“You aren’t going back to combat?” My question only pulled a grunt from the man lounging next to me, and I frowned lightly. James’ expression darkened, and he patted his leg hard over his pale, serviceable jeans.

“I’ve got a fake hip and femur. Got blown up. I was honorably discharged, and now I work for my brother as head of security. It’s alright, I guess… not as much fighting, though, so I started boxing.” Flexing my fingers, I fought back the itch to touch James’ leg. He had a scar on his face, a slice across his left cheekbone raised enough to see in the dull light. Watching him take a swig of his beer, I scooted closer to rub his arm in a tender gesture.

“I’m glad you found something new. I can’t imagine how hard the transition was.” My response only drew another grunt from James; it must not have been the first time he heard such sympathies. “So, do you plan to box professionally?”

“I don’t know yet. I haven’t thought about it that much.” Knocking back his beer, James set the empty bottle on the small table in front of us to kick up his feet. Every action he made was calculated, and I could clearly see the traits that made him so valuable in the military.

I had never even been in an argument with someone, let alone physically assaulted him or her. Still, I could sense that James didn’t abuse his ability. He was good, honorable, and I smiled as he draped his large, muscular arm over the back of the booth.

“Why do you work here, Hannah? You just don’t strike me as the kind of girl to be a stripper.” Heat invaded my cheeks at the question, and James tilted his head to stare at me. Letting my hand fall into my lap, I edged my thigh high stockings even as my fingers grew warm.

“I love to pole dance… I mean- I would never make it as an actual dancer… I have no rhythm at all. On the pole, it’s like I’m flying. Plus, the money is great. I’m going to college for financial accounting, and it costs a lot. This way, I can do what I love, go to school, and not be in debt for the rest of my life. This club pays me to pole dance, and I get to keep my tips.” Heat spread through my chest, and James silently stared at me until I met his gaze. Under the dull lights of the private room, his eyes sparkled mesmerizingly. Red stained my cheeks darkly, but before I could speak up a soft knock sounded. Without an answer the barrier opened, and Ethan stuck his head in to showcase the boredom on his face.

The two were brothers nearly 14 years apart, and I could really tell. Ethan’s skin was fair, almost porcelain, while James’ was tanned and roughened. Even his dusting of a beard couldn’t hide Ethan’s baby face, and he frowned deeply before speaking up.

“I’m out. Nick’s coming to pick me up.” Beside me James shrugged carelessly, and Ethan’s eyes flickered to me before he unceremoniously left. Licking my lips, I stayed quiet for a moment before deciding to open my mouth.

“You’re not going to go?” James only shrugged again at my question. His jaw ticked, foot tapping to the beat of the music that seeped through the walls. The pulsing beat was made for dancing, but I remained still.

“Ethan’s my brother, and I love him… but he’s a lazy, good for nothing loser. He’s never had a real job- anything he wants, he just asks Nick.” Humming softly, I nodded as my mind went to my own brothers. Out of the six of us, I was the only one that worked through college while my siblings were content with debt.

A few months of this is better than years of worry.

“I know the feeling. My little sister is like that. She’s the baby, so she always got what she wanted handed to her. I used to be really jealous, but then I realized she’d never go anywhere in life.” Sharing a little piece of myself, I leaned back against the couch with a smile. “Do you have any other brothers, or just the two?”

Making small talk like this had never been so enjoyable; most men that came in here just complained about their lives and wanted me to agree with them. I always got lots of tips, but the money was usually the best part about that time. This surprise was very pleasant, and I was making the most of it.

Very rarely did I like working.

“Just them. But I’m going to head out. Here’s my number…” Reaching into his pocket, James pulled out a pen before grabbing my hand. He hadn’t touched me yet; it was a rule not to touch the girls, and yet I didn’t pull away. The ball point slid smoothly across my palm, and he scribbled his name underneath before continuing. “If you ever need help or anything, call me. You’re a sweet girl, Hannah. If anyone tries to fuck with you, call me.”

“O- okay…” Awkwardness made me fidget, and I held my wrist as James pushed himself to his feet. Confusion knotted my brows, but he didn’t give me a glance more before stalking out of the room. I’d been offered plenty of numbers, and they’d always been accompanied by slurred declarations of ‘amazing time’s.

Turning my eye to my hand, I smiled at the hasty, sloppy, upside-down writing that marred my skin.

“He’s sweet.” Slowly standing up, I adjusted my crop top with a sigh. Tonight had turned out better than I could’ve ever expected. “… in his own way.”

Wandering through the club towards the back, I tuned out the music even as the bass rattled my heels. Swaying my hips to the beat, I rolled my head to release some tension. Pushing my way through the crowds, I tried not to touch any of the sweaty, cologne laden bodies around me. This was one of the things I hated about clubs, and despite my best efforts hands still dragged searchingly along my waist.

My skin crawled at the residue clinging to me, and I took short, hasty steps towards the hallway that would lead me to the back office.

“You wanted to see me, Jonny?” Poking my head into the office, I stared at Jonny expectantly as he sat hunched over his desk. Running a strip club was a lot of work, especially when it was so popular. Thousands of dollars changed hands every night, and someone had to do all of that paperwork.

