Page 24 of Between Never and Forever
“Five minutes, Vixen!”
Bobby, one of the bouncers, shouts the warning into the dressing room just as I finish the last buckle on my stiletto. These shoes are super uncomfortable, but they make my legs look long as fuck.
“I’m ready,” I call back.
I stand and look in the mirror, using my hands to fluff my already curled and sprayed hair. I run a finger down the side of my mouth, cleaning up the lipstick there, and then I do a little spin.
This is my favorite outfit in my rotation. Black leather and lace. It makes me feel like a badass. An avenging angel. The shorty shorts show just enough of my ass cheeks to be sexy, and the matching vested top makes it look like I have more boobs than I do. I cup my hands under each breast and give them a lift, adjusting my illusion of cleavage, just as Bella leans on the vanity table next to me and holds out a shot.
“Want? We’re packed with Spring Breakers, so you’ll probably need it.”
“Hell yeah.”
I swipe the shot glass from her and throw back the cheap tequila, wincing as it goes down.
“Are they assholes?” I rasp out, clearing my throat to ease the burn.
She scrunches her nose and gives me a shrug.
“Nah. Young, dumb, and full of cum.”
We both laugh as she pours me another shot.
“As long as they have deep pockets and are generous with Mommy and Daddy’s cash, I don’t care what they’re full of.”
“I’ll cheers to that.”
We clink our shot glasses together and then toss back the liquor. This is going to be a long night.
“Two minutes, Vix!” Bobby shouts again.
“Coming!”
I check my ass one more time, then turn to head to the stage, but Bella grabs my hand and turns me back around.
“You got time for a line.”
She waggles her brows, gesturing to the small mirror covered with white residue on her vanity table. Bells is always getting into trouble, but I don’t mind. It’s why we get along so well. I grin at her.
“Mack’s gonna be pissed if she finds that shit in here.”
I saunter to her vanity and use the acrylic nail on my pinkie to scoop a bit of the powder.
“Hurry up, then, and I’ll hide it,” Bells says, and I roll my eyes as I bring my nail to my nose and inhale. “Ooof.”
It burns like I knew it would, the smell reminding me of the house where I grew up, but it only lasts for a few seconds. I shake my head and rub at my nose, then bend down to check my face in Bella’s vanity mirror.
“Okay, now put it away before you get us both fired.”
Bella laughs at me, but she does what I asked, and not a breath later, the dressing room door flies open, and Bobby pops his head back inside. He hits me with a no-nonsense glare.
“Would you move your ass, girl?”
I roll my eyes and prance past him, making sure to jab his big body with my shoulder. He chuckles and I stick out my tongue. I couldn’t hurt Bobby even if I wanted to. He’s three hundred pounds of solid muscle. You’d never know from looking at him that he’s a big marshmallow teddy bear.
“Thanks, Bob-O,” I say sweetly, shooting to my tiptoes quickly so I can pat his shiny bald head before darting away from him and up the stage stairs.
I can hear the chatter in the audience, but with the house lights low, everyone just looks like black blobs. I know from experience that I appear the same to them.
