Page 97 of Sling’s Awakening

Chapter

Twenty-Three

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When I woke up around lunchtime, Sling was gone, and his side of the bed was cold.

As much as I wish he was here for me to wake up next to, I’m relieved. I need a minute to myself to decompress and try to figure out what to do about work.

The soreness between my legs is a reminder of last night.

I didn’t think that knowing Sling beat up Brad would be such a turn on but it is. It really fucking is.

I’ve never been with a man who would do anything to serve karma on my behalf. It makes me feel like no matter what happens in life, he’s always at my back.

I haven’t heard from him yet today, and I’m okay with that. I woke up later than I wanted to, leaving me not a lot of time before I needed to get ready for work tonight.

I’m going in early to finish the inventory Russ was losing it over last night. He’s probably going to be pissed it wasn’t done, but I was so done last night that I wasn’t willing to risk my sanity.

I throw a few outfits along with a couple pairs of pleasers in my bag this time just in case he makes me work the pole again. I felt bad having to take one of Hex’s outfits last night. I know how she likes to change them out when she does more than one set.

I feel like I did a full-body workout from having used muscles that I haven’t used in a long time.

Once my bag is packed, makeup and hair are done and I’m dressed, I grab a protein bar and an energy drink that does nothing for me but make me feel like I’m going to have a heart attack for a few hours and head out the door.

I try to force myself not to look next door at Sling’s house to see if he’s home because I don’t want to be that girl, but I can’t help myself.

He’s not home.

I’ve never been the girl who wonders when he’s going to text or call me, so why am I acting like that now?

I hate that I’m acting like a lovesick puppy because he’s not like any man I’ve been with. I should run in the other direction from him, but I can’t resist the pull. I’m locked in now and there’s no going back.

Maybe I’m scared of losing this new sense of safety I feel. Something tells me that as long as that man walks this earth, he will be coming for me when I call.

And that alone gives me a peace of mind going into work tonight, not knowing what’s waiting for me.

The anxiety that usually sits like a rock in the pit of my stomach as I drive into work surprisingly isn’t there anymore.

I think I’ve finally hit my ‘I don’t give a fuck anymore’ wall. If Russ wants to fire me, he can go on ahead. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would do my job for what he pays. It’s basically the job of three people, and I think the fact that we can’t even keep new dancers around speaks for itself. I’ve come to the realization that I’ve only stayed so long because I’m comfortable and it’s what I know.

I unlock the back door and let myself in. For the first time in what feels like forever, I’m here by myself.

I put my bag away and head into the office to grab the inventory list from last night. I freeze as I take in the state of the office.

Papers are thrown all over the place. Russ’s desk drawers are open, their contents scattered across the desk and the floor.

What the hell happened in here?

It looks like someone came in looking for something and trashed the office in the process. The thing is, the only people who have access to this are me and Russ. And he wasn’t here when I left last night. Unless he came back after I left…

God, I hope he slept. I don’t want to know what another day of a drug-induced binging looks like for him because I know it’s not going to be good and I’m going to be on the receiving end of it.

You know what?

This isn’t my fucking problem.

I let the stack of papers I’d started to pick up fall back on the floor.