26 #2
I nodded as I approached him. “There’s not much I can do, but if you guys need anything, please let me know.”
Taylor only nodded, leading me back out to the front of the apartment. To think Justine had offered to let me stay there with them. Now more than ever, that would have been a terrible idea.
I didn’t know the guy all that well, but he had to be feeling the strain of having someone so sick in his home. I turned to give him a quick hug, which he accepted with a soft smile. We parted ways as I started my walk to the club for the evening.
Being sexy for strangers was the last thing on my mind.
I was so damn worried about Justine and what her body was going through.
I couldn’t imagine making the choice she did just to have her body fight her on it so much.
The way people always made it sound, choosing to give up a baby was so easy.
They went to a doctor, had it taken out, like it was just another random Tuesday.
Now that I knew someone who had personally gone through it, that wasn’t the case at all.
There were so many factors. I had more respect for those women.
Backstage was a madhouse. The other dancers raced around, putting their makeup on and changing into their costumes for the night.
I still just didn’t have it in me. I fiddled with the eye pencil between my fingers, staring at the empty vanity next to me.
How long would I have to sit there getting ready by myself?
It wasn’t like Justine abandoned me. She had real-life shit she was dealing with, but I’d never felt so alone in the club before.
“You okay, boo?” Whiskey asked as he plopped into Justine’s empty seat.
It wasn’t often that I talked to the other male dancers.
There weren’t very many of us to begin with, but it almost felt like the competition between us was more intense because of how few of us there were.
Whiskey had always been nice. To everyone.
He was on the smaller side, like me, had the most delicious tan skin, dark hair, and doe-like brown eyes.
He almost looked like he was too young to be working in the club, when he was actually twenty-eight. That baby face would get him far.
“Just thinking about a lot of things.” I answered honestly. He grinned at me, placing a manicured hand on my shoulder. God, he was so damn pretty, but that wasn’t my thing. Not really.
“Well, if it makes you feel better, there’s a tall drink of water at the bar looking for you.” He giggled as he said it.
In the past, that might have made me excited, but now that things had started to shift for Orion and me, it made me nervous.
He said he was cool with me continuing to work.
Though, how many men in the past had said the same thing but hadn’t really meant it?
I could be reading too much into it. Orion was at the club frequently.
For all I knew, it was just another night—he was there to let off some steam.
“Don’t say shit like that. It makes you sound like an old man.”
Whiskey only laughed as he stood from his seat, walking away.
I needed to get my shit together because if I was about to go on stage to dance—I needed to be in the right mindset.
The crowd could always tell when I wasn’t myself,if Orion was really out there, he’d be able to tell something was off as well.
I searched through my drawer, pulling out a blue, glittery pair of shorts. Because glitter became a hassle, I hadn't worn it for a long time. I’d find it everywhere for days, but they were so damn sexy making my eyes pop.
I changed my makeup, trying to avoid continued thoughts about Justine—I needed to get focused on work.
The song choice for the night. How I was going to move my hips to make the crowd go crazy.
It was the only way to get through it because if I didn’t; I was bound to throw caution to the wind, run to the nearest store, grab a big ol’ tub of ice cream and head back to Justine’s so we could watch chick flicks all night while she ate with me, then puked.
And it was suddenly my turn to be on stage. I had to take a few deep breaths to calm myself before the opening notes of Figure You Out by Voila filled the room.
The beat was perfect for my mood—I could close my eyes, letting my body sway with the music.
I swayed my hips, dipping to the sides, running my hands over my body as the lights in the room shifted to follow me.
It was easier to get lost in the performance than I thought it would be.
Especially when the singer broke into words about how he could love someone better.
If Orion was in the audience, was he listening?
I needed to shut that thought down.
What I felt for him was curiosity. I liked the way he paid attention to me—that was it.
Nothing real or lasting could form between us.
He might have taken the ring off, putting it away for a night, but that was then—this is now.
He wouldn’t keep that charade up for long.
How many times did you hear the stories of men saying they’d leave their spouse but they never did?
It was all about stringing the other person along.
Keeping that extra piece of ass on the side.
And maybe I should feel bad about being that side piece.
But I didn’t.
As the song wrapped up with the singer crooning about figuring out his love interest, I spun across the stage to land in a split.
When I opened my eyes, Orion was staring directly at me.
It was then and there that I knew I needed to make the boundaries clear again tonight.
He said he was okay with me doing this job, but this would be a real test. Could he watch me take another client?