Chapter 35
Mila
“Well, look who it is,” Niko says as I walk into the Cockpit. “The Bride to Be of Beverly Hills has decided to grace us with her presence.”
I smile and wave at everyone as they rush over to me. I hug the waitresses and even Niko when he walks over with a cocky but genuine smile.
“And here I thought you’d forgotten about us little people,” he says.
“I could never,” I tell him. “I’m still one of you.”
“Bullshit you are,” he says with a haughty laugh, and my mouth pops open.
“Lainey, are you hearing this?” I ask as she walks out of the back to hug me.
“I am. And I call bullshit too,” she says and gasps. “That rock on your finger says differently,” she adds, giving me a knowing look.
“Yeah well, I’m not like that. Just because I have a ring on my finger–”
“A rock,” she corrects me.
“Doesn’t mean I don’t love and miss you guys,” I go on. “Which is why I came in to have lunch with you,” I tell Lainey.
“My break isn’t until after Brynn’s,” she says, looking at her phone. “Another hour.”
“I bet Niko could do something about that,” I say, batting my eyes at my ex-boss.
“You want me to switch Lainey’s break with Brynn’s?” he asks as he types something on a tablet. “I don’t know how the Queen is going to feel about that.”
“I stayed late last night polishing silverware,” Lainey reminds him. “And rearranged the liquor bottles by spirit and price.”
Niko turns and squints his eyes toward the bar. “That you did. Alright. I’ll let her highness know. Take your break.”
Lainey and I both jump for joy and head towards one of the booths in the back where we can be alone.
“I have so much to tell you,” I tell her.
“What kinds of things?” she asks.
“Something happened the other night,” I say.
“You mean after your fiancé grabbed you before a match with his biggest rival and the two of you disappeared into the night?” She asks, and we both giggle.
“Mila?” Brynn’s voice comes from across the bar, and Lainey and I both stop just before sitting down. “Mila, I am so glad you’re here.”
“Hey,” I say with a confused smile. I don’t even have to look at Lainey to know she’s not smiling.
I’m not na?ve. I know that I’ve been blowing Lainey off a lot recently and I really miss her.
Not only that, but I have to talk to someone about everything that’s going on.
Everything I’m feeling. From the night I had with Dominic to the pregnancy.
“So if you didn’t notice, you were pretty popular the other night,” she says.
“You mean the night she showed you up on the dance floor?” Lainey jabs and Brynn ignores her.
“We made a lot of money that night, girl. I was thinking…you should be a permanent Ring Girl.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. It takes a second for me to process the words. “You want…me? To dance with you permanently?” I ask.
“Yep,” she smiles. “The girls and I were discussing it, and we think you’d make an excellent backup dancer.”
“Hold it,” Niko cuts in, walking over to us. “No offense, Brynn, but you are crazy if you think Mila should be backup.”
Brynn is just as confused as I am. “What do you mean, Nik? We talked about her dancing with us this morning.”
“Not as a backup,” he says.
Brynn’s eyes grow wider. “Nik, surely you don’t mean–”
“That little stunt the two of you pulled the other night? The dance off? Our ratings have never been that high. They loved it. Especially the ballet bit. Sorry, Brynn, but this girl belongs in the middle.”
“In the middle?” I ask, my heart falling to the floor.
“Hell yeah, girl,” Lainey cheers, wrapping her arms around me.
“Niko,” Brynn forces a smile. “I’ve been the lead for years. It’s what everyone wants.”
“And now they want Mila,” he says. “So teach her everything you know and make me lots of money.”
He walks away, leaving the three of us gaping. Brynn is the first to snap her mouth shut.
“Brynn, I don’t–”
“You heard him,” she says with another smile. One I can’t quite read. “You’re the new lead. And while the guys apparently loved your little skit, it’s going to take a lot more than a cute improv routine to keep them going. Which means practice,” she says.
“Of course,” I nod. “I’ll talk to Dom tonight and–”
“Now,” she says. “We have to start right now.”
“Right now?” I parrot.
“Unless you have something better to do.”
“I can practice with you…right after lunch,” I say.
Brynn smiles again. “Mila, we have a routine coming up. This one isn’t just a bunch of ass-shaking. We’re going to need all the time we can spare.”
“Brynn,” Lainey cuts her off, only to be cut off by Niko.
“Ladies. Your cackling is scaring the customers.”
“Nik, if she is going to be dancing the lead, we are going to need to get right on it,” Brynn says.
“Fine. Change of plans. Brynn, give Lainey a minute,” he says.
“Thank you,” Lainey smiles, sitting down in the booth and waving me to do the same. But before I can, he says, “You have ten minutes.”
“Ten minutes?!”
“Then get back on the floor. I make the most money from the ring, and I can’t have my new lead dancer falling on her face,” he says before walking off again.
Brynn smiles and bounces off, and I turn back to Lainey.
“I’m sorry. You know I don’t want–” I start.
“Just go,” she says, plopping down into the booth. But I don’t just go. I take a seat in front of her and reach across the table to grab her hands.
“Lainey. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy. My life has been so wild lately,” I say.
“You’re telling me,” she mutters. “What happened to you, Mila? What happened to us?”
“What do you mean?” I ask, my heart pounding painfully in my chest.
“We used to hang out all the time. It’s always been me and you. I was the one who befriended when we were teens, remember?” she asks.
“Of course I remember, and you’re still my best friend.”
“Well, it doesn’t feel that way. Not since you started hanging out with Brynn and those other girls.”
I lean in even more. “I miss dancing, Lainey. That’s all it is. But I promise you, after I learn the routine, I am going to make time to hang out with you, no excuses. I have so much I want to tell you. So much I need to talk to you about. I–”
“Lainey, if you want to eat, you better do it now,” Niko says. Lainey gives me a broken smile.
“I have to go. Have fun,” she says before walking off.
It breaks my heart and makes me angry all at the same time. My life has been such a whirlwind that I feel like I have no control over it anymore. I want to go after her. I want to cry and tell her everything. But just as my chin starts to shake, Brynn walks over.
“Are you excited that you’re going to be the Cockpit’s new lead Ring Girl?” she asks.
“Yeah…” I nod with a smile while simultaneously blinking back the tears.
“Good,” she says before mumbling, “That makes one of us.”