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By now, the crowd had poured in, and the showroom was at its peak busy time. Hurrying to the dressing room as quickly as I could, I avoided contact with anyone else in the club. Lacie’s set was up next, and the current was halfway over.
Digging through my bag, I chose a white, faintly transparent halter top. Tying it tightly in the front, I made sure to display ample cleavage until it was removed. I reached for a black, faux leather skirt, but my eyes fell on one that was Chance’s favorite. Pulling it out of my bag, memories came flooding back as my fingertips ran through the pleats of the provocative red tartan skirt.
Taking a deep breath, I mulled over wearing it tonight for closure. Biting my bottom lip, I reluctantly slid it up my legs, stopping halfway. Fighting back tears once again, I inhaled deeply, pulling it up the rest of the way and securing it around my waist. I knew there was no point in getting sad again. I’d been doing great all night.
“I can do this.” I twisted my body, observing myself in the full-length mirror on the wall. For once since my breakup, I felt ready.
“I think you’ll be just fine.”
My knees buckled as I whirled around, causing me to almost lose my balance. “Geez, you scared me!”
An amused giggle erupted from Jenna, who’d been just out of view from the reflection. She took several steps into the room. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
Nodding, I fidgeted with the hem of the short skirt.
“Mila is hiding with their kids and Dylan upstairs, so I came down to support you.”
“Do you miss this?” Gesturing to my attire, I snickered. “Dancing, I mean.”
She pointed to her pregnant stomach. “I think those days are behind me, and my Irish-tempered husband might explode if I ever took my clothes off for anyone else again.”
Rolling my eyes, I snickered. “Not what I asked.”
She puffed out her cheeks, letting out a breath, and bobbed her head back and forth. “I do, but I’m happy too. My brother is here way too much now anyway for me to be doing that.”
I snorted, forgetting that part. “Okay, so maybe not getting naked while dancing then.” Pointing to the speaker overhead, I wiggled playfully in place. “Just dancing… with clothes.”
“I do miss it,” her eyes flickered as if she were in deep thought, “but, I don’t have time for it any longer.”
Just as I opened my mouth to reply, the ending of the song played. “Crap ass!” Scrambling, I slipped my boots on, almost tumbling while zipping up the sides. Backing to the door, I let out an embarrassing laugh that sounded like two cats fighting in an alley. “I have to hurry.”
Jenna watched my struggle, laughing. “I’ll be out there cheering you on.”
“Love you!” I disappeared out the side door we rarely used. It was a shortcut to backstage.
The bright stage lights peeked through the curtain. I wasn’t nervous for any reason other than I was still trying to talk myself into moving forward. The more I told myself I was moving on, the stronger I felt as if it were becoming my reality.
Lips puckered, I exhaled deeply as Trina came down the steps, grinning while passing by. Matching her expression, my nerves tested me. The song started and I stepped out on stage with a wide grin.
Holding my head high, I sashayed across the stage, moving my body to the music, commanding the attention of the anticipating crowd. The song carried me away, getting me lost in the moment. For once in a long while, I felt free.
Grabbing the pole, I hooked a leg around, spinning before coming to a stop, performing a back hook spin. Immediately, I lifted my body, pinning the pole in the crook of my knee again before dropping. An audible gasp spread throughout the crowd, followed by cheers as I stopped myself just before my head hit the stage. It was one of my favorite tricks. It scared them every time.
Reaching between my protruding breasts, I untied my top, tossing it behind me. I swayed my hips to the edge of the stage, taking tips from pleased onlookers. Wanting to give them their money’s worth, I dropped into a split, giving them a peek between my legs as I teased them by playing with my skirt.
I was so lost in the music, I’d not realized the song was almost over. I gave the crowd a final trick; a perfect view of my body. I performed a headstand against the pole before twisting into a smooth standing position.
The moment I was off the stage, I felt a sense of power rush over me. It was as if I were in another world. Our stagehand stepped behind the curtain and handed me my top and the money I’d left on stage. Quickly, I thanked him before hurrying back to the dressing room. Placing the tips in my bag, a pleased smile washed over my face. It was the first time in a while that I felt a genuine sense of happiness.
Deciding to keep my performance outfit on, I slipped it back on, then checked my phone, seeing a missed call from an unidentified Boston phone number. No voicemail, no text.Odd. Shrugging it off to a wrong number, I checked my costume in the mirror before returning to work.
Aurora was mixing a drink while talking with another bartender, who must have been new. I’d never seen her before. She nodded toward a waiting tray. Just as I picked up and steadied it, I felt the presence of a large body next to me.
“Amber?”
“Yeah?” I turned around with a smile, but it diminished instantly, and I gasped. “What are you doing here?”
“Have you seen my brother?”
