As Kyler watched Cody dance, he did his best to ignore any jealous twinges. Men were tipping Cody generously, but he had avoided any private dances. Was it because of Kyler or just dumb luck? Seeing tens and twenties in Cody’s costume made Kyler take a deep breath. He did not believe Cody wanted to do this forever. Was it just Kyler hoping Cody would change? Was he wasting his time? What were they doing? Could he handle jealousy if Cody didn’t want to quit? He wasn’t sure about that.
“He’s cute,” Joey said.
“Stop it. It’s just…I don’t know what it is.” Kyler did not look his friend in the eye.
“Sex. I’m guessing amazing sex. Don’t be so uptight. You needed it. He’s good for you. Stripper or paramedic.” Joey shrugged.
Brian leaned over. “He can take my temperature any way he wants.”
Joey smacked is boyfriend’s arm. “Bad boy.”
“His night to get drunk?” Kyler asked.
“He had an awful week so I’m driving tonight. We’ll see about tomorrow night.” Joey grinned at his whiskey-filled boyfriend.
“You don’t have to come back tomorrow,” Kyler said.
Brian’s jaw dropped. “We’re coming back tomorrow. It’s for charity.”
“Yep, we’ll be here.” Joey kissed his guy.
Kyler appreciated the support, and a lot of his gay friends who weren’t really strip club types showed up with an attitude of fun. It was a good excuse to be naughty. Kyler felt oddly popular since Avery and Ken had both been by to check on things.
“Your stripper boy is a hunk. I don’t blame you,” Joey said.
Just then, a fan slid a piece of paper in Cody’s costume that wasn’t money. It probably happened every day. Guys slipping Cody their number had to be common, but Kyler didn’t like seeing it.
“You’re into him,” Joey chuckled.
“He is hot,” Brian agreed.
With mixed feelings, Kyler stared at his sexy guy stripping for other men. “He is hot. I’m going to hit the bar.”
Joey nodded, and Kyler turned his back on the stage. The bar was quiet with waiters keeping the crowd quenched and focused on the hot performance.
“Doing okay?” Avery asked.
“Sure. Looks like we’re doing great business for the charity.” Kyler smiled.
Avery nodded. “Absolutely but you’re not really enjoying it. I don’t think this is your scene.”
Kyler let his guard down and shook his head. “Never was. My friends dragged me here last time, and I found the charity angle. Cody is cool, but these guys are acting. I prefer real men to the fakeness. The bodies are great, but I guess I’m not the target audience.”
“Good for Cody. All the guys up there are real people when they get off the stage. Not everyone sees that.” Avery nodded and poured Kyler a diet soda. “On the house.”
It dawned on Kyler that Avery had once been up there. It was hard to imagine, not that Avery wasn’t still in great shape, but because he seemed so calm and wise. “Thanks. I didn’t mean to insult the dancers. Its entertainment, but I’d rather hang out and talk to people.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” Avery smiled. “Cody isn’t a long-term stripper anyway. I can tell. Ken didn’t even want to hire him when he showed up. The guy was hot and could move, but Ken knew Cody would move on sooner rather than later.”
That gave Kyler a bit of hope. “He’s a hard worker and has other skills. It’s as if he puts on a bit of an act with the stripper thing. I like the real Cody better.”
“Some guys are more suited for the business, and some learn to act. You can see through to the real him, and that’s good. Just relax and enjoy dating. Rushing anything is bad in a relationship.” Avery added a lime wedge to Kyler’s glass.
Dating? Relationship? Kyler nodded. “Thanks. I had better get back. Brian doesn’t need any more drinks.”
“He’s cut off,” Avery agreed.
“They’ll be back tomorrow, and Joey is worse,” Kyler warned.
Avery chuckled. “I can handle any drunk.”
* * * *
The next night drew an even bigger crowd. Cody felt great about donating his tips and wanted to do more. His family wasn’t much for giving to charities, but middle class people needed to be savers, right? He could have been doing something like Kyler.
As Cody dressed and packed up his stuff, he was lost in thought. Most of the guys were gone when he turned. Ken was making his rounds.
