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I sat there for a second trying to regain my thoughts when I heard her dog starting to bark. From the sounds of it, it was a large dog. She popped her out of the garage door, “You’re not afraid of dogs are you?” Shit, I guess I'd been sitting there longer than I realized.
I jumped out of her car and made my way into her place. Cute little place, not really what you’d expect a stripper’s home to look like. But then again, I'd never been to a dancer’s place besides Jordyn’s, so how the hell would I know? Vaughn’s place was decorated in a beach style, surfboards, seashells, and lots of turtles. It reminded me a lot of where I grew up back in California. I had to laugh when I saw the big pit bull with its nose pressed up against the glass of the patio door.
“That’s Roxy. She’s my four-year-old rescue. If dogs don’t bother you, I’d love to let her in. But I warn you, guard your toes,” she laughed as she let the rambunctious dog inside. Immediately, the crazy dog ran over to me and started licking the toes of my boots. “I have no idea. She’s weird.” Vaughn shrugged and walked back into the kitchen and started pulling everything out to make me breakfast.
“Hold it right there, butterfly. I asked you to breakfast. Let me cook. Plus, you worked all night,” I said as I guided her around the counter and into one of the bar stools. She threw her hands up in defeat. I could see the surprise in her face, which had me wondering if her ex never did anything like that for her before.
I loved having her brown eyes watch me as I cooked. I wasn’t a great chef, but I knew my way around a kitchen. Being single for so long kind of forced me into it. You can only eat at the casinos so many nights a week.
“Why do you keep calling me butterfly? Is it because of my tattoos?” Vaughn asked.
“No, but someday I would like to learn what those mean. Okay, I'm about to get all Bill Nye the Science Guy here on you now.” That made her chuckle. “When you think about a butterfly, it’s constantly changing. Every time you see it, it looks different. It goes from a caterpillar, to a cocoon, to the butterfly. Not one time, ever less beautiful than before, just always different. Each time I see you, you seem to be a different person. So you are my butterfly.”
A tear slid down her cheek. Damn, the last thing I wanted to do was make her cry, but I'd definitely impressed myself with my explanation, “Don’t cry, beautiful,” I whispered as I wiped the tear from her cheek.
“That was one of the most beautiful things anyone has ever said to me.”
“Oh, only one of the most beautiful things huh? Looks like I may have my work cut out for me,” I teased, wanting to see her smile again.
“Will you excuse me for just a second please?” Vaughn hopped down and went back to her bedroom. I really hoped I didn’t upset her more. It was not my intention for this morning’s breakfast. I continued cooking hoping she liked everything I was making. She wasn’t there to ask and I really didn’t want to make her upset anymore than I already had. Blueberry pancakes, eggs, and bacon it is.
My butterfly came walking back into the kitchen in a pair of short jean shorts, a Miranda Lambert concert tank top, and her long blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. The thick makeup the girls at the club wore, was gone. “Hi. I’m Ryann. I have a summer job at The Cave,” she held out her hand. And there’s my blonde beauty.
“Hi, Ryann. My name’s Nathaniel, but my friends call me Nathan. I play cards for a living. I really hope we can be friends.”
“I would like that,” she whispered, her eyes on mine.
We spent the next couple hours getting to know each other with small talk. Dancer or not, my gut was telling me there was something more to her. Wisely, I knew not to push for more information than she'd given so far. But hopefully, Ryann and I would have those talks later. We actually had a lot in common. We’d both kill for sushi anytime of the day, we were dog people, and were both from California. She was from northern, and I was from southern. I made her promise to never use the word “hella” in front of me. I think I might have created a monster.
As the sun was starting to come up, exhaustion began to play across Ryann’s face. She started to yawn and her eyes were fluttering closed. “Hey, butterfly, let’s get you to bed.” I picked her up like I did the night of her birthday and carried her back to her bedroom. Tucking her head in the crook of my neck, I got a whiff of her coconut scented hair. The scent was becoming my newest addiction. I gently set her down on the bed, and tucked the covers over her. Hesitating for a few more moments, I watched to make sure she was comfortable, then turned to leave.
“Where are you going?” Ryann mumbled. “We left your bike at the club.” She rolled over to look at me. “Come lay down with me.”
Damn, this woman was killing me. “As tempting as that offer is, I think I might take the couch for a couple hours. I don’t trust myself in bed with you, butterfly.” I kissed her again on her forehead and left her room.
In the living room, Roxy was spread across the couch, snoring. Ryann told me this was Roxy’s house and she gets the privilege of living here. We'd been fighting with that crazy dog for the couch all morning. I decided to make myself comfortable on the recliner chair and tried to catch a few hours of sleep before I called Vanessa to come get me. If anyone could help me figure this shit out it’s my Nessa. Her and I have had our ups and down but she's always been in my corner.
Once I closed my eyes, all I heard was Roxy snoring on the couch across from me. I had a beautiful woman who invited me to share her bed with her in the next room, and instead I was sharing the living room with her dog. I grabbed my phone.
Me: Nes—I’m at Vaughn’s. Come get me please. My bike’s at the club.
Vanessa: WTH? Ok. When?
Me: Now…this dog snores like crazy.
Forty-five minutes later I got the text that Vanessa was here. I left the note I wrote Ryann on the kitchen counter, and quietly snuck out, making sure I locked the door behind me. The second I climbed in Vanessa’s car she started screaming at me.
“I know you and Vaughn had some kind of argument last night and you said some awful things to her. But do you really think going home with her, calling her a dog, and then calling me for your walk of shame was the best to do, you idiot!”
By the time she was finished, I was trying not to laugh. “Are you finished?” I asked. Vanessa nodded, but her eyes still flashed daggers at me. “I was talking about her actual dog, Roxy. She offered to let me to get some sleep in her bed, and in my gentlemanly ways, I declined and offered to sleep on the couch."
“Oh. Sorry.” I explained to her that I apologized and offered to take her to get something to eat but instead we came back to her place, ate, talked and got to know each other a little.
When we pulled up in front of the club, she shut her car off and stared at me. “Do you like Vaughn, Nathan?” Hmm. Vanessa was still calling Ryann Vaughn. I wondered how much Vanessa really knew about her.
“I don’t know. I know I’d like to get to know her better. What’s her story, Nessa?” I asked.
“Just like I told her about you. It’s her story to tell. I will tell you this. She’s not like the other girls. Give her time. Now scoot. Just like Vaughn, I have the next two days off and need some rest.” Vanessa winked at me and pushed me out of the car.
