Chapter 3
three
The journey backstage seems to take longer than usual. My skin is buzzing and I can’t seem to get the image of Dark & Broody or Hot & Smirky out of my head.
Not even thirty seconds after I’ve dumped my cash onto my dressing table, Mia and Ari burst through the curtain like a couple of bloodhounds hot on the scent.
“Oh my fuck,” Mia squeals, bouncing on her heels. “Who the hell were those two hotties?”
The fabric of my costume sticks to my sweaty skin as I peel it off. “Which two?” I ask casually.
Ari flops down on the bench next to me, crossing her long legs.
“Don’t play dumb, Rey. The two gods sitting at the VIP table.
The one who came up to the stage...” She fans herself dramatically.
“Not to mention his friend. Call me crazy, but he looked like he wanted to eat you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
“Pretty sure that’s not the case,” I mutter, wiggling out of my bottoms.
Mia grabs my arm, her brown eyes wide. “Seriously, though. The energy bouncing around between the three of you? I could literally feel it from where I was sitting at the bar. It was like—” She circles her fingers in the air. “—electric or whatever.”
“More like nuclear or whatever,” Ari adds with a grin.
Cheeks burning, I roll my eyes. My friends tend to be a tad overdramatic. “They’re just customers, guys. Hotties for sure, but still just customers,” I huff, hardening my tone in a measly attempt to get my point across.
Fat chance.
“Uh huh.” Ari leans back, studying me with a pair of cornflower-blue eyes. “So you’re telling me you felt nothing when Tall, Dark and Handsome was eye-fucking you from across the room?”
I shrug, trying to play it cool even though my heart is still doing somersaults. “Exactly. I’m just here for the money.”
Mia snorts. “Yeah, okay,” she says in her signature, mock dumb-dumb voice. “And I’m the Queen of England.”
“Your Majesty.” I turn, giving her a dramatic curtsy, making her laugh.
But little miss Ari doesn’t know how to let shit go. “Rey, I’ve seen you work that floor for almost a year now. You’re good—like, really good. But I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you did those two.”
Unwelcome emotion tightens in my chest. She’s not wrong. There was something about both of them that got under my skin in a way no one else ever has before.
“Look,” I grouse, pulling up my jeans. “I’m not denying I didn’t feel something. But I’m here to make money, not hook up with customers. You know the rules. Besides, it was probably just a fluke.”
Mia and Ari exchange a look that I don’t care for one bit.
“What?” I grumble, pulling my hair up into a messy bun.
“Nothing,” Mia quips, her smirk proving otherwise.
“Spill it,” I growl.
Ari stands, stretching her arms over her head. “We’re just saying... If your pussy happens to smash into one of them—or both—we wouldn’t judge.”
“Speak for yourself,” Mia laughs. “I’d judge the hell out of her. Enviously.”
I throw a makeup wipe at her and snatch my shirt from my duffle. “You two are ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” Ari concedes, heading back out to the floor. “But you know we’re right.”
“Sure you don’t wanna stay?” Mia asks. “Betcha they’re still out there.”
Stuffing my cash into my bag, I grab my jacket off the hook by the back door. “Nah. If the vibes they were giving off were real, then maybe they’ll be back.”
After exchanging a round of hugs with my besties, I push out the back door and into the employee parking lot.
I’m still kind of freaking out as I climb the stairs to my apartment. Almost regretting the fact that I didn’t go back out on stage after the heated interaction with Hot & Smirky. I am, however, more than a little disappointed that Dark & Broody didn’t come up to the stage too.
I drop my bag on the kitchen counter and head straight for the bathroom, peeling off my clothes as I go.
By the time I step into the shower, the water is nice and hot, washing away the sweat and glitter along with the lingering scent of cheap cologne and cigarette smoke.
But it doesn’t wash away the memory of them.
Dark & Broody with his sharp green eyes and a jaw that could cut glass. The way he watched me like he wanted to consume me whole.
Hot & Smirky with his easy confidence and that voice—God, that voice—even now, just the thought sends shivers down my spine.
Pressing my palms against the tile, I hang my head, water pounding against the back of my neck. This wasn’t supposed to happen.
The strip club gig wasn’t exactly part of my original life plan.
But when you grow up in a trailer park in Pagosa Springs with an alcoholic for a father and a mom who’d rather chase her next high than pay attention to her daughters, you learn pretty quick that life doesn’t just hand shit over. You have to take it.
And I took it.
The money from dancing is putting me through EMT school and will eventually get me through firefighter training. Every dollar I make on that stage is another step toward a real career. One where I could save lives—instead of just entertaining people who want to forget theirs for a few hours.
It’s not glamorous, but it pays the bills and then some. The last thing I ever want to do is go back to living paycheck to paycheck.
I shut off the shower, dry myself off and head into my room to climb into bed, sheets cool against my skin as I slip between them.
Just as I go to set my alarm on my phone, it buzzes in my hand.
ARI
So... about tomorrow night
MIA
We’re thinking Club Karma for our night off this week. You in?
ARI
Don’t even think about saying no. You’ve been working too hard.
MIA
Plus, you owe us after bailing on drinks last week.
Fucks sake. These two are relentless.
Smile tugging at my lips, my fingers fly over the keys.
Since when do I owe you anything? I was sick.
ARI
Sick, my ass. You were hungover from that bottle of wine you drank all by yourself.
MIA
She’s not wrong.
Fine. Club Karma. But I’m not staying out past midnight.
ARI
LOL. Whatever you say, Cinderella.
Goodnight, you two. Hope the bedbugs bite.
MIA
Bitch
ARI
Suck it
Setting my phone down on my nightstand, I turn off my lamp and snuggle in, dreaming about broody eyes and smirky lips.