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Prick!

Giggles resound from Britta’s section. I can’t bear to look. I’m mortified, defeated, and want to crawl under that nook and stay there for the rest of the night.

“Nina, Arora, and Misty, everybody!”the announcer says.“Show some green appreciation for our hot starlets!”

Come to think about it, no one made it rain on stage. There’re only a few stray dollars here and there. Then again, itisSunday. But it doesn’t make me feel any less cheap.

There’s a lump in my throat the size of Alaska as I exit the stage.

“You did good, hunnie.” Nina pats my butt again.

“Thanks. I have a lot to learn,” I admit, showing vulnerability against my strategy. I’m broken considering Trino left in the middle of my dance.Broken.

To think I was starting to trust him.

Yeah, so much for my dark knight.

“Where’s the bathroom?” I ask Nina, pulling my see-through shawl over my arms in a vain attempt to feel clothed.

“Straight over there where you came in, on the right.” She points.

I’m careful to go the opposite way around the bar to avoid the Plastics, so I can cry in relative peace. All the symptoms are rushing into my face. Loose dripping in my nose, dry throat, watery eyes.

Trino, you prick!

As soon as I swing the door open to a dirty black-tile bathroom, I realize I’m at rock bottom. Thankfully there’s no one around me. Looking in the mirror, there’s an instant where I think I’m hot, but it’s overwhelmed by failure. In justtwo days, I’ve been thrown into a tornado and spat out into the underworld.

At least I had an enforcer to guide me through it. Now I’m alone.

Tears roll down my face, threatening my makeup.

He’s going to be with a different girl every night. I’m just for show, for his dad.Dammit.

The hell with whatever danger I’m in. I’m taking an Uber to his house. I’ll sleep on the grass in the backyard.Anythingis better than this.

I carefully wipe my eyes and sniff back my tears. “Get a hold of yourself, Capri. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Just as I’m fixing myself to leave, the door swings open to Britta and Ruby waltzing in.

“Nice moves, Misty.” Britta rubs my arm once. “You should do a round at the bar to see if any guys want a round two in private.”

“Wasn’t expecting that ass to shake like that.” Ruby winks. “You held Daddy’s attention.”

“’Til you didn’t.” Britta opens her mouth while reapplying lip gloss. “Don’t let it sting though. It’s always been that way.”

I don’t know what to feel right now, or which persona to use, so I’m just going to say something awkward and get the fuck outta’ Dodge.

“Thanks, ladies. Break a leg up there.” I pull the door open before they can continue, and head straight for the exit.

Pushing open the double doors abruptly has both bouncers in a tiff.

“Whoa, Misty, hold on there.” The big almond-colored man grabs my arm.

“Excuse me?” I eye his hand, aghast, and he immediately loosens his grip.

“Does the boss know you’re leaving mid-shift?” He tilts his head.

“He’s not my warden.” I whip my arm free and stomp away. Mumbling is at my back, but I don’t care. I’mout.