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I smile as I shake my head, thinking about everything I discovered today. “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
“Usually the beginning is the best place.”
“Smartass. Well, let’s see. You know how the girls want to come up with a gimmick to make more money at the club?”
She nods, but doesn’t interrupt.
“We kind of thought of a plan we thought might work. There are these male erotic dancers known as the Trifecta.”
“I’ve heard of them.”
“Mom.” I can’t believe her.
“What? I’m not dead.” Her eyes are wide like how dare I question her on this.
“Anyway, we decided to go check them out tonight. To figure out what makes them so popular, and maybe start our own version of the Trifecta. We’re going to call our act The Triplets.”
“Smart.”
“We were going to see if we could get one or more of the Trifecta to maybe give us some tips on how they marketed themselves in the beginning. You cannot imagine my surprise when they announced the Trifecta and Axel and his brothers strutted out onstage.”
“Oh my god. Of course they’re the Trifecta.” My mom laughs just as stunned as I am that she hadn’t figured it out. “They’re gorgeous. And I saw the other brother that doesn’t live there come over the other day.”
I nod, waiting for her to get over her shock.
“Yeah, well I didn’t figure it out either. When he came on stage I felt so stupid for not putting it together sooner.”
“Did you ask him if he would help you and the girls come up with an act?”
“No. I can’t ask him now.”
“Why not?”
“Well,” I tap my chin to my bottom lip. “I don’t want him to think I’m using him.”
My mother smiles, taking a sip of her tea. “I don’t think he’d think that.”
I’m not so sure. My mother doesn’t know about the kiss, or the lap dance. Axel’s a good man, I’m realizing, and I don’t want him to think I only value him for insights into setting up our own act.
“I never got around to asking him. Felicity had a nightmare.”
My mom nods her head. “I heard her screaming. I was going to get up to help you, but heard Axel bang on the front door. I figured you had enough back up.”
“I did. He was so good with her. He told her they were superheroes and wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. Then he read her a story until she fell asleep.” I shake my head, hopelessly attempting to forget the image of him sitting on my daughter’s floor reading about ballerinas.
“You like him?”
“No.” My sputtering kind of gives it away at how bad I’m lying.
“Yes, you do.”
“I’m going to bed.”
My mom gives me a knowing look, but lets me escape down the hallway. I collapse in bed replaying what happened tonight, trying to find something that will make me forget about Axel. Instead my mind keeps replaying the kiss we had on his porch, and what would’ve happened if I wouldn’t have stopped it.
The next day, Felicity’s outside on her playset, having the time of her life before the heat becomes unbearable. The sound of metal clanging stops Felicity from playing. She runs over to the fence, pressing her face against it and stares between the slats. “Mommy.”
I’m already walking toward her curious to what the noise is as well. Yes, I’m using Felicity as an excuse to see what’s happening on the other side of the fence, but I don’t care.
Oh sigh. I definitely did not expect to see the abundant amount of man beauty in front of me. All three of the Trifectas are out in their backyard, lifting bars with huge amounts of weights on each side.
“Axel,” Felicity screams, getting his attention.
My face burns, and it has nothing to do with the Vegas heat. Felicity jumps up and down when she notices Axel putting his bar down, and walking toward us.
“Good morning, Felicity. No more nightmares?”
She shakes her head, giving him a toothy grin. “No more nightmares. I have superheroes living next to me.”
Our eyes connect, but before he can say anything I look at the ground. I don’t want to have silent conversations with him, like we’re connected on a higher plane than just neighbors.
No we’re just neighbors. Nothing more.
“What are you doing?” Felicity asks.
I pick her up and balance her on my hip.
“We’re working out. Do you want to come over and spot me?”
“What does that mean?”
“Come over, I’ll show you.” He takes her from my arms, lifting her over the fence with ease. Even I don’t have the willpower to stop myself from watching his muscles bunch together as he puts her down.
“I’ll open the door for you,” a dark-haired woman I hadn’t noticed says, getting up from the shaded back porch.
Axel winks at me. “Clara will open the door. See you in a minute.”
