Chapter 10
I wasn’t actually on the schedule that night, but I showed up anyways under the pretense of getting the rest of the information on what other girls danced so I could plan my own songs better.
It turned out that someone needed covered last minute and there was some drama with Austin, so it gave me the chance to nose about.
And I didn’t like what I found.
Oh, it had nothing to do with the murder investigation, but I really didn’t like the asshole, and I was beyond annoyed we weren’t taking him down.
The moment we’re back to expanding and taking over clubs, I’m coming for you, asshole.
Honestly, maybe it was time just to do more takeovers as well. Supes were always having trouble getting jobs and not having humans fuck with them. If they’d be less haughty and stop acting like they were better than everyone else, then we could all prosper.
“Not the time,” I mumbled.
“What’s not the time?” Nicole asked from behind me, her tone sharper than it needed to be.
And suspicious.
“Oh, good, there you are,” I sighed like I was beyond done. “Someone said you were here and normally had stomach meds. I’ll bring in a bottle next shift—fucking quick meals before I know where to eat around here.”
She winced and went over to the desk. “Yeah, everyone knows I have IBS, but get a list from the others on where not to go. We have some real shitholes that need to be shut down.”
That was hysterical when I wouldn’t dare eat from the club’s kitchen.
“Club sandwich should be fucking safe anywhere,” I grumbled as I accepted the medication with a thank-you. I nodded when she mentioned the restaurant and listening to her rant about the place was beyond gross. I hadn’t known and just played along, but it worked out.
“You good?” she checked.
“Yeah, normally iron stomach so just need five,” I promised. “If the bar has ginger ale or something, I’ll make my set in ten.”
“Must be nice,” she mumbled. “I’ll have one sent in here since you’re covering and we could use the distraction of the new girl with—I’ll have it sent. I keep the pills in that drawer, so help yourself.”
People really needed to be more careful with what they offered. I thanked her and then the security guy who brought the pop for me. He had some advice on where not to eat either, saying I was too pretty to have gas or the squirts.
Charming.
Seriously, what a catch.
Still, I played the game and thanked him like it was the sweetest thing I’d ever heard. I waited until his radio said he was needed and then did what I needed with my phone so it electronically wormed into their system and we had access to everything.
Like everything.
I really enjoyed my job some days.
My set was good, but then I handed off some lap dances, telling a few of the girls that I ate some bad food and was just keeping it together to help cover.
It was a Wednesday, so slower, and they appreciated the help.
The guys were less than thrilled, but I promised they’d see me again and gave them a bit of my influence so they went off happy.
“You’re good with the customers,” Nicole muttered as she moved over to me later.
I snorted. “It’s the new car smell. Some are still trying to impress me and think they have a chance to make me their girlfriend before they realize it’s a job for me too.
” I decided to take a chance since she wasn’t as threatened by me anymore.
“Did I hear right and someone here does an extra hustle of getting customers’ initials on her nails? ”
Her desires were instantly dark and full of bullshit. “Better not be. That’s not on the menu, and if they’re hustling—”
“I might have misheard,” I quickly interjected. “Most guys don’t talk about their girlfriends or wives while here. I assumed it was one of the girls here. He said something about the price of the nails with his initials.”
“Who?” she asked.
I glanced around and then back again. “Gone.” I pointed to an empty table with a couple of bottles not cleared yet. “Was sitting there with a buddy.”
“Must have been his girlfriend,” she muttered. “We don’t do extras like that, and no one’s allowed to see customers outside of here. Not on purpose. You tell me if you hear more.”
“Yeah,” I replied, nodding when she gave me a hard look.
“No, I will because it’s dangerous. If someone here is doing it, she’s probably stupid or biting into fun that could get her dead.
I hear you that you don’t want people hurt.
I’ll tell you if I hear it again. I thought maybe you guys had like a promo or top customer for the month got it like other promos. ”
“Not a bad idea but no,” she said and walked off.
So it was under the table then. Yeah, it made sense.
I frowned. It was probably sloppy of me to have brought it up to Nicole, but clubs like these—everyone talked and gossiped.