“Good event,” Ken said.
“You were really generous. And the new routine is great. Thanks.” Cody usually avoided Ken because there was generally criticism coming from him.
“It doesn’t hurt to be nice sometimes.” Ken frowned. “Your boyfriend is hanging around out front.”
“I’m not sure he’s really my boyfriend.” Cody shrugged.
Ken smirked. “The way he was watching you, I think he is. At least, I think he’s a bit jealous. You know how it goes when you date men who met you here.”
“I know.” Cody had seen it happen. Customers seemed like a great catch until they got attached and turned into possessive lunatics. They couldn’t stay away, and his personal life had taken a hit while he worked there because of that.
“But you’re not long-term anyway.” Ken shrugged.
“I don’t know. I like Kyler.” Cody’s feelings were stronger than like, but it was too fast. Plus crazy. Cody didn’t talk to Ken about stuff like this anyway.
“I didn’t mean Kyler isn’t a long-term type. I meant you’re not a long-term stripper. Some of us can’t get enough of the crowds. You like it, but it’s not your dream. You need the money. It’s okay.” Ken nodded.
Cody slung his duffle bag over his shoulder and looked Ken in the eye. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Not at all. You are very popular, but you don’t want to stay too long if it’s not working for you. I have seen some men start to hate the grind. When you start dreading coming here, you’re not as good, and you won’t be as popular. That is the point when you have to decide. Either you really need this job and deal with it or you should move on. Some men stay too long and don’t know how to get another job. You don’t want to be that guy.” Ken walked away through the dressing room.
Cody stood there for a moment, trying to decide if Ken was saying he couldn’t cut the life or warning him off to a better one. Did Ken regret his choice? Cody got the feeling Ken didn’t want to admit he was aging.
Cody felt a little sorry for the guy. Even if he quit the club, Cody had friends, coworkers through his day job, and family. He might not be insanely close with his family, but it was nice to have somewhere to go for holidays. Maybe Ken didn’t have that? Cody liked Big D’s, but it would never be his life.
Lost in thought, Cody headed out to the front. Kyler was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt from one of those gay bars he went to with his friends. He looked casual and seemed to light up when he spotted Cody.
“Another great day for charity?” Cody asked.
“You certainly did your part. You looked great.” Kyler hugged Cody. “I did a bank run already so I’m all yours. Brian got Joey home just fine. They had a blast. All my friends did.”
“I’m glad. And the shelter can keep the doors open.” Cody turned to Avery. “Ken is still back there. I’m headed out. Night.”
“Thanks. See you tomorrow,” Avery said.
“Tomorrow. So soon?” Kyler asked.
Cody shrugged. “Gotta do something to pay the bills. Coming?”
Kyler followed Cody home this time. He stayed in a small apartment without frills, but Kyler might as well see it.
“Nice place,” Kyler said.
“Right.” Cody laughed as he dropped the duffle bag on the table. “It saves money, and I’m not here much. Sleep, shower, and eat. I’ve got cereal, pop tarts, and basically junk.”
“A typical healthcare professional.” Kyler picked up some crumpled papers that had fallen out of the duffle’s side po
cket. “What are these?”
Cody opened a bag of chips and offered Kyler some. “Oh, those. Toss them. The rule is we don’t throw away customer numbers at the club. Don’t want anyone to find it and be offended or leave private info around. There is a shredder in Bev’s office we use. I was just too tired.”
“I can go back to my place. Let you rest.” Kyler shuffled through the papers as if he was counting them.
“Don’t look at these.” Cody took the scraps of paper and business cards, then tore them up. He threw in the trash. “You can’t offend the fans and not take the numbers. I don’t date customers.”
“I’m here. You’re screwing me,” Kyler said.
Cody closed his eyes, silently counted to ten, and rolled his shoulders to relieve the knots forming. “You’re not really a real customer. You did not want to go there. You weren’t comfortable. I thought you’d get it.”
“I do understand. You do this for money, and it’s a job. It’s a weird job. I’m also exhausted. It’s been a crazy weekend. Sorry, running the money back and forth and dealing with the shelter and Harry. I just wanted to help, and it’s sort of become a full-time job now.” Kyler rubbed his shoulders.
