Page 5 of Sinful Nights
Yeah, no one has a best friend like me.
Wicked Gamesby The Weeknd blasts through the speakers as I reach up high on the pole. I grip it tightly with one hand and use the back of my knee to hold the bottom of the pole. The rod slowly turns as I let go and use my legs to keep me upright. When I first started planning my choreography for my routines, I assumed getting on the pole would be easy peasy. What a fool I was. This shit is hard as hell and takes so much more strength than I thought it would. The first few days I practiced, I was sore as hell every time I tried to walk, let alone dance.
So being able to twirl easily on the pole now has the biggest smile on my face. Dropping my foot down onto the ground, I lean the front of my body against the pole, doing a sexy body roll that gets the crowd wild. Sweat is dripping down my back and causing my hair to stick to my face, but it’s so rewarding to know that I’m the center of attention. I love doing my duets with Bash, but being out here on my own is such a thrilling feeling. To know that all eyes are on me and my dancing, my body, ugh, I love it.
The overhead lights dim as a spotlight shines brightly onto the top of my head. If you’ve never stood under stage lights, it’s hot as hell. It ramps up my sweat, and I hope like hell I still look sexy to those who are watching in their seats. The song reaches its end as I’m face down on the ground with my ass in the air. I give myself a few seconds to catch my breath, and then I’m standing up, plastering a huge smile on my face as I collect my tips.
A loud whoop from the side catches my attention, and I turn my head, seeing Oak standing proudly next to the booth, clapping loudly.
“Hell yeah!” he shouts, smiling at me.
A warm sensation blooms in my stomach, knowing Oak came tonight. I know he said he would, but there was still a small thought in the back of my mind that he wouldn’t show up. I hurry over to his table, well, as fast as these damn heels allow me. Some people can walk in them, but I am not one of them. My feet can barely handle dancing in them; as soon as the music cuts off, my feet want to be cut off, too.
“You’re here,” I say, grabbing the dollar bill he reaches out toward me.
Every night Oak watches, he always hands me one dollar at the end of my routine. The first time he tried it, I laughed him off and didn’t take it, but he said it was important since the other customers in the building would see him giving me money andit would make them want to give me money too. I don’t know if his logic is correct, but I don’t argue with him about it anymore. I just take the bill and stuff it into my underwear.
“There was no way I was going to miss another night. You were amazing. Honestly, the best one on the stage tonight. Just don’t tell the other guys I said that. I want them to keep inviting me to things. Speaking of guys. Do you think everyone will want to go eat after you guys are done? I’m hungry as hell. I came straight here after hitting the gym.”
My brows scrunch together when I remember it’s almost midnight. “Why are you going to the gym so late?”
“Just releasing some tension,” he shrugs, “but now I’m hungry as hell.” He pats his stomach a couple times, flashing me a big grin.
“Yeah,” I tell him, slowly backing away to get the rest of my money before someone else takes the stage. “I’ll see if anyone else wants to head out after.” I take off back into the crowd, wondering what kind of tension Oak needs to release. Fuck, I hope it still isn’t about Alex.
A few hours later, Oak and I are sitting in the booth with Bash, Declan, Lennox, and Tristan. I’m sure our server Sally gets tired of our shenanigans, but she’ll never admit it. While sometimes she eavesdrops on our conversations, other times she’s running away quickly from the table. That’s usually when Declan is telling a story, though.
“Did we tell you about the old lady we ran into at the mall the other day?” Tristan says excitedly after placing our orders. Sally pauses briefly, as though she wants to listen, but is called away by a customer a few booths over.
“Oh god,” Bash mutters, pulling his lollipop out of his mouth. “She literally clutched her pearls. It was ridiculous.”
“Tell us,” Lennox says, typing away on his phone. Probably texting his boyfriend, Jensen, if the smirk on his face is anything to go by.
“It was when we went shopping at the mall the other day. We went into this luxury boutique trying to see if they had any new lingerie we could get for our sets.”
“Or for everyday use,” Bash cuts Tristan off, shrugging his shoulders. “Not all of my lingerie is for work, ya know.”
“Anyway,” Tristan drags out, resuming his story. “Bash, Cole, and I were making our way around the store slowly, taking in every item, trying to decide if we wanted to buy it. This little old lady came from the back and asked us if we needed any help. I shit you not, Bash pulled the lingerie off the hanger, then held it up to his body, asking if she thought it would look good on him.”
“It was a serious question,” he mumbles. “I wanted someone else’s opinion because you both just kept saying yes over and over.”
“And what happened?” Oak asks, his eyes bouncing between them and then back to me. I can read his facial expression by the tilt of his eyebrow. He’s wondering why I didn’t tell him about what happened at the mall. But it was right after he ditched me for Alex, so I was still a little upset, and yeah, I was probably quieter than usual.
“Her eyes went wide like freaking dinner plates, and then she clutched the imaginary pearls that she probably thought she was wearing. She started stuttering about whether his girlfriend was the same size as him, and when he said no, it was for him, her eyes got even wider, and then she started asking questions. Like, how does his cock fit in the lace? Does it feel weird to have the string between his ass cheeks? And how do his pecs hold up the bra? At first, we thought she was scandalized and was about to kick us out of the store, but then she started asking question after question. By the time we left, we had each bought two newoutfits from her, and we learned all about how she no longer wears lingerie because it’s too uncomfortable but maybe she needs to restart so her husband can enjoy it.”
The table erupts in laughter as Tristan finishes the story. I snicker along, remembering how shocked I was at all the questions she’d asked us. I was so nervous at first that we would get disgusted looks, but I was pleasantly surprised by her reaction. And the fact she told us that we’d better come back in and see her. I might have to buy all my lingerie from her.
“Oh god, that’s amazing.”
The table starts telling stories of all the times they’ve scandalized someone in a store, and by the end of the night, I’ve laughed so hard I cried, and my stomach hurts from all the snickering. These are the nights I live for: hanging out with all my friends, telling stories, and laughing our asses off. Nothing compares to this.
4
OAKLEY
It’s beenthree weeks since I stopped responding to Alex’s texts, and she still hasn’t given up. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but I thought ignoring every single text would let her know that I’m done. Hell, my last text to her was me nicely telling her that it’s been great, but I’m no longer interested in seeing her. That was a lie—it was not great—but I had no desire to be mean to her.
My phone buzzes again, and I have the urge to shuck the damn thing across the gym floor. Squeezing my eyes tightly, I glance over at the screen, wincing when I see her name light up on my screen.
