Chapter 10
I was still a little disbelieving that the meeting with Shadow’s parents and sister went so well.
My worries over what they’d think if they knew what I did for a living had been for nothing.
They had been such sweethearts about it all.
The love and care they showed made me cry, and they embraced me even more.
I was blessed. When we left to get me to work Sunday evening, everyone had promised to come to Bristol soon so we could spend more time together.
I was told I was always welcome at their home, whether or not Shadow was with me.
I’d floated through my dances on Sunday night. Monday was spent with me staying at the compound, studying while Shadow worked at Lager. On Tuesday, he’d taken me to the college to take my last final exam. It had been delayed due to the professor.
My happiness had declined slightly by the time I got to school. The test itself went off without a hitch. I thought I’d done a great job on it. The cause of my decreased cheerfulness was the way I caught some students and even a few teachers on campus staring and whispering as I walked by.
I found out why when I ran into Leigh after the test. I was waiting again on Shadow. He was coming from work. Leigh dropped into a chair next to me. She was scowling. I’d been trying to ignore the other people around me.
“Hi, Leigh. Is everything okay? You don’t look happy. Were your exams that bad?” I asked.
“Hi, Elle, no, my exams went well. I’ve passed everything so far. I won’t know how I did on the one I took today until tomorrow or Thursday, but I’m sure I did well. I’m pissed and want to punch some faces in.”
“Whose faces?”
“Those two bitches, Vickie and Cleo, and those pricks, Nate and Danny,” she growled.
“What did they do?” I asked.
“They’re telling people that you work at Eden and are sleeping with all the Punishers. I’m so sorry, Elle. I hate that they’re doing it. I’ve told people it’s not true, but you know how they can be.”
My heart sank as I realized that was why I was the focus of so many stares and whispers. I fought my initial reaction to shrink and avoid eye contact. What made it easier to do was recalling how the Russo family had treated me.
I boldly scanned the area around us. Several people were staring and whispering. I met their eyes without apology. Most of them were the ones who dropped their gazes.
“Well, if people are stupid enough to believe rumors and bullshit from four dumbasses, then that makes them dumbasses too. All I hope is that my old man doesn’t find out.
He’ll go off the rails. He’s possessive and the only man I’m sleeping with.
Stripping doesn’t make someone a whore. I make far more money than any of these idiots can imagine.
I’ll graduate debt-free with savings. How many of them can say that?
It sounds like I’m the smart one,” I said loudly.
“You’re right. And anyone who sees you with Shadow knows he would never let another man touch you. If they tried, he’d put them in traction. And his club would help him do it,” Leigh exclaimed just as loudly.
We sat there chatting until she had to excuse herself.
Not long afterward, I heard, then saw, Shadow pull up.
When I walked out to him, I made sure to stare back at the ones talking about me.
They dropped their gazes. I wisely waited until we were home before I informed him of the gossip.
He’d been livid and wanted to return to the college to find the four troublemakers.
I eventually got him to forget it, but he swore they wouldn’t get off scot-free.
That was yesterday. Today, Shadow was back working at Lager.
We’d stayed at my apartment last night, so I spent the day making sure I was set to start my summer class in a week.
When that was done, I finished sewing the new costume I’d been working on for over a week. I thought it was the best one yet.
It was in bold, iridescent shades of blue and green.
I’d sewn a shrug that was composed of a fake peacock train, creating the upright fan of “eyes”.
Along with the bustier and high-waisted panties I’d made in the same colors, I would resemble the proud, colorful bird.
On my head was a piece that mimicked their crest feathers.
In addition to the costume, I practiced the dance to go along with it. All that was left was to practice it a few times on the stage during the day, and then it would be ready to be danced for the customers.
There, the last stitch was done. Holding up my train, I admired it.
I jumped. An unexpected knock came from my door.
It was three in the afternoon. It couldn’t be Shadow.
Even if it were, he had a key to get in.
Lying the train down, I went to the door.
