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Swirls of smoke are filling the room and the music is getting louder and louder; the lust in the room is damn near palpable.
And I’m loving every second of it.
“Gentlemen...” The DJ’s voice is hoarse. “Give one last round of applause to Raven...”
The applause is louder than I’ve ever heard it, and I blow a kiss to the crowd before picking up all of the dollars and heading backstage.
“Somebody learns really fast.” Robyn hands me a makeup wipe as I sit at the vanity.
“Clearly not well enough. I still only get one song...”
She rolls her eyes. “Sarah called in earlier. You want to dance in her place at midnight?”
“Hell yeah!” I can’t believe it, but then I remember something. “I saw Sarah this morning. Did her car break down or something?”
From what I’ve learned by hanging out with her, Sarah isn’t the type to ever call off from work. She’s the type of employee that always shows up to work on time and hardly ever bends the rules.
Sighing, Robyn leans against the mirror. “She just realized that her mom is dead. It just hit her.”
My heart drops. “Have you talked to her within the last few hours? Is she okay?”
She raises her eyebrow. “What’s this? You’re actually acting concerned? Like she’s your friend?”
“She is my friend.” I think. “You are too...Right?”
“You’re adorable.” She smiles. “She’s fine. Well, as fine as you can be about something like that. I’m going to check on her tomorrow morning and I’ll pick you up on the way. In the meantime, do you want to dance or not? I need to tell Michael who’s taking her place in ten minutes.”
“I’m in.”
She nods and points to the closet, telling me to change into something different. Something much more provocative.
Excited, I rush over and pull out a sparkling black dress that’s so short it could be mistaken for a shirt. As I’m searching for an accessory to pair with it, I remember that I told Carter I’d be done by eleven.
Shit...
I know he’s probably on his way to pick me up, but I have no intention of leaving until after I dance again. I pull my phone out of my locker and call him.
“Emerald,” he answers.
“Is there a reason why you can’t say ‘Hello?’ like a normal person?”
“You called to discuss how I greet you over the phone?” There’s a smile in his voice. “Is The Phoenix that slow tonight?”
“Ugh, no. I was calling because I actually won’t be done for a while. I’m dancing in Sarah’s place, so that’s like three songs.” I try not to sound like this is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me. “I know you’re probably halfway here, but you don’t have to pick me up. I’ll um...I’ll ride back with Robyn and I’ll give you money for the gas you already wasted so—”
“I want to watch you.”
“What?”
“What time do you go on?”
“Midnight.”
“I’ll be there, and I’ll take you home.”
Silence.
“Emerald?” He breaks the silence. He’s the only man who’s ever been capable of making me wet over the phone.
“Yes?”
“Am I allowed to say goodbye now?”
I hang up and smile, honestly excited to have him watch me perform again. Since I have two hours before it’s my turn, I take my time getting ready.
I brush out all of my curls—opting to go for a sleek ponytail. I toss the shimmering black dress into the closet and change into a nude colored skirt, fishnet stockings, and a sheer white top with a hidden zipper in the front.
“Are we going on a date or are we stripping tonight?” Michael steps behind me in the mirror, crossing his arms.
“Don’t you have more tits to screen? Why are you back here?”
He laughs. “Funny. Tell me something. Is this job a temporary thing for you?”
“All jobs are temporary.”
“Okay. Please tell me you don’t actually talk to the customers in the private dance rooms.” He lights a cigarette. “Your sass probably costs you half of what you could be making. Is this temporary or not?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“Well...I’m not usually for promoting someone new so soon, let alone someone with such a smart ass mouth, but there’s been a huge response to Raven so—”
“I get to be a premier dancer?”
“Temporarily.” He taps my shoulder. “We’ll talk about it later, after your date I guess.” He looks me up and down. “You do realize that they want to see you without your clothes, right? This isn’t fucking Broadway.”