“Maybe you need to dial back? It’s great that you’re helping the kids, but you can’t do it all.” Cody understood stress from overwork, but he knew there was a bit of tension between them as well. Kyler couldn’t shift it all to stress. Most of the time, they were so comfortable together.
Kyler shook his head. “I know I can back off. Just trying to juggle all this stuff on top of whatever it is we’re doing. I should go home.”
When Kyler started for the door, Cody hugged him from behind. “Don’t. You’re tired, and we can sleep here. Falling asleep behind the wheel happens, and you don’t want to hurt anyone. Just sleep. You can even have the couch if you don’t want to cuddle.”
Kyler leaned back on Cody. “Cuddle?” Kyler grinned.
“I sleep better with you around,” Cody admitted.
Yawning, Kyler nodded. “Me too.”
Chapter Six
After a night of just sleeping, Kyler felt better. He needed a day off and calling in sick wouldn’t be too far from the truth. He needed time without screaming crowds, strippers, sad teens, or work.
He made himself at home in Cody’s tiny kitchen. Toast was about all he could manage to find for breakfast in the kitchen, but it worked. That first taste of coffee helped Kyler feel human again. Cuddling that big hunk of man overnight had brought back the closeness. It wasn’t Cody’s fault if customers hit on him.
Cody shuffled into the kitchen in nothing but a pair of boxer shorts. “You’re up early.”
“I’m a morning person. I slept well though. You?” Kyler poured Cody some coffee. It felt nice to be normal for a bit.
“Yeah. Great.” Cody downed his coffee and squinted at the clock. “Hell, I’ve got to hop in the shower and get ready. Day job calls.”
“Today? Then more at the club tonight?” Kyler wondered how Cody kept it up.
Cody shrugged. “I’m trying to save up enough to buy a place, not just rent on top of paying off the debts. Paramedics don’t get paid that great. You don’t have to work?”
“I was thinking of calling in sick. Just get a break from volunteering and working.” Kyler had wanted to spend time alone with Cody, but that was not an option anymore.
Setting his cup in the sink, Cody nodded. “You should. You’re no help to the teens if you’re worn out.”
“But you can work two jobs, one of which is basically selling your body, and just live on coffee and junk?” Kyler shot back.
Cody turned to face him. “What?”
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just feel like everything has revolved around that strip club, and that’s not me. I had wanted to ask you out on a real date, and I just really screwed it up. You’re always working. It’s hard to think of a future with you when you’re dancing for other men,” Kyler said.
Kyler hated games and acts. He was lousy at being anything but what he was, and most men were not interested. He had gone on one date with a girl to a junior high dance and could not even kiss her good night. No doubt to anyone at that point he was gay. He had tried selling cars for a bit, when times were good in Vegas and they needed help. He couldn’t play that game of competition and taking people’s money for the best percentage he could…it wasn’t him. As much as he respected Cody, Avery and others, he just couldn’t feel at home in a strip club.
“You knew what I did when we met. That’s how we met. You’re stressed. I get it. You should stop volunteering a bit and relax. Maybe a vacation?” Cody suggested.
“Do you really want to be a stripper?” Kyler asked.
Cody started to walk to his bedroom but paused. “I’ve been doing this a long time. The money is good. I did the charity thing. I donated all my tips. I did it for you. Now I need the money more, so I have to work. There aren’t many choices, and I don’t want to get into debt. Look how deep a non-profit charity got because of an economy shift so having options for income is good. Do you think I want to work two jobs and have almost no social life?”
“Maybe it’s a way to keep people away? You didn’t even respond to my talk about a real date. A couple slices of pizza one night doesn’t count.” Kyler finished his coffee and put the mug in the sink. “Which I guess is an answer.”
“Wait, you have a problem with my job. I don’t want a jealous boyfriend who can’t handle it. I get hit on as a paramedic, too. If you are that insecure, I can’t spend all my time stroking your ego. I don’t rush into things,” Cody said.