I honestly couldn’t have thought of a world where she didn’t know when she was overbearing and involved in everything down to handing out songs to the dancers like parts in a school play.
Interesting.
I spent the rest of the night chatting up the people I locked in on as regulars under the guise of getting the lay of the land.
The dancers and club workers thought it was because of my stomach issues or I was just temporarily filling in and the regulars thought it was because… They honestly didn’t care.
They just wanted the attention.
That was why people went to strip clubs more than to see naked women. They could do that online now and so easily. They went for the interaction and the care and attention given them even if they had to pay for it.
No judgment. None at all. I knew lots of people did, but I didn’t.
I went for massages and to the spa to get the attention I needed. Others went to feel special in this way. One really wasn’t better than the other as long as nothing was in excess and everyone had a handle on where the lines were.
That was just not always the reality and why places became so sleezy.
But I also felt more than most, and especially humans, so maybe in another life I would have made a fantastic counselor. It made me think of another way for demons to maybe branch out into social services. Something to think about later.
I listened to one guy talk on and on about his girlfriend and their new puppy.
Unlike my experience with the twins, it was not a good one for him.
He hadn’t even wanted the dog and now it was a disaster for him.
She was letting it do whatever and the living environment was beyond gross when he liked things clean and tidy.
She excused everything and he was ready to bail.
“How long have you been together?” I asked him after sensing the grief more than anything else. “You normally come in twice a month with your buddies after work?”
He blinked at me. “How did you know that?”
“You told me or one of the girls did in the rundown on regulars,” I brushed off.
“Yeah, once or twice a month, and she’s cool with it as long as I don’t get lap dances alone or touch.” He chuckled, a goofy look on his face. “She’d hand me my balls and not put up with that shit. She’s amazing and strong like that.”
“Okay, so she’s a good one, and this is your chance to fight for her instead of wasting what you’ve had,” I guided.
“She won’t listen to me and—”
“Are you telling her what to do or are you telling her how you feel and that the change isn’t working for you?
” I challenged, nodding when he frowned.
“It’s all in how you frame it, love. If she’s a strong one, then you can’t attack her.
Maybe she realizes she made a mistake and now can’t admit it because you’re being a jerk about it.
“Maybe she feels trapped. Maybe this was a test run about what kind of father you’d be and she’s spinning out at how you’re handling it.
” I nodded when he did a double take. “I’ve heard some do that.
A puppy as the step before kiddos and everything falls apart when they realize they’ll be a married single mother. ”
“A kid isn’t a damn dog I didn’t want,” he argued.
“Agreed, but something is going on here if you guys have been good until now,” I told him firmly.
“And doesn’t she deserve for you to find out?
Doesn’t she deserve that understanding from you after all the love she’s given you?
You said she’s done a lot for you and you’re going to just bail? Does she deserve that?”
He looked like the pup that got swatted and he pouted and nursed his drink. “No.”
“No, she doesn’t,” I said in a teasing moping voice. “So what do you do?”
He huffed, a bit buzzed and honestly adorable. “If I knew that, I wouldn’t be asking you.”
Fair. I even admitted that and patted his arm. “Yeah, you’re at the eye of the storm, so that’s fair. Okay, so you bring her flowers and ask if you guys can get back on the same page. Ask if you can go see a couple’s counselor and—”
“We’re not married.”
“So?” I snorted when he frowned. “I didn’t say a marriage counselor.
I said couple’s counselor. Go talk to someone.
You’ve been together over a year and you see a future with her, right?
” I waited until he nodded. I gestured around the club.
“You got money for nights like this and you guys just took a trip, yeah?”
He nodded again and then sighed. “So we have money for a few sessions even if insurance doesn’t cover it. Yeah, we like nice dinners and—how do I find one?”
“That I can’t help you with, but I’m very sure there are social media groups that can recommend people,” I told him.
“You’re scared to ask because of the stigma and she deserves better than that.
” I raised an eyebrow when he tried to defend himself.
“You’d have no problem asking for a recommendation where to buy her a ring when you were ready, right? Why this?”