Page 13 of Stolen Christmas
“I miss them too,” he whispers. “But they would be proud of you, Angel. You are a great big sister.”
I pull back and look at the growing young man in front of me, hoping he understands how much I truly love him. “Thank you, Noah. I’m just trying to do my best for you.”
“You are. You are doing the best. I have everything I need.”
“Good. Now I just need you to keep up the good work. Tomorrow is the last day of school, so what do you plan to do to keep busy over the break?”
“I don’t know. Hang with my friends?”
“As long as you stay out of trouble.”
“Of course.” I get a sick, twisted pain in my stomach that something is up.
“Where are you going?”
“Out with Tony.”
“Tony?”
“Officer Fields.”
He raises his eyebrows. “You’re going out with the cop again?”
“Yes, but it’s not serious.”
“Does he know that? You better be careful.”
“I will.” I quickly get ready and then wait for Tony, who doesn’t take long. He’s faster than I expected, coming only an hour after I messaged him. I step outside, and he’s in his squad car.
“Hop in back.” I think it’s a little strange, but I do it anyway. We make the driver, which takes longer than I expected. Working at this place isn’t going to be fun already. How the hell am I going to get home after a shift?
“This place is pretty far.”
“You can take an Uber when I can’t drive you home,” he answers my concerns. “You look pretty hot tonight.”
“Thanks. I thought that was the idea.”
“Yes, but they might want to hire you for a dancing position with the way you look.” He tilts his head toward the back seat and checks out my legs.
“Eyes on the wheel, Officer.”
“Sorry, but damn, you are fine as hell, Ms. Scott.”
“Thank you. I guess I’ll make good tips.” I smile, and then we come to a stop at the club, and my smile fades. The nerves rush in, and I’m not ready for this.
Witnessing the sudden shift in me, Tony grabs my shoulder and squeezes. “Don’t worry. You got this.”
Twenty minutes later, I’ve been hired and asked to start that night. By the end of the week, I have made a pretty penny, but I’m tired. “Girl, you did good as a server, but you are too hotfor that,” Cherry says, walking up to me as she stuffs her money into her bra. “You could be making a lot more.”
“I’m not sure.”
“I’m telling you, girl. You’ve got it all, and the men were eyeing you more than some of the girls on stage, and they were half naked.”
“Do you think?”
“Yes, I do. If I were you, I’d at least give it a decent shot.”
“Do you think the boss would allow it?”
