Page 32 of Underground Prince

“Sounds reasonable,” I said.

“Good. I’ll help out if no one is feeling a back rub. Unless you want to?” Georgie asked.

“Massage?” It came out like a derisory bark, and I covered my mouth as if I could stifle my outburst after the fact. “No thanks.”

She shrugged, but it was coupled with a glare. “You may think you’re too good now, but you should learn. It’s two dollars a minute and it’s all yours. No split with the cocktails.” She straightened her bustier by cupping her boobs, drawing stray glances from the table. “Besides,” she said, so lightly I knew she was going in for a sting. “Sax really enjoys them.”

“Theo’s an ass,” I said before heading toward the raised-finger summons at the table.

She gave an unconvinced mmm, but while she suppressed it, I caught the flash of anger behind her eyes and I understood my mistake.

Theo. Not Sax.

What stupid transparency. I knew I wanted nothing to do with him, but my subconscious was a traitorous asshole.

I tried for a smile when I bent closer to one of the men, since he reacted to my LED disco-horns with a squint. “Beer with salt. Glass,” he said.

Georgie already poured the drink by the time I made it back to the kitchen.

“I could’ve done that,” I told her under my breath. “I know how to pour a damn beer into a glass.”

“Yes, but you didn't know that Dave prefers two shakes of salt. No more, no less.”

I chewed on my lip to prevent any further retort. We still had seven and a half hours to survive together and giving a swift kick to her glitter-coated ass didn’t seem appropriate until we were at least an hour in.

Another finger went up, and I went over to serve. This person, in a rumpled t-shirt and jeans, wanted a rum and coke. I slid my tip from the first man, a two-dollar chip, off the table and went to mix the drink. But damn it if Georgie didn’t already have it made.

“Here,” she said, pushing it over to me.

“Do you do this for Sasha, too?” I asked.

“I’m only helping the new girl out.”

She smiled as sweet as her peach-and-berries perfume before moving to the fridge and piling in lukewarm cans of beer, and I said to her, “Don’t you have some rub ‘n tugs to give?”

She stiffened, rising up over the fridge door and saying, “It’s called efficiency. Until I’m signaled, I’m in here, making sure all alcohol is fresh and cold and helping you out by ensuring the guys get their liquor fix fast, which gives you more tips. If you don’t like it,” she said, shutting the fridge door with a light smack, “by all means. Do it all yourself. I could use a nap.”

I lost my bluster, slumping against the counter. “It’s a sad realization when a stripper-angel makes you feel petty.”

Her sparkle gloss twitched with a smile.

I picked up her pre-made rum and coke. “I didn’t mean to be so rude. It just felt like you were taking over. Walking all over me because you could.”

I didn’t wait for her reply and placed the drink beside its new owner instead. When I returned, Georgie’s expression was much less peeved. She said, “Look. I think we got off on the wrong foot. Honestly, I forgot you were so new and didn’t think that having your drinks ready would feel like an insult. It is how Sasha and I work. Really.”

“So let’s start fresh, then,” I said, extending a hand, which she clasped. “I don’t like this any more than you do.”

“Great,” she said. “Jake’s signaling you, but I know what he’ll ask. So here.” She pulled out a cold beer from the fridge and poured it into a black plastic glass. “He prefers his beer in opaque glasses. Just plop it down in front of him. He’ll love you for it.”

“All right.” I lifted the drink in a silent cheers. “Thank you.”

She smiled before grabbing a cloth and wiping down the island.

Verily would be so proud of my peace offering. I sauntered over to the man named Jake, to the right of Kai, and set down the beer.

He took a sip, put it down, stared at it for a moment, then said, “What the fuck is this?”

On instinct I glanced at Georgie, but she had her back turned.

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