Page 54 of Bad Boy Next Door
I stayed silent. My sister didn’t need to know I planned to go on stage. If it turned out well, I’d tell her then. Or never.
Melodie had coached me over the past week, and she’d coaxed Stan into letting me audition. Stan had approved, and soon I’d dance. I was nervous about it, but nothing could be as bad as dancing privately for our manager.
Maybe that was Stan’s evil plan. Be so gross when the dancers auditioned that being on stage for the customers would be less disgusting in comparison.
Stan was a creep, the way he looked at and touched the women in the club, the way he used his power as our boss to do whatever he wanted. If it hadn’t been for Nick, I’m not sure I’d have lasted one night in that club, never mind the two weeks I’d worked there.
I’d only stayed the first night because of Nick’s lie.
But if I was honest, Nick’s being there had given me a bigger reason to say. He made me feel safe. Knowing he was in the room helped me pretend to be confident and strong around the groping customers.
Deep down, I also knew Nick was the reason I’d be able to go on stage to dance. He’d be in the audience, keeping me, and all the other girls, protected. And Nickwouldbe there when I danced, his eyes on me as I seductively flaunted my body…
I flashed back to my impromptu private dance for Nick, the dance that had led to—
“What do you think?” Crystal asked.
“About what?” I set my fork on the counter beside the half-eaten dish of pasta. “Sorry, I got distracted.”
“I was saying… this friend of mine, Oliver? He has a car. If I borrow it, maybe we can go up to see Dad on Monday?”
“Sure. Depending on my work schedule.” I had Monday’s off, but for some reason didn’t want to commit to Crystal, yet.
“Great.”
Someone knocked on my door. I was tempted to ignore it, but it might be Melodie, or the female cop I’d met in the laundry room. Apparently this place wasn’t entirely populated by criminals.
What if it was Nick? My insides pulsed at that thought.
“Gotta go,” I told Crystal.
“‘Kay! Love you. Bye!” She ended the call before I could even respond.
I stared at the door, hoping it wasn’t Nick.
Not because I didn’t want to see him, but because of how badly I did.
