their schedules.
I pulled on my robe and sat down at the vanity, staring at my reflection. The woman in the mirror looked uncertain, her eyes shadowed with worry. My feelings for Jarrod were already a tangled mess. What if he couldn’t see past Mandy, the dancer, to the real woman—Madeline? What if he turned out to be like Asher? The pain Ellie’s sperm donor had caused still lingered, and I couldn’t bear to go through that again. I sighed, gripping the makeup brush tightly. But Jarrod was different. He meant more to me than Asher ever had. How could I fight this overwhelming desire to be with him?
I began applying my makeup, each stroke of the brush a moment to gather my thoughts. The makeup was a mask, a shield to hide behind. As I worked, memories of Jarrod’s smile, his scent, and the way his eyes bore into mine flooded back. My pulse quickened, and I had to force myself to focus.
“Hey, you okay?” Carlie asked, slipping into the chair next to me.
“Yeah, just... thinking,” I replied, giving her a small smile. Carlie was one of the few dancers here that was genuinely nice. She gave me a sympathetic nod, but still looked concerned.
“You sure? You seem really out of it.”
I hesitated, then nodded. “I’m fine, really... I just get so tired sometimes.”
Carlie gave me a knowing look. “Life isn’t always fair, but don’t let it throw you off. You’re strong, Mandy. We have to be.”
Her words were comforting, but the knot in my stomach didn’t loosen. As Carlie moved on to her own preparations, I finished my makeup and slipped into my first costume, the sequins catching the light as I moved. I glanced at the clock. Thirty minutes until my first dance.
As I made my way backstage, the atmosphere buzzed with the same anticipation as every night. The club was filling up, and the energy was high. I spotted Jarrod across the room, talking to a group of guys. His presence was magnetic, drawing eyes and attention effortlessly just like in my memories. He looked up, his gaze locking onto mine, and for a moment I forgot to breathe.
My breath hitched, and I quickly looked away, focusing on the task at hand. I couldn’t afford to be distracted. Not now. I poured myself a glass of water, trying to steady my nerves. But the thought of him watching, his eyes following my every move, was a heady mix of anxiety and thrill.
The DJ’s voice boomed over the speakers, announcing the start of the show. My heart pounded as I made my way to the curtained stage, the familiar sights and sounds doing little to calm me. The other dancers were chatting like normal, but I felt like I was walking a tightrope.
As I waited for my cue, I took a deep breath, reminding myself why I was here. For Ellie, for the future I was trying to build for us. I couldn’t let my feelings for Jarrod derail everything. But when the music started, and I stepped onto the stage, the spotlight blinding me momentarily, all those thoughts melted away. It was just me and the dance; the rhythm taking over as always.
The first beat hit, and I moved instinctively, letting the music guide me. I could feel his eyes on me, a burning intensity that made my skin prickle. I danced for him, every movement a silent communication. The crowd cheered and whistled, but all I could focus on was Jarrod, his expression unreadable but his eyes never leaving me from where he leaned on the wall.
The song ended, and I struck the final pose, the usual hoots, whistles, and men yelling things at me as money landing at my feet. I took a deep breath, letting the adrenaline wash over me as the curtain lowered. I had made it through the first dance, but the night was far from over.
With one last look at the audience through the slit in the curtain, I turned and walked off the stage, my heart still racing.