CHAPTER TEN
Lake
I was a liar.
I wasn’t fine, far from it.
Ron didn’t wait until the sun was fully up to go complaining to Mrs. Lebowitz, saying I was bringing all sorts of trash home with me at night. Since I couldn’t come up with what I owed her for rent, she kicked me out.
Which left me homeless, just like I’d worried would happen.
I’d spent the previous night at Cal’s. How pathetic was it I was able to pack up my life in one suitcase? His boyfriend made it pretty clear one night was all I could stay, but at least Cal was holding onto everything I couldn’t shove in a backpack for me, including my bike, until I could pick it all up. Good thing Khan and Stephen would be home that day; I was counting on them letting me stay at their place until I got back on my feet, although I dreaded the pity in their eyes. I didn’t like asking for help, but I was desperate.
Vince stopped at my locker. “You sure you’re good to work tonight?”
“Positive. I feel great.”
Lies, lies, and more lies.
“Great. Seb’s out sick, and I was hoping you’d take on the pole later.”
“Sure.”
It was Friday night, and the club was packed. I’d had thirty hands on my ass by the time I made it to my first table. When I went to pick up the drinks from Axel, the big bartender asked me if I was feeling better. My cheeks heated. I hadn’t realized he’d seen me the night I’d collapsed, but I’d guess most everyone had. And then I remembered Blaze had said Ax had taken his motorcycle home that night for him.
“I’m good,” I said, watching him mix drinks.
“Blaze was worried about you.”
My heart fluttered stupidly in my chest. “He doesn’t need to.” I swallowed, forcing the words out. “But I appreciated him helping me the way he did.”
“Blaze is a nice guy. One of the best.”
Thinking of how he’d saved me from Ron, I couldn’t argue.
I summoned up my courage.
“He’s straight, right?”
Axel glanced at me. “He’s dated a lot of women.”
My heart sank. I realized I’d allowed myself to hope otherwise.
“But I wouldn’t exactly say he’s straight,” Axel said.
I frowned. “So, he’s into men too?”
Axel only shrugged and put the third drink on the tray. “Hold on.” He bent under the counter and came back up with a bottle of water. “Drink that.” He turned away and busied himself with a customer.
I stared at the bottle.
If Blaze really was bi, or at least bi-curious, that meant his attitude toward me might not have been the slight I’d thought it was that night. Maybe he’d just been struggling with his sexual identity at the time.
After I’d delivered the drinks, I consumed the water Axel had given me. The last thing I needed was to pass out at work again. Was Axel trying to look out for me, or had someone told him to?
I pushed the thought out of my mind, telling myself I was making too much out of Blaze’s kindness to me. Sometimes a nice guy was just a nice guy, and maybe Blaze just wanted to make up for being abrupt with me that night at the party, especially since he’d be working with Julianne, and I was her part-time PA.
The time for my dance approaching, I hurried to the back room to get ready. I took a leak and stripped off my shirt and boots. Checking my phone, I saw I had a text.
Khan: Hey, kiddo. Just wanted to let you know Stephen met up with an old school friend, and she and her husband invited us to stay another week. Flying home the first. Mom’s staying with LM at our place. Be safe! XOXO
I sank into a chair. Another week. What was I going to do?
Khan’s mother was staying at the brownstone.
I groaned. I was working four jobs, and I couldn’t keep my apartment or manage to have enough to eat a lot of the time.
Not wanting Khan to worry and call me, I texted him back.
Me: Sounds fun! See you when you get back.
My text was followed by a couple gorgeous pictures of white mountains and blue skies and a selfie of Khan and Stephen looking cozy by a fire.
“Lake!” Vince’s voice carried down the hall. “You’re up!”
Seemed there was nothing to do but give the performance of a lifetime and hopefully make enough in tips to stay in a hotel room as long as possible.
At the first strains of music, the catcalls started, following me up to the stage, where all I could see was a sea of male faces whistling and waving bills. The first time I ever danced, I’d blushed crimson at the attention, but I’d soon grown accustomed to it. I even kind of thrived on it.
Cal and Bobby had stayed late for a week teaching me to pole dance when I had begun working at the Banana two years earlier. I’d always been good at dancing and had immediately taken to it, practicing every time I got the chance. On the pole, I could blank out my mind and just move with the music, confidence building with every reaction of the audience. I enjoyed the outlet as well as the welcomed extra income.
