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It’s amazing. Having control of my own life and money has given me my happiness back and allowed me to feel free for the first time in nearly ten years. I will never trade it for anything.
After checking over my client one more time, I decide she’s done and remove her cape before watching as a smile spreads over her face. She does a few hair flicks, trying to get all the angles, before thanking me and grabbing her purse off the table.
Gina approaches as I’m sorting out the payment and chats with the client as she makes another booking with me in four more weeks, managing to boost my ego in the process. “You’re really getting the hang of this,” Gina tells me as the door closes behind my client.
“Thanks,” I smile, really feeling like I’m getting somewhere. I’m more than appreciative that Gina has also taken the time to notice. “Today felt really good.”
“Excellent. That’s what we want,” she replies as she opens the till to start closing up for the day. “Why don’t you head off? I can take care of the rest.”
“No, no,” I say with a shake of my head. “You’ve been here since seven. I can take care of it and close up.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you overworking yourself,” she scolds like an overprotective mother. She knows about my night shifts in the bar, and while she doesn’t approve of me working so many hours, she also understands my drive to build a life for myself.
“Really, it’s fine,” I tell her. “I managed to have a clean-up between my afternoon clients, so there isn’t too much to do. I’ll be out of here in fifteen minutes.”
“Fine,” she groans, realizing that fighting me on this is a lost cause. “Suit yourself.”
With that, I dash off into the back and grab the broom before getting straight to work. If I make this quick, I’ll have just enough time to finish closing up, power walk back to Micky’s, and grab a fresh change of clothes before downing something to eat and being ready for my shift in the bar at six.
Gina says a quick goodnight, and as she leaves, I allow my mind to wander. As usual, it takes me straight to Xander. I haven’t seen him this week, but I know I’ll probably see him again in the next few days. He seems to somehow always find his way back to Micky’s, no matter what he’s doing. To be honest, I love the random surprises.
Especially that night he came in and watched me finish my shift. I felt his piercing stare the whole time, though I don’t know what could have been that interesting. I was mostly wiping down tables, but then he went and helped me close. I don’t know why, but something inside me found it incredibly romantic. So, of course I spent the rest of the night swooning like an idiot.
I don’t know what possessed me to open up to him the way I did. I’ve never told anyone about the shit I’ve dealt with from my stepmom over the years. I had opened up to Micky that first night, but not on this level. I’d just given Micky the need to know stuff, but with Xander, I wanted him to understand me. To really know why I am the way I am.
I felt ashamed telling him how I allowed myself to be mistreated for so long, but then I saw the way he looked at me and that feeling washed away. He thought I was strong, like a survivor, and at that moment, I started to see myself in the same way. It was exhilarating—like I’d claimed back a part of myself.
After finishing up my jobs, I do a quick once over, straightening up all the chairs and equipment before turning off the lights and locking up. I check the clock one last time and grin, realizing I’ve spared myself a few minutes to dawdle rather than having to haul ass back to Micky’s.
After keying in the pin for the alarm, I pull the door closed behind me, making sure I hear the familiar click before shoving the key into the lock and quickly twisting.
Putting one foot in front of the other, I head off down the road, feeling on cloud nine. Things couldn’t be going better. You know, apart from the whole being too fucking shy to really go for this thing between me and Xander. I hate that I have so many reservations and not enough balls to just take what I want, but I’m so scared he’s going to hurt me. I’m already in too deep, and if it turns out I’m just a game to him . . . he really will destroy me.
Xander gives me the impression that he’s more than experienced in the bedroom, and I’m not going to lie, that makes me nervous. I mean, I’ve fooled around with guys before, but when it comes to sex . . . this bitch is still rocking her V plates. Xander has probably seen and done everything there is to offer. Threesomes, foursomes, maybe even a little bit of kinky fuckery. Which makes me wonder what the hell he sees in me. Why does he keep coming back? Am I a game to him? Does he just want to corrupt the sweet girl from the wrong side of the tracks?
