Page 57 of A Little Kissing Between Friends

And that was my dilemma, because clearly she didn’t see it for me. Not only that, she didn’t see me either, and I couldn’t get down with that.

From my peripheral, I noticed Mal enter the floor, her strides sure and determined. Her appearance didn’t strike me as odd, so I returned my attention back to the pole, only to be startled when she appeared at my side, standing over me.

“Let me talk to you real quick.”

Eyebrows raised, I exchanged looks with Mercedes before nodding and quickly standing to my feet. I followed Mal all the way to her office in the back of the building, where she motioned for me to close the door behind me. Suddenly, I was a little nervous.

Was I about to be fired?

Mal perched on the edge of her desk, folded her arms across her chest, and squinted at me.

“Why are you fidgeting like that?”

Dropping my hands to my sides, I shook them out and shifted from one foot to the other.

“My bad.”

She shook her head. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. I only called you in here because I didn’t want the others to think I’m giving you some sort of preferential treatment.”

That was the thing that made me stop fidgeting. Brows furrowed, I held my tongue and waited for her to elaborate.

“Listen, you’ve been here long enough that you could probably recite the rules in your sleep. There’s only ten of them, but each one is equally important.” Dropping her hands to the desk on either side of her, Mal pinned me with a knowing stare. “‘Don’t Fuck The Customers’ is number one for a reason.”

She knew.

A heavy weight dropped into my gut with a force so strong it nearly brought me to my knees.

“I—”

She lifted a hand, effectively silencing me.

“I didn’t say anything for the past year because the two of you have done a great job of keeping it under wraps, and I’m pretty sure I was the only one who peeped it. But now there’s obviously a rift between you and so I have to step in. From the comment Cyn Tha Starr made last night to the not-so-quiet conversation you just had out there on the floor, it’s clear that I need to remind you of how things go here in Sanity.” Lifting a hand, she pointed toward the door. “This building is sacred and that floor is a place of worship. We don’t desecrate it by bringing the filth from our mishandled relationships in the door.”

I was seconds away from boohoo crying. Shame consumed me and brought with it a sob that was slick trying to church-finger its way out of my throat. Mal was right. I knew the rules, and even though I couldn’t help that I’d crashed headfirst into love with Poppa, I’d made the decision to bring my frustrations into Sanity when I was supposed to be working.

From the first moment I walked through those heavy double doors, the club had been my sanctuary, my saving grace. Beyond that, the club was a place where fantasy and dreams were sold. Just like fans didn’t want to know that their favorite heart throb movie star was in a relationship, the “patients” that frequented Sanity didn’t want the illusion ruined for them either. It was toxic and annoying, but it was the business, and I’d known that from day one.

“I tell all you girls that if you ever need help, I got your back, but you have to remember what’s most important. We don’t compromise the club for pussy. Understand?”

Feeling good and properly chastened, I nodded.

“Yes, I understand. You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Straightening, Mal shook her head and pushed off her desk. “Don’t be sorry, be mindful. The rules exist for a reason. Remember that.”

“Right.” Still nodding, I backed out of her office and headed back to the floor, where Mercedes sat in a chair near the stage, giving tips to Kreme, who was upside down on the pole with her arms stretched out on either side of her.

“So,” Mercedes asked as soon as I was reseated, “what was that about?”

“Mal was getting me together about this thing with Poppa.”

My friend’s mouth dropped into an O, and I didn’t blame her. I shook my head.

“First of all, she thinks me and Poppa have been together for over a year, which is wild. We aren’t even together now!” I shrugged. “After last night, it’s not even a concern anymore. I’m through with her. Through with the whole back and forth, and I’m through with her family. I’mma tell each of them soon. Not Poppa though—she already knows what’s up.”

Mercedes blinked at me before shaking her head as if she was trying to clear out smoke and giving me a disbelieving look. “Wait a minute, bitch! You’re gonna do what?!”

Rolling my eyes, I gave Mercedes a blank stare.