I approached the pole and started off with a swing, letting my body go loose and pliant, caressing the cold steel like a lover. Using only my upper body strength, I climbed to the top, legs splayed and straight, toes pointed, before flipping upside down. Flexible from years of gymnastics and later yoga, my body seemed made for the pole, muscles stretching and rippling beneath my skin as I moved. The song playing over the sound system was one of my favorites. The music reminded me of sex, alternating from slow and sensuous to hard and fast.
Someone yelled out something lewd, and I couldn’t help but smile flirtatiously as I slid my back against the pole like a cat in heat. I knew I looked good wearing only the pair of short shorts, and I knew the men in the audience wanted me. I was half-hard thinking about it, although off the pole I didn’t want any of them. The fact they couldn’t have me gave me power I sorely needed in my life.
When my number was over, I let the reaching hands stuff bills in my shorts and then exited the stage. Rocco, the bouncer, made sure I got safely into the back hall. I took fifteen, re-dressing and lounging on the old couch while drinking water until I felt up to going back out on the floor.
As soon as I got out there, they were on me. “Nice dance,” a man said, his eyes devouring my body.
“Thanks.” I moved past him. I felt his hand on my ass before I angled through the crowd and out of reach. Another man ran his hand along my arm, and still another winked at me and wiggled his tongue suggestively. The night went by quickly—too quickly. I wasn’t ready when closing time came around, along with the question of where the fuck was I going to sleep because my tips did not add up to a night in any hotel I wouldn’t be afraid to stay the night in alone.
“Hey, Vince,” I called to the manager as he walked around barking orders for cleanup. The patrons had gone, and the doors had been locked.
He stopped in front of me, dark hair on his burly chest glistening with sweat in the V of his black silk buttoned-down shirt. He looked me over. “You did good tonight, kid. No one would ever know you’d been sick.”
“I was just dehydrated. I’m fine now.”
“That’s good. What can I do for you?”
I bit my lip. I hated this. “Do you think I could sleep on the couch in the back tonight?”
“What happened to your apartment?”
“The rent got raised, and I couldn’t pay it.” And my fucking asshole neighbor told lies about me.
“I dunno, kid. It’s against the rules. If the place caught fire or something when you were here, we’d be in big trouble.” A speculative look I didn’t like came over his face. “I could put you up at my place, though.”
I took a step back. “Oh, no, I couldn’t put you out.”
“It’s fine. I insist.”
Shit. I couldn’t refuse him—I needed my job.
“Tell you what,” I said with a smile. “I just remembered my cousin Clay told me I could crash with him if I ever needed to. If I can’t get hold of him, I’ll take you up on your offer.”
The flash of disappointment in Vince’s eyes told me I hadn’t been wrong about what he’d had in mind.
I walked across the room to the bar where Axel was cleaning up. Perching on a bar stool, I pretended to make a call. I could feel the big bartender’s gaze on me as I faked my way through a conversation with the time and temperature, ending with, “Thanks, man. I owe you one.”
I met Axel’s eyes as I disconnected and turned to find Vince standing close by.
“Maybe next time,” he said, eyes flickering over me suggestively before he walked off.
“If you need a place to crash, you can come home with me, and I won’t molest you like that jackass would.”
I looked at Axel.
“I, uh, I just called my cousin. Clay.”
Axel pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes, nodding slowly. “Uh, huh.”
“What? I did. You had to have heard me.”
“Kid, I know a lie when I hear one.”
“I wasn’t—” Axel’s penetrating glare stopped me from finishing. I considered my options: sleep on the street, or the subway, or take Axel up on his offer. I’d become a pretty good judge of character since I’d been on my own, and I didn’t think he’d try anything with me.
“You don’t wanna go with him, and I get why. You’ll be safe with me,” Axel said quietly, wiping the last glass and setting it on a shelf.
I glanced around. Vince was on the other side of the room talking to one of the other waiters.
“Okay. Thanks. I’ll just get my stuff.” I glanced Vince’s way again.
“Meet me outside around the corner in ten.”
I nodded.
Changed into street clothes, I trudged around the fried chicken place next to the club, backpack slung over my shoulder. I spotted Axel straddling his big Harley. I didn’t know anything about bikes, but I knew he looked bad-ass on it. The guy was huge.
“You expect me to ride with you on that thing?” I asked, suddenly not so certain.
Axel handed me a spare helmet, and I buckled it on with trembling fingers before swinging a leg over the back of the bike.
Before I had a chance to feel weird about it, Axel yelled, “Hold on,” revved up his motor, and took off down the street, leaving me to either obey or fall off.