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She pulls me into an uncharacteristic hug and I’m momentarily stunned. “Yep, in the flesh.”
She pulls back and looks at me. “How long has it been? A few weeks now?”
I roll my eyes. “Four months, Mom. I’ve been gone for four months. Nice of you to notice.”
She ignores my jibe. “Well, you look lovely, darling. Have you gotten taller?”
“Really, Cybil? Don’t you think I’m done growing by now?”
She gasps. “Oh my fuck! I know what’s different! You’re older! You had a birthday, didn’t you?”
“I sure did. The big one-eight. I can legally buy your cigarettes now. Yay me!”
She smiles. “Oh, that’s wonderful dear. You’ll be able to fully support yourself now.”
I raise my eyebrows. “And how would you suggest I do that? Part-time baristas don’t get paid very well, Mom. I can’t even afford gas without my tips. School starts soon. I can’t work more than twenty hours per week once that happens. This is my senior year. I have too many things on my plate as it is. I need to maintain my GPA if I have any chance of getting a scholarship. As the parent in this relationship, you should understand that.”
My eyes shift to the man coming up behind her. He places his meaty paws on her shoulders and scoots her behind him. He’s not a bad looking guy…he’s slightly taller than her so I’d guess he’s around six feet or so. He’s in his mid-forties maybe, with a full head of hair and an impressive build. I know this because he’s standing in front of me wearing a pair of boxers and nothing else. “Who’s this lovely creature, Cybil?”
My hackles rise. “I’m her daughter. Who the fuck are you?”
He laughs. “Oh, Katherine, right? Yeah, your mom has told me all about you. She warned me you had a bit of a bite.”
“She has?” I have a hard time hiding my shock. Not at his veiled reference to my attitude, but the fact that she mentioned me at all.
He swings an arm around her shoulder and pulls her into a side hug. “Yes, of course she has. She also told me how gorgeous you are and clearly she wasn’t exaggerating.”
“Thanks,” I reply snidely. “You still didn’t tell me who you are.”
My mother beams as she shoves her left hand in front of my face. The left hand that bears an awfully large rock. “Katherine, this is Marcus. He’s going to be your new step-father. We’re getting married!”
“Oh, you’ve got to me kidding me,” I mutter.
She rubs his back affectionately. “Not at all, Baby Girl. Marcus has one of those big houses on the cliff overlooking the ocean. I’m finally moving out of this dump at the end of next month. I spoke to the landlord and he said you can keep the place if you can prove enough income.”
“Of course, you’re also welcome to come live with us,” Marcus adds. “I know that you’re legally an adult now, but as I understand it, you have one year left of high school, correct?”
I eye him suspiciously. “Yeah, I do. Which leaves me few options in the way of full-time employment.”
Marcus smiles. “There’s plenty of room for two beautiful women in the house. I may be able to help you with the income part should you decide to stay here. You’re quite fetching and in my business, that means money.”
I cross my arms over my chest. I don’t miss the way he stares at my braless breasts when I do. “Oh, really? And what business would that be?” Is my mother seriously c
onsidering marrying a pimp? And is he really propositioning me to follow her lead? Could my life be more fucked up at the moment?
“He owns that gentleman’s club off the main highway,” Cybil offers. “You know the place…The Pitiful Princess?”
“Ah,” I muse as everything clicks into place. My shields automatically go into defense mode…also known as bitch mode. “I do know the place. Although I like to refer to it as, Girls with Daddy Issues. I mean, seriously? What’s with the name?”
Marcus’s laughter booms through the apartment. “I like you, Katherine. I didn’t mean to offend you; I’m simply trying to point out your options. You let me know if you’d like a tour of the place. Most of my dancers are students at the community college. Almost every one plans to transfer to a university once they make a little more money. They’re smart girls. They know that we’re the only game in town which makes their tips go through the roof. There’s no other place around here where you can work three short nights a week and take home full-time income. I have a reputation for only hiring delectable young co-eds such as yourself. Men come from two counties over to see them.”
“Yeah, and to get a blow job on the side,” I huff.
“Katherine!” Cybil scolds.
I roll my eyes. “Save it, mother.”
Marcus grins. “I assure you, Katherine, I do not run that kind of establishment.” He looks at me thoughtfully. “What you choose to do in your own time, is your prerogative, of course.”
