Page 26 of Damaged Prince
Only that was a lie, because the man became something so much more to me. I told him my deepest, darkest secrets, and I was so terrified he would run.
But when he didn’t—-when he stayed and asked me questions, talked to me like I was a human being and not some poor, pathetic victim—I started feeling things I’ve never felt before.
Things that scared the shit out of me but also filled me with so much joy it was almost too much to handle.
I became addicted to this man, reliant on his place in my life.
Then I made the biggest mistake and asked if we could reveal our true identities.
The moment I found out that Micah was actually Malachi Krane, my stepcousin, who I’ve known my whole life, I felt a piece of me die inside.
I felt sick, like everything inside me was shutting down. After having a mental breakdown, I messaged him on the app and pathetically begged him not to tell anyone about what I told him. And before he could get a chance to answer me back, I blocked his number and deleted the app.
For a long time after that, I was on pins and needles waiting for him to say something, for my brothers or dad to pull me to the side and reveal they knew my deepest darkest secrets.
Days went by, then weeks, which turned into years. He never once told a soul. At least not that I know of. If he did, no one ever approached me about it.
I’ve spent so long worrying he would tell someone, but it was all for nothing.
I should have known I could trust him. There was always something about Micah that made me feel safe with him. Just because I knew who he really was, shouldn’t have changed that.
I’ve been living with so many regrets, so many missed moments. I don’t want to do that anymore.
Just as I’m about to leave the staff room, my boss, Calvin, sticks his head out of his office door and calls my name, “Ben.”
Coming to a stop, I close my eyes and groan internally. I could keep walking, pretending I didn’t hear him and just go home to sleep, but I don’t want to piss him off. He’s giving me time off work to go on this trip, and while normally I don’t mind working, I really want this time off.
A whole week with Laney is something I’m dying for. No parents, no school, no work. Just the time I need to get to know Laney. Lately, it seems like any time I manage to get alone with her is few and far between.
Logan and Benny have been her main priority, but I don’t hold that against them. She is exactly what they need. The saving grace to the hell they’ve been going through.
She was there for my brother and nephew in some of the darkest times of their lives, standing by their side through it all. It’s another reason why I'm falling for this girl so damn hard.
It’s really hard not to. She’s too damn good for us.
“Yes?” I ask, swinging my tired gaze over to his.
“Enjoy your trip. I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Thanks.” I force a half smile when really I want to rip my damn hair out. The only way I was able to get that time off was by agreeing to take on a few new clients who have been bugging Calvin to convince me to do lap dances.
Two older rich women who seem to have their sights set on me. While I’m flattered, lap dances aren't my thing. I don’t like getting too up close and personal with the clients. Yes, there are rules in place, but sometimes when you have more money than you know what to do with, it buys you a pass when it comes to said rules.
Some of the guys here don’t mind being touched; they tend to get tipped more generously because of it.
Sure, the tips are nice and could help get me closer to my goal, but it’s not worth putting me in a situation that makes me feel uncomfortable, destroying the hard work and progress I’ve made.
So for me to make this one-time deal, it’s a big deal. Something I don’t even want to think about because it makes me sick as soon as I do.
“Oh, and head out to the bar. You have some tips waiting for you.”
Nodding, I make my way in the direction of the bar.
On a typical night, I have anywhere between five to fifteen private dance requests. I have no clue as to why I’m so popular, but I don’t mind because I’m in a separate room with a one-way mirror. I don’t have to see who’s watching me.
Sometimes I can easily just slip into my head and get lost to the music.
And that's how my night was going. Each song that came on, I pretended it was Laney behind that glass watching me.
