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2
Put the Gun Down
Jay
Therearesomepeople you meet in life who you immediately know are important.
Juliana is my person.
As a kid, I felt like I was “other” compared to everyone else. I didn’t quite fit. It wasn’t until I found my interest in the arts that things changed. Suddenly, I was being praised for my interest in theater, and my involvement was encouraged by my family. It wasn’t until I first confessed my crush on another girl in high school that they changed their minds. And I became “other” again.
My family has a twisted view of how I’m meant to live, and they did their best to beat it into me growing up. One summer I was even forced to attend a fucking camp meant to fix me. Their preferred method of accomplishing this involved a literal swift kick: in the ass, ribs, and head. There’s nothing like having full-grown adults with weapons beat the shit out of a little girl to teach you a lesson in personal safety.
It showed me the importance of knowing how to protect yourself. The need to defend stuck with me, and it’s part of why every employee at Bliss takes a self-defense class when they join. There are too many disgusting men in this world, and I refuse to let a girl get hurt because they don’t know how to handle a dangerous situation.
My protective tendencies kicked into high gear the night I met Julia. She was drunk off her ass on vodka, with a guy trapping her on the couch where she sat. Drunk Julia is adorable, but back then she was completely naïve. I pulled her away and carried her back to the dorms. Of course, she demanded a piggyback ride. I slept on her floor that night, and in the morning, I found her to be as adorable when hungover as she was tipsy.
Over breakfast in the dining hall, she announced that we were now best friends.
I’ve never been able to walk away from her since then.
In nine years of knowing each other, we have been through everything. The death of her parents, my coming out, cutting ties with my bigoted family, and my transition.
Together.
When she inherited Bliss from her uncle, I thought she was crazy for wanting to take over running a club, much less a strip club, with no experience. I remember how red her usually sapphire blue eyes were when she came to me overwhelmed and begging for help. At first, I was glad to be a comfort to her. I helped where I could, doing little things like helping restock the bar or auditioning new girls for the club. But the sad little looks and whimpers of frustration broke me down, and I caved only a few months into the endeavor.
Now, I’m all in with her and can’t imagine us doing anything else. I love working with her and love seeing my best friend every day.
As much as I adore her, the woman is perpetually late. Time is not a concept she seems to understand. Needless to say, waiting for Julia to finish getting ready so we can deal with the ongoing meltdown happening in the house is not ideal.
I love her too much to complain though. Okay, maybe I complain a little. Juliana is in charge, but I’m her right hand, and I’ve earned my right to make a well-placed comment here and there with no consequences.
I step out onto the floor, and it doesn’t take more than a single breath to realize how out of control the situation is. I breeze by the bar to get a quick update from Rosie while waiting for Julia.
“Give me the quick and dirty?”
Rosie sets down the glass she’s cleaning to lean over the bar to give me the update. “I mean, I texted you. You already know most of it.”
“Okay, yeah, but run me through it again. I don’t want to walk in there unprepared.”
Rosie smirks at me suspiciously. Everyone’s always thought that Julia and I would end up together, but our relationship isn’t like that. I want to keep her happy and safe. I don’t need more than that, and I’ve never wanted to ask. Rosie teases me relentlessly anyway.
“Dude over at table eight is about six beers and a handful of shots in. The lightweight started getting a little rowdy about half an hour ago, but something set him off. I know Gigi turned him down earlier because she had a client scheduled for one of the private rooms. He got real riled up after.”
I scan the crowd before settling my eyes on the blond who clearly drank too much. “Did we stop serving him?”
“Of course. We tried, but he started bullying the server, and she got spooked, so she asked for you and Julia to intervene. The guy’s been demanding to speak with you too. Well, he’s been asking for Jim not James. I’m guessing that’s you?”
“Who’s working his table?”
“New girl. Stacy, I think?”
“Shit. Well, put in one of the vets just in case. Maybe Richie. Move Stacy over to the bachelorette party on the floor.” I figure they’ll tip better too, and the girl could use the extra cash. Julia said her daughter has been in and out of the hospital recently. “But check in with Richie at the end of the night to make sure she goes home properly compensated. She’s back in school. I don’t want her worrying about bills on top of her course load.”
“Done. How on earth do you remember stuff like that?” She laughs.
“Julia,” I muse. “Anyway, he’s new, right? I don’t recognize him.”