“Yeah. This is for you- the big, scary fella left it on his way out. Told me to let you go if you want for the night.” Holding out a positively massive envelope, Jonny didn’t even spare me a glance. The object in his hand stole all of my attention, and I reached for it with trembling fingers. “I also got your pay for tonight. You made a crapton now that the holidays are over and Valentine’s day is next week.”

Fishing blindly in a drawer in his desk, Jonny held out another envelope that was nearly the same size as the first. My hands could barely fit around them, and I nibbled my bottom lip before he finally glanced at me.

“You’re a great girl, but you don’t belong here, Hannah. Get your own pole, finish college- but don’t work here more than you have to.” The sentiment brought a smile to my face, and I nodded quietly. Staring at me a moment longer, Jonny grunted before opening his mouth again. “You’re not scheduled to work again until Friday. It’ll be a big night, so I got you in for 4 sets. Take these days to plan something special, and before you know it you’ll never have set foot in this dump again.”

“You know, you’re not nearly as bad as the other girls say you are, Jonny. I like working for you… I wouldn’t do it forever, but-“ Cut off by a sharp tsk, I stiffened as Jonny set his pen down to fold his arms behind his head. There were horror stories about him, but he was actually very handsome. He just didn’t look like what I envisioned when I heard ‘strip club owner’ with his bald head and shrewd, businessman aura.

“I am, just not to you. Now get out of here- go right to the bank and deposit your cash. Call me when you get home.” Smiling with a nod, I headed out of his office and through the door directly opposite. Some girls sat lounging on their phones, waiting to go out onto the catwalk, but they all ignored me. Most of the time everyone was too busy or preoccupied to make idle small talk. Passing by an aisle of makeup vanities and dolled up bodies, I headed for the lockers to grab my clothes and purse.

Checking through my things as I dressed, I breathed a soft sigh of relief that nothing had been stolen. Other girls’ purses and bags were raided while they were out on the floor, sometimes more than once, but it’d never happened to me. Stuffing the envelopes into the bottom of my purse, I picked at my thick, soft turtleneck before heading for the back door.

Staring down at my marked palm as I took a bus to the train station, I quietly fished out my cell phone with my free hand. It took mere seconds to input James’ information, and I smiled down at the screen before a text appeared at the top.

‘Owen: I just saw you on the bus. Hop off. Let’s go to dinner.’

Automatically my hand reached for the thick, yellow-wrapped wires that lined the walls, and a soft ping sounded. Immediately the bus slowed down, and I lifted myself from the hard, flat seat to make my way to the back door. People shuffled around even though the bus wasn’t that full, and I held a support beam until the narrow doors swung open.

“Hannah!” The loud, deep call was dragged down by the cold air, and I held my jacket tighter before twisting towards it. Owen jogged leisurely, his long strides easily making two of mine or more. Smiling at his pink cheeks and reindeer hat, I walked towards him just as he slowed to a stop to pant lightly. “I was hoping to meet up with you. I heard of this great place that just opened up downtown, and since it’s their first week couples eat half off. Since it’s you, I guess I could pretend to be straight.”

Giggling, I licked my lips at the idea of food and slipped my arm through Owen’s while he caught his breath. He gripped my gloved hand tightly, flashing me a smile that showed off his white teeth before I opened my mouth. Around us people were in a hurry to get where they needed to be- to escape the cold- but we walked slowly in the general direction of the train station.

“I do have to go to the bank first. I worked tonight, remember?” Out of the corner of my eye I saw Owen’s mouth open, and he swayed to nudge my shoulder.

“Meet any hot guys? I heard from Amy that everyone in class has applied for that new office opening up in a few months…” Wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, he pulled another laugh from me even as I shook my head. A small, secret smile picked up my mouth, but I didn’t answer his question.

Owen and I were good friends, but I still didn’t feel the need to share every single detail of my day with him.

“Yeah- I know. I did, too. I doubt it’ll go anywhere, though. Those guys are a billion-dollar team, after all. They’d be crazy to hire fresh graduates…” My voice trailed off, remembering what little tidbits James had given me earlier in the evening. “Besides, I can’t imagine working for a firm like that right out of college. I just applied because everyone else did.”

“Oh, Hannah. Ever the follower. It’s okay, though. I’m not going to judge you. Anyway- your bank is right by the station, right? We can stop there- that one stays open till 8 on weekdays.” Nodding in agreement, I rolled my shoulder under my purse strap. The weight was noticeable, and I still didn’t know exactly how much I’d been paid tonight. Absently listening to Owen ramble on about this new restaurant, I nodded and hummed while my mind strayed.

Pole dancing was my fiercest passion, but I refused to be a stripper just because I could dance and get paid at the same time. My mother hadn’t talked to me for the past three years because she didn’t approve of the way I earned money. The last time we spoke, she said she’d speak to me again when I had a real job that didn’t involve taking off my clothes.

Not that I take off all of my clothes… The defense was weak and silent, and I shook my head hard before turning my full attention to Owen.