Page 23 of The Dance

“I’ll be with him until late tonight.”

“Who is he?” I asked again.

“My date.”

I stared into her chocolate eyes. “You’re not making any sense.”

“Because it’s none of your business.” She wiggled out of my grasp.

“Fine.” I took a step toward the door. “I’m going to text you my address. If you want a man that can get it up, come by after yourdate.”

I opened the door and left, walking back to the table where my family was. Brandon gave me a knowing smile, and the server took that moment to bring us our food.

8

Stacey

I leanedagainst the closed front door of my apartment after Walter dropped me off at home. Molly was still out on a date, and the apartment was quiet. I knew why I was hesitating instead of going to take a shower and head to bed. The text from Blake with his address was calling my name.

I hadn’t seen him in months. He hadn’t called. I hadn’t called. And I sure as shit didn’t go to The Wild Pony to see him again. We didn’t have that type of relationship or any sort of relationship, and he made that clear when he used me to dupe his parents into believing he was dating a college student with big dreams.

The joke was on them because no one except Molly knew I was on Sweethearts, getting paid to datewhilein school. I had a three-date rule before I slept with a client, and I really had to like them. I’d been on a few dates with men that—even though they had money—I just couldn’t sleep with. There were a lot of sugar daddies on Sweethearts, so I didn’t have to keep seeing the ones I didn’t vibe with.

I could pay my share of the rent with only two dates, but I went on more than two a month because I needed food, gas, and everyday necessities. I was even able to give my mother some money so she could keep her store open. She, of course, asked me where I got the money, and I’d fibbed and told her they were tips from working at The Wild Pony. I felt bad lying to her, but there was no way I could tell my mom I was an escort.

She would die.

So would my father.

Since it was the summer and I didn’t have classes, I chose to go on a few more dates than I had when I’d first started. I wanted to save my money so that when school was over, I would have enough cash until I found a job. It would also allow me plenty of money to fly to auditions if I needed to because I still had the dream of being a backup dancer for a pop artist, and I didn’t care for who. I just wanted to be on the road, seeing the world one stop at a time and doing what I loved nightly. I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it forever, but I was still young and hopeful. With the degree I was getting at the end of the upcoming school year, I could dance for at least ten years before I needed to be a dance instructor or something and settle down.

So, instead of talking myself out of it, I went to the address Blake had texted me.

* * *

I didn’t bother callingor texting him. If he wasn’t home, then it wasn’t meant to be.

After running my hands through my long brown hair, I knocked on the door. It didn’t take long before it opened. “Hi.” I smiled.

Blake grinned the smile that made my belly do flips. “Hi.”

“My favorite bartender texted me this address. Is he here?”

He chuckled. “I can make you a drink to see if I’m him.”

“Should I stand out here in the walkway or …?”

He stepped back. “Please come in.”

I didn’t know what I expected Blake’s apartment to look like, but having a well-furnished place with leather couches and a big screen TV wasn’t it, especially since he said he was saving money to open his own bar or nightclub. And on a bartender’s salary. Did they make a lot of money?

“I love your apartment. You’ve done a great job decorating it.”

“You mean my mother.” He locked the door.

I wrinkled my nose. “Your mom decorated it?”

Blake lifted a shoulder. “She offered, and I wasn’t going to turn her down.”