Page 94 of Fang
The waitress gasps, making us look her way.
“I’m so sorry for interrupting. Here’s your food,” she says as she places our plates down before scurrying off.
“Thank you,” Cami says to her retreating form.
“Way to scare her off,” I tease, making her scoff.
“I did not. Was I right, though?” she asks as she unrolls her silverware.
“Yeah, you were right. I didn’t realize we were on different pages until one night she asked me what colleges I was applying for. She wanted to make sure she applied for the same ones, that way we could go to the same school.” I cringe as the memory comes back. “She lost her shit and threw a shoe at me when I told her that we weren’t going to go to the same school because I had no intentions of going to one or seeing her past graduation.”
Cami shakes her head. “Poor girl didn’t stand a chance.”
“No, she did not,” I confirm.
“Is it wrong that I like that you’ve never been in a serious relationship?”
“No, because I feel the same way.”
She hums as she takes a bite, and I can’t help but watch her. Just like I did this morning.
I woke up right as the sun was rising. The rays came through the window because I forgot to shut the blinds before we racked out. She looked like she was glowing. Right there I decided I needed to do what I’ve been putting off. The only problem is, I don’t know how she will take it.
“You have that look on your face again,” she says as she swallows her food.
“What look?” I play dumb.
“Like something’s wrong. What’s up?” She pops another bite of food into her mouth.
“I need to tell you something, but I don’t know how you will take it,” I admit.
She sets her fork down and turns toward me again. “Okay…”
“I need to hire another dancer.”
She frowns. “Okay, you’ve done that before. Especially since you hired me.”
“Not just a dancer, but another headliner,” I clarify.
Cami goes tense. “Are you forcing me out?”
I reach under the table and squeeze her leg. “No, that’s not it at all.”
“Then why? Am I not doing a good enough job?” She looks so vulnerable.
I hate that I’m making her feel this way. How do I explain it to her?
“Baby, that’s not it at all. In no way, shape, or form am I trying to push you out. I’ve been thinking about doing this since before we got together.”
She takes a deep breath. “Okay, tell me why. Explain it to me.”
“On the nights you don’t work, we are dead. You draw in a crowd, which is great, but it’s hard when you aren’t there. I need someone for those nights. Then on the weekends, if we could have two headliners, I think business would pick up even more. Besides, we both know this isn’t a long-term job for you. There will be times when you can’t make a shift because we have something planned or because of school. It would be nice to know that someone will be there to cover for you. Someone that the crowd wants to see and won’t leave because you aren’t there.”
“Wait, people have left because I wasn’t dancing.” She looks shocked.
I wince.
Shit, I didn’t want her to know that.
