Page 36 of Being Lost

Chapter Twelve

Patsy

Apart from this compound being an old airfield and not a steel mill, when I’d gotten out of the truck, it was much as I’d expected. I’d stayed in the Pueblo clubhouse, so wasn’t surprised by what I found when I stepped inside. Subtle differences were visible, but it fit in with my image of an MC lair.

The VP’s wife’s pole dancing had been something I hadn’t expected, nor was the respect the men had showed by leaving her to dance by herself. She’d seemed lost in her own world. While noting I’ll have to politely introduce myself later at a more appropriate time, I listened to Lost instructing the prospect to take us to our rooms.

He wasted no time, indicating Dan and I should follow him up the stairs. Dan was directed to a room off to one side and he and his bag disappeared. The prospect carrying my much larger one, waved me further along the hallway.

The bedroom that had been assigned to me was plain, I noticed, glancing around when the prospect unlocked the door then left after pressing a key into my hand. It was utilitarian, and not particularly welcoming. There was an adjacent bathroom that’s plain and bare with a few cracked tiles, though clean. The bed simply functional, the sheets looked and smelled freshly laundered, though the mattress was thin and worn. But beggars couldn’t be choosers, I supposed. It’s not a place you’d want to stay in for anything more than its primary purpose, sleeping. After putting away the clothes I’d brought with me in the empty closet and unpacking my bathroom items, I sat on the bed for a while, then decided to get out my e-reader. But I couldn’t focus on the words and soon became bored.

After popping my head around the door of the room given to Dan, I saw he was content playing some game on his phone, so I decided to venture downstairs to the clubroom and nose around.

I’d gotten on okay with the bikers in the Colorado Satan’s Devils chapter, and nothing led me to suspect I’d find the San Diego members much different, so I only felt a little awkward as I descended the stairs, wondering if, by now, the room would be full of assorted men.

But as I reached the bottom of the staircase, instead of the loud rumble of voices, all I could hear was some muted clanking of bottles from where the prospect was restocking the bar, and music. I realised immediately that Alex must still be dancing.

Would she mind if I sneaked over to watch?I moved closer, not sure whether I should stay or go.

Alex seemed lost in her own world as she put more chalk on her hands and then went back on the pole, contorting herself around it. So rapt by her performance, as I drew nearer, I knocked against a chair and toppled it. After I hurriedly righted it, I saw she’d stopped.

“Hey, come over.” She beckoned to me, clearly not upset I’d been spying on her.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You didn’t. I was about finished for today. I was just trying to perfect a routine, but I’ll leave it for now. I tend to lose sense of time when I’m dancing.”

“I’m in awe, you know?” I waved toward the pole. “You’re incredible.”

She laughed and shrugged. “It’s just something I took to. It’s easy when you know how.”

There was something about this diminutive woman that I was taken by. She’s welcoming and friendly. As she pulled on a shirt over her tank top, I waited for her to ask the questions I was sure would come, but she didn’t ask anything that I couldn’t answer.

“Your room okay? I know it’s not much.”

“I’m just grateful to have some breathing space. As a stop gap, it’s fine. So,” I motioned toward her, “baby fat you said? How old’s your baby again?”

It was the right question. Like any mom, she was more than happy to talk about her daughter, Isla, and her son, Tyler, who’s nine. When she got out her phone to show me a photo, I saw her daughter was beautiful, her skin a gorgeous light coffee colour, and she had dark brown eyes. Her smile was to die for as well.

“She’s beautiful,” I commented completely truthfully. “Where is she now?”

“Eva’s playing with her upstairs.”

I glanced at the picture again, looking forward to meeting her in person. A pang went through me thinking Beth could make me a grandmother and I might never know. I’d never have pictures of any grandchildren I had to pass around, unless Dan found a woman and so far, he had shown no inclination to settle down. As tears pricked at my eyes, I made an effort to put such thoughts out of my mind, observing, “She looks like a happy baby.”

“Most of the time,” Alex responded, drily. “She has her moments though. She’s got a stubborn streak a mile wide. So, you ever thought about having a go yourself?” Alex nodded toward the pole.

What woman alive hasn’t? “I’m far too old,” I told her.

She snorted. “Look at me, I’m hardly what you’d expect from a pole dancer. You never know what you can do until you try.”

I eyed the pole, then Alex, then glanced down at myself. I was wearing leggings and a long stretchy t-shirt, which would probably work.

“There’s nobody here. Oh,” she added when she sees me look toward the prospect, “ignore him, I do.” When she raised a quizzical eyebrow, I suddenly grinned. Well, why the hell not?

Within moments, I was preparing my hands with chalk as Alex sprayed the pole. She showed me some beginner moves, then I tried to copy what she had just done, and failed, spectacularly. But my competitive streak began to kick in, and I was determined to beat this.

Alex didn’t laugh as I couldn’t get a grip, just encouraged me, saying she had been the same in the beginning. Her confidence persuaded me to try again, a second and then a third go. That attempt was slightly better, and I managed a twirl before sliding down and ending up on my ass. I did it again with the same result.

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