Glad he had dressed fully, Kyler fished his keys from his pocket and headed for the door. “Don’t worry about it. I appreciate the charity help and have a good day.”
“I said wait. I don’t get the real problem. I’m working. I’m not seeing another guy.” Cody followed Kyler out onto the porch.
Kyler understood that, but life wasn’t just about making money. He wanted love, not just great sex. Gay bars had never worked out. Online dating made him have nightmares of serial killers. Foolishly, Kyler had started to hope that this one might be the right guy for him.
Slamming the car door shut once he was safely inside, Kyler pushed away the emotions. He was stupid for believing Cody didn’t want to strip forever. He probably liked it. A major ego stroke every night. He might hook up with customers for all Kyler knew.
As he drove home, ignoring his vibrating phone, Kyler tried to convince himself that Cody wasn’t into him at all. Deep down he didn’t believe Cody was a slut, but if that were the case, he told himself, Cody could have been a bartender instead of a stripper.
Screwing the sick day, Kyler sped home to get showered and changed in time. He needed to be busy today, or he’d go insane. Great sex and a hot guy were fine. Cody hadn’t ever said yes to a real date.
Maybe he needed to step back from the dating hamster wheel and focus on his job and himself. He had friends and family. He had been meaning to rebuild an old muscle car. It sounded like the perfect summer project to keep him distracted.
* * * *
That night, Cody was pulled from the schedule to cover the bar. Part of him didn’t mind at all, but a little bit of him wanted to be strutting his stuff, just in case Kyler walked in.
“Damn bartenders. That’s the second one to quit in a month.” Avery muttered to himself.
“I don’t mind helping, but if you’re pulling me because of Kyler, you don’t have to.” Cody set an order of drinks on a tray for a waiter.
Avery frowned. “Kyler? You’re the best sub bartender we have. Most of those guys don’t know how to mix drinks. You learn fast, and you don’t let the drunks walk out. You are good at the cab switch. What’s the problem?”
“No problem.” Cody shrugged.
Avery snapped a bar towel at Cody’s back. “You brought it up. What’s wrong? He was here watching you both nights. Jealous?”
Cody kn
ew he was in a safe place and let his guard down. “What the fuck does he have to be jealous about? He knew what I did. He wanted the charity thing, and I bent over backward to make it happen. I worked it. I gave my tips. I work two jobs. He works and volunteers his life away. Neither of us have a lot of free time.”
“So more sex, less dating. That’s what I thought.” Avery nodded.
“We talk a lot, though. I mean in the pod, he didn’t want a dance. And I went over there to see the shelter during some car wash. I got the tour, too. I can’t afford to shell out a ton of money, but I tried.” Cody wanted to throw something, but it was all very breakable.
“So no actual dates?” Avery asked.
Cody sighed. “I don’t exactly have a suit-and-tie wardrobe or the money for something fancy. We did pizza one night, but I guess that didn’t count for him.”
Avery pointed Cody to garnish bins. “Go chop up some more lime wedges. Did he ask you for a real date? He who asks, pays.”
Glad for the odd release of slicing fruit, Cody refilled the limes and lemons. “He asked today, but it was so backhanded. Like he expected me to call in sick to spend the day with him. Or to not work here because I’d been at it all weekend.”
“You do need time off.” Avery methodically filled another round of drink orders and sent a waiter back to the tables.
“I want more than a crappy apartment and a junkie car. It takes time.” Cody had fallen into the trap of college and partying a bit. He had left the loans as a problem for later until his parents couldn’t help him with dorm fees or books anymore. Reality hit him then, and he needed fast money to stop the problem from growing. He also had to drop out of school.
Avery took the knife and cutting board from Cody and slid them into the bin to be washed later. “You need to enjoy life, too. I get the work ethic, and it’s great. But what’s the point if you don’t have any fun? Or miss out on a good guy?”
“You’re single and happy.” Cody could see his future as a paramedic with bartender shifts on the side. Avery had never dated anyone in the years Cody had worked there. Maybe he kept it secret, or maybe it was Ken, but Cody wasn’t going to bring that up.
Hot for Charity Page 5
