Page 7 of Damaged Prince
He nods. “Whoever she is to you, make sure she doesn’t come back here again. I don’t care, but I don’t want to see you get in trouble with the boss.”
“Thanks, man.” I pat his shoulder as I pass him, slipping back into the dressing room. “Won’t happen again.”
Going to my locker, I grab my change of clothes and quickly get dressed. My shift isn’t done for another few hours, but I can’t go back out there tonight.
Needing to get out of here before my boss or one of the managers comes looking for me, I skip the shower in favor oftaking one when I get home. I grab my things, quickly heading towards the exit.
Fuck. Home.
Do I even want to go back there right now? Is Laney going to be there too, or is she staying a little longer? She wouldn’t, would she? She’s only here for her aunt's birthday. I’m sure she would have left after everything that just happened, right?
The idea of her staying out there, watching the other guys dance, fills me with jealousy.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the guys I work with. They’re good men just trying to earn money to survive. I get it.
But do I want the girl I’m falling hard for to be sitting in the crowd, watching them strip? Hell no.
Attention bouncing between the back exit and the hall to the main part of the club, I debate on getting out of here without being seen or going to check to see if Laney is still here.
“Fuck it,” I mutter to myself. With my bag in hand, I quickly head to the front, sticking to the far wall and letting the darkness hide me for the most part.
The music is loud and the people are very distracted by the performance going on, so no one notices me as my eyes scan the crowd, looking for Delaney or anyone else I might recognize.
After a thorough search, I don’t see anyone and head towards the back of the club. Pushing out the back exit, I head straight for the staff parking lot.
Once I’m in the privacy of my car, I sit in silence as I think about what I’m going to do now.
What I want is answers: Like why the hell my best friend didn’t warn me that they were going to be here tonight. If I knew, I’d have made sure I swapped shifts with someone, faked being sick, or something. Anything but being blindsided like that.
Grabbing my phone out of my bag, I find Winter’s contact and call her. Each ring that goes by without her answering sends my nerves skyrocketing.
Pick up, pick up, pick the fuck up!
I’m starting to panic now. I need to talk to my best friend and figure out what the hell I’m supposed to do next.
Doesn’t help that she’s with the very girl I’m freaking out over.
It goes to voicemail, and my stomach drops. “Don’t do this to me right now, Winny.” I groan, hanging up the phone.
A second later, my phone dings. Eagerly, I open my messages to see it’s from Winter.
Winter: Sorry, can’t pick up right now. I'm in the limo on the way back to your place with everyone. It’s a little loud in here. The older ladies are pretty drunk lol
Me: Okay. Not the best time because I’m freaking the fuck out right now and really need to talk to you.
Winter: Is it about the fact that Laney saw you up there shaking your ass? Yeah, trust me, I know all about that. Don’t hate me, okay? We will talk more when we’re at your place. See you soon. xoxo
I let out a heavy sigh in annoyance. I love my best friend but god, couldn’t she have given me a damn heads up?
The whole drive back to my place, I’m deep inside my own head, lost in my thoughts.
To some, this might not be a big deal, but to me, it is.
I’ve had this job for years now, even before I could legally drink. My brothers and dad know I work here, but they think I’m a bartender.
God, I don’t even want to think about how my brothers would react if they found out I take my clothes off for a living. And Dad? Would he be ashamed of me? No. That’s not like my dad.He loves me and my brothers no matter what. Still, this isn’t something I want them to know about.
By the time I’m pulling up to the front gate of my house, I’m stressed to the max, and my stomach is in knots.