Looking out the peephole, I frowned. Standing there was Derrick, the new neighbor in the complex.
I wondered why he was at my door. When he knocked again, I felt silly standing there peeking out at him.
Unlocking the door, I cracked it open. He smiled back at me. “Hi, Aubrielle, sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if you could do me a favor,” Derrick said pleasantly.
“Hello, Derrick. I’ll see if I can. What do you need?”
He grinned. “It’s gonna sound so cliché and fake, but would you happen to have sugar?
Don’t laugh. I’m cooking dinner tonight for my date, and I wanted to make dessert, too.
I totally forgot I had next to no sugar, and I already went to the store.
If you don’t, I understand. You were the only one I could think of who might help me. ”
I chuckled. “Sugar? Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack. See, this is the recipe. I have everything but that.”
He held out a piece of paper. I took it and scanned the recipe. It was for a fruit cobbler.
“I’ll get you some. I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve got to ask you to stay outside,” I told him.
He held up his hands and nodded. “Hey, no worries. I don’t blame you. You can’t be too safe. I’ll hang here.”
Feeling relieved that he hadn’t been insulted, I shut and locked the door after handing him back his recipe. I gave him twice as much as needed, in case he needed some for something else. I placed it in a ziplock bag. When I opened my door, he was where I’d left him. I handed it to him.
“Thank you, you’re an angel. And thanks for giving me extra. I’ll replace it the next time I go to the store.”
“You’re welcome, and there’s no need to replace it. I have plenty. Maybe one day I’ll have to borrow something from you.”
“Deal, ask anytime. Well, I’ve got to get back to it. Thanks again. Have a good evening.”
“I will, and good luck.”
He nodded, then walked off toward the common area in the middle of the apartment buildings.
It was nice to see another man who could cook and bake.
I wondered if he was any good. I hoped so for his date’s sake.
And thinking about dinner, I should see what I have to fix.
I liked to cook for Shadow. We had plenty of time to eat, clear the mess, and get me to work.
My first dance was at nine o’clock. I couldn’t wait to show my man the completed costume.
When work was over, we were going to stay at the compound tonight.
???
We were seated with the Punishers, who were at Eden tonight.
It seemed that there were at least a few there most nights of the week.
I wondered if Shadow had anything to do with that.
This time, it was Remus, Romulus, Crusher, Spawn, and his old lady, Kimera.
Mayhem was off, but Riot, Sandman, and Ratchet were here to make sure things went smoothly.
Luckily, it seemed to be a calm night. I’d finished my first dance and was hanging out until it was time to do my last one.
Kimera and I were chatting away. She told me about their son, Jericho, Rico, as everyone called him.
He wasn’t quite three and a half, but he thought he was an adult and mimicked everything his dad did.
In little Rico’s case, he was already learning to handle a computer.
And from the sounds of it, he was showing an aptitude beyond his age.
“Tell Rico that I might need help with my summer class. It’s a computer one. I can do basic things on it, but if it’s beyond that, I’m in trouble. I thought I’d ask Spawn if I ran into issues, but it sounds like Rico can be my tutor. Will candy be enough payment?” I joked.
“Damn, you’re being replaced by your kid already, man,” Remus teased, elbowing Spawn.
“The kid has a few more years before he leaves his dad in the dust. I’d better show that I can outdo him,” Spawn said, chuckling. His voice was full of pride.
“Speaking of outdoing him, did you happen to find out anything about those flowers?” Romulus asked, lowering his voice, even though with the talk and music, no one could hear him.
My heart jumped. I’d totally pushed that from my mind. Spawn glanced around us, then at Shadow and me. He raised his eyebrow.
“I can fill you in on what I’ve done so far.
I had Kimera call the flower shop pretending she was you, Elle.
She asked them who had ordered and sent the flowers.
She claimed that she didn’t recognize the name Nataraja, so she assumed that meant she had a secret admirer.
The lady at the shop seemed to think it was romantic and was willing to check.