Page 17 of Judge Me Not

I'm at a strip club. I agreed to work here. This isn't unreasonable.

How far can I fall?

It's not about you. It's about getting Abby her treatments.

"Okay, on the clothes, but what will I do when I am in here?"

"Whatever—"

"Don't tell me whatever you want. I need you to be a little more specific."

He rises and holds out his hand. When I don't take it right away, he says, "Take my hand, Jasmine. It isn't sex."

I release a big breath and obey. He pulls me up and leads me to the window. He stands behind me, circles his arms around my waist, and leans close to my ear. "You see all those women?"

I tell myself not to sink into him, but I do. "Yes."

"What are they doing?"

I glance around. "Dancing."

"And?"

"Talking."

"Keep going."

"Drinking."

His breath hits my neck. "Do you see them touching?"

Almost all the women are touching some man. "Yes."

"And are they having sex?"

"No."

"Okay, so is it clear what I'll be paying you for?"

Can I really do this?The women all look comfortable and secure in what they are doing. I'm going to have to do it in private with Mr. Lickable focused on me.

"I don't know how to do what they are doing. I haven't done this before."

He softly chuckles and traces his finger over the curve of my waist. "I think it's all learnable. Don't you? Plus, it's just us."

Would it be better out there with others watching or just us in here?

How am I even going to do what those women do? I don't know the first thing about dancing or stripping.

Tell him you can't do this.

The memory of Abby's almost-lifeless body a few months back when I thought we were losing her cuts through my soul.

I don't have any other options.

"Tell me what you want, Jasmine, to quit your jobs."

I want my daughter to live.