Chapter Thirty-four
Lucy
The days are passing by in a blur. Between sneaking off with Max, the odd time meeting up with Sara, and working a few nights a week, I haven’t had the chance to stay still.
Life has been easy for once. My dad has called me regularly, wondering why I haven’t been to see them, but there’s only so much secrecy a girl can handle.
And being around Liz would kill me right now.
I still haven’t managed to tell Max about the club, but I’ve decided I’m going to tonight. I know he’s getting suspicious, even when he doesn’t ask, and the last thing I want to do is upset him.
I’m at his place, lounging on his couch in my PJs with a funny TV series on as background noise. My feet are in his lap whilst he taps away on his laptop. Fuck it, I’m doing it. Do I just blurt it out? Right here, whilst he is working? No, that won’t work.
There’s something not quite right with him today. He came home after lunch and has barely spoken a word to me. I found him standing at my studio door, just staring at me blankly.
“You’re driving me insane.” He says out of the blue, side eyeing me from his end of the couch.
“Why? What the hell did I do?” I ask, frowning at him.
“Your feet are bouncing on my knee in the most annoying way possible. I don’t know if you’re trying to play with my dick or just distract me from my work.” I couldn’t tell if he was angry at first, but the small smile he’s trying to hold back is just peaking through.
“Sorry. I didn’t realise I was doing it.” I worry my lip, thinking of the best time to bring it up.
“If you keep that up, I’ll come over there and bite that lip for you.” He winks, his eyes pinned on my lips.
God, is this man ever not turned on? Not that I’m complaining. Stay on track, woman, you leave for work in thirty minutes.
“Behave, you sex fiend. You know I’m at work soon.” I giggle, but he frowns. What the hell? “Erm, I was thinking. Do you want to come down tonight?”
“To the bar? You’re finally going to let me?” His eyes widen.
He knows I’ve been shady about it. Every time I’ve avoided work talk, he’s had a defeated look on his face, and anything but a cheeky smirk looks strange on him. I can’t do this to him anymore.
“Yeah, I will send you the address. Head down for 10 pm?” My voice wobbles, my nerves getting the better of me.
He eyes me sceptically, staring at me for a long time before answering.
“Okay. I will be there. What are you hiding from me, Sugarplum?” His tone is so serious that I can’t bear to stay in the same room as him for another moment.
I attempt to give him a flirty wink as I stand, “I guess you will just have to wait and see.” I reply before rushing off to the bedroom to get ready.
I sent Max a message earlier with the details of the bar, but I didn’t tell him the name of it. It’s not like there’s any other bars in the street that could confuse him. I have a feeling this is going to be what he least expects from me, though.
I have never in my life felt this anxious about anything. Okay, that’s a lie, I have. One being when we told our parents about us the first time around. But as of right now, it feels like the worst I have ever felt. I think it’s the unknown of how he is going to take it.
Knowing Max as well as I do means I also know how unpredictable his moods can be. He could absolutely lose his shit or greet me with a grin and a high five. There's no in-between.
I got to work earlier than usual tonight.
I physically couldn’t stay at home for another minute.
I am not a born liar, and lying to Max all afternoon has made me want to vomit.
Not that I haven’t been lying to him for the few months already, but knowing he is going to find out the truth tonight has made it sink in how bad a girlfriend I’ve been.
I mean, who the hell even keeps something like this from the person they love?
“Sugar! Five-minute warning!” A voice calls over the speaker.
Oh, fuck. Suzy must be near the end of her set.
I’m dressed and prepped, ready to go, and I’ve even warmed up more than I usually would.
What if he doesn’t turn up? Maybe he got lost, or he didn’t think I’d ever mean a place like this.
As soon as I sent the message to him earlier, I shut off my phone so that I wouldn’t keep checking it every two minutes.
But at the end of the day, I’m a professional, and no matter what, I am going to put on the best fucking show of my whole damn life. Hopefully, he is out there ready to watch it. I just need to make sure he enjoys it.
By the time I’m side stage, my head is in the zone. Shaking off the excess nerves, I climb into my lowered hoop, ready for the curtains to open.
“Introducing… our star of the show, for her first performance this evening… Sugar!” The DJ calls out over the mic, and as always, the crowd goes quiet.
I’m already in the air as the curtains start to open.
My song starts to play, but the crowd still doesn’t make a sound.
‘Feeling Good’ by Nina Simone pulses through the room, giving me all the encouragement I need to make this performance one to remember.
I know this song so well that each time the beat hits hard, I make sure I’m in a position that will bring in a gasp.
I love every minute of it. Dancing and moving freely, doing what I do best, and putting on a show that no one will forget.
I’m getting to the end of the dance now.
So, I go for the show stopper that everyone seems to love the most. Placing the hoop at the base of my spine, I drop back so I’m hanging upside down with my legs spread as wide as they will go.
My long curls are loose around me, adding to the drama of the move.
The hoop slowly spins me until I’m looking out at the audience, and that’s when I see the most familiar pair of piercing green eyes.
He's here.
A slow but shallow smile takes over my lips as I watch him.
I close my legs and lift them to the top of the hoop now, crossing them at the ankles.
But I don’t take my gaze away from Max. His mouth is open that wide, and I can’t hide the giggle that escapes me.
He looks like a cartoon character. At least he doesn’t look angry.
If anything, he looks in awe, and that is an emotion I can handle.
I send him a flirty wink, which has a few of the other men cheer before continuing with my dance for the last few seconds. On the last beat, I lay down, arching my back and lifting one leg high in the air. Then the music stops, and the curtains draw closed in front of me.
Holy fucking shit.
I did it. He knows. Now, I just have to face the music.