Page 69 of Make or Break

Tundra

My cell rang before Mickayla could respond. The number was local but not one I knew. Three new dancers had started at Platinum’s this past week, and there was an off-chance it was one of them.

“You got Tundra.”

“Ron, it’s so good to hear your voice,” Sarah said.

Shit. Bitter acid churned in my gut - Sarah hadn’t struck me as being clingy like this. Then again, many women in my past changed their behavior when they met my dad or realized I might have money.

“Can’t say the same.”

She spoke over me. “Let’s have dinner tonight. It’s not even five o’clock yet. I can meet you at that restaurant your club opened out on the Westside. Some of my coworkers went there for brunch. They said the food there is really great.”

“I got plans with Mick tonight. It’s been nearly a month since you tossed me out, we’re done.”

“Please, Ron. I messed up. It’s over with Jesse. Please give me a chance.”

“You had your chance,” I said, and ended the call.

“Remind me not to get on your bad side,” Mickayla said.

“Woman, you demanded to know who would cheat on me, which tells me you never would, and that will keep you from ever being on my bad side.”

She aimed her eyes toward her eyebrows while she wobbled her head. “That’s true. And she’s still a moron, grade-A bitch, and the c-word.”

I laughed. “You can’t say that word now?”

She twisted her hand up and out like a game show host. “It’s a little excessive at this point.”

“Mick, about your brother. Do you know his schedule?”

She sighed. “I can call and find out, but—”

“No buts, babe. We gotta rip the Band-Aid off. It’s gonna sting, but—”

“Now who’s throwing around buts?”

“The sooner we do this, the sooner we’ll get the lay of the land.”

“And the sooner you might be kicked out of the club. You shouldn’t have to make that kind of sacrifice.”

“You’re not wrong, but I’m done lying. We aren’t gonna know what anyone is going to do until we out ourselves.”

“Right. I don’t like hiding this either, but I’m…a little frightened of what’s on the other side. If Ryan can’t open his damned mind, what am I going to do? He’s my triplet, and it sounds weird, but we have a bond because of that.”

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It doesn’t sound weird at all, Mick. Anyone can see how close you three are, and I love that for you. If Ryan can’t see how happy you are or won’t let you take a chance on a man like me, that’s on him. He cares about you, and I’m pretty sure he cares about keeping you in his life, too. I can’t predict what he’ll do, but worrying about it isn’t helping us.”

“You’re right. But some people are having ‘dry’ January, and I feel like I’ve been experiencing ‘dream’ January because it’s like we’ve existed in our own little world…what’s one more week in the big scheme of things?” she asked, pushing into me and taking me to my back.

“You’re dangerous, woman. I don’t want to tell you no, but I’m standing firm on this.”

She frowned. “How about next week? For sure, no backing out.”

I stared into her blue eyes. “Babe, call your brother. Or, if you really don’t want to, I can call him.”

Her eyes went wide and her face paled. I couldn’t help but laugh - the reaction was so instantaneous.

“Fine. I’ll call the bar.”