Page 69 of Ethan's Sky

“No two in particular. Just men in general. They’re oblivious, pig-headed, egotistical assholes.” Jayde says as she smashes her bread together.

“Uh, huh. And what brought about this epiphany?” I try to hold my smile back. I don’t necessarily disagree with their assessment, but I am curious who they’re talking about. I’m certain Jayde is referring to Blake, the prospect she’s been hung up on. But even I know that he won’t touch her with a ten-foot pole. He can’t without permission from her dad. He’s a prospect. If he were to be caught messing around with Jayde, not only would he get the beat downof his life,but he’d also lose his cut. Not one of these guys is going to risk their cut for a woman.

“They’re all lead by their dick. It’s the only brain that works and it’s only got a few cells to work with.” Sadie states nonchalantly.

I laugh. So does Jayde. But the laughter dies off quickly when music starts to thump through the clubhouse speakers.

“What the hell?”

We all walk through the kitchen doors, and I about choke when I see the shitshow in front of me. Drea, Candi, and Rachel are all on the stage attempting what I assume is meant to be a sexy dance routine, only it looks like a group of gyrating cows. They’re off beat, not a lick of rhythm between the three, and I’m not sure what the hell they’re doing with their hips but it’s not dancing.

Jayde and Sadie bust out laughing. “Are they trying to fuck the pole?” Sadie chokes out. I’m too confused to laugh. I’m stunned silent.

The three stop, when they notice us by the bar watching them.

“You’re just jealous.” Rachel snaps, her words directed at Jayde. But they miss their target since Jayde hasn’t caught her breath enough to hear her. But Sadie however doesn’t miss a beat.

“Jealous? Of what? Three rhythmless cumsters?”

“What did you call us?” Drea snaps.

“Cumsters…ya know. It’s like Bennifer, or Briley. It’s when you smash two names together. In this case I smashed cum and dumpster. Cumster.” She throws her hands out gesturing to the three women. At this point Jayde is in tears, holding her belly as she laughs, barely able to catch her breath.

“What exactly was that you were doing there?” I ask, because, seriously, Ihaveto know.

“If you must know, we were dancing like the girls at that fancy club, The Velvet Pearl. I heard Ethan has a thing for that kind of stuff, so we were practicing.”

That does it. I throw my head back and lose my shit in laughter.

Once I catch my breath, I catch Candi standing with her hand on her hip pissed as shit glaring at me which only serves to make me laugh harder.

I finally get ahold of myself and have to let them know, “What you were doing there, isnothinglike the routines they do at the Pearl, I can assure you.”

“That looked more like clodhoppin’ heifers in heels. I haveneverseen anything that ridiculous in a gentlemen’s club.” Sadie cackles. I don’t ask when she was last in a gentlemen’s club since she’s not quite eighteen yet. There’s something that tells me she’s serious though which leads me to believe I’m safernot knowingthe answer to the unasked question.

“Oh, really. Like you three could do any better?” Candi snaps. Maybe it’s because I don’t like her. Maybe it’s the challenge in her voice speaking to something deep inside of me. She’s doing this to get Ethan’s attention.Scarlet’s Ethan.

My blood turns cold at the thought of Candi having him. Hell, I don’t like the fact that Scarlet has had him.

Let’s not analyze my own jealousy for the fictious woman Ethan’s crazy about who is ME! It’s beside the point.

I snap my neck and move toward the DJ table, unplugging the phone connected to the system blaring some bullshit hip-hop music.

Genuine, My Pony.I roll my eyes. “Pole dancing is for girls who work at Glitz and Tass not a classy gentlemen’s club.” I scoff. “The women who dance at the Pearl train during the day. They practice complete dance routines as a group. They make ashowout of every song. And they do it all without rubbing anal floss and gold painted poles in their ass.”

I’d never let my girls dance to this cliché shit.

Pulling out my iPod, I connect it to the speaker system, select my song, and make my way to the stage. I’m nowhere near dressed for this type of show, in my cutoff shorts and t-shirt, but I don’t need my costume here. Bitch wants a show, I’ll give her one.

Six Feet Deep by Royale Lynnpumps through the speakers and I instantly allow myself to get lost in the music. I start moving across the stage, swaying to the music like I’ve done this a thousand times.Because I have.My t-shirt gets tossed over in the corner of the stage leaving me in my sports bra and shorts. I move past the pole at center stage and start moving in rhythm to the music, pulling my ponytail out, letting my hair swish and sway with my movements. I walk across the stage owning every inch of the wood floor, caressing my skin, snapping my hips to the beat.

This is my fucking element.

I drop to my knees, pulling my hands through my hair, scissoring my legs running my hand from my center to my throat and back again.

This is where I fell the freest.

Jayde and Sadie whistle and shout for me. I wave them both up, to join me on the stage. They jump up and follow along. They pick up the routine quick.

---