by Abbi Hemp
“Are you a fag or something?” she hissed.
I shook my head and kept walking. She yelled, calling me a string of names. In the living room, I didn’t see Harris or the other women.
Fuck it, I thought, heading outside.
In my car, I started up the engine and sat, going over what had just happened. A woman throwing herself at me, wasn’t cheating, right?
My phone rang, startling me. I dug it out of my pocket and saw Heidi’s smiling face.
“Hey,” I said, dragging out the word.
“We made it back to my house. Where did you go?”
“Just out. I’m on my way back.”
“Hurry,” she said. “I miss you.”
“Give me a few minutes.”
I ended the call and tossed the phone to the empty passenger seat. Even if I hadn’t slept with the football groupie, telling Heidi what happened would not be a good idea.
On the drive back to her house, I thought about the redhead and all the other women I’d fucked over the years. Was I ready to give all that up? For one woman? Hell yeah.
Heidi was worth it.
TWENTY-THREE
Heidi
After Tony ended the call, I turned to Jamie.
“That was odd.”.
“What?”
“Your brother.”
She laughed.
“He’s definitely odd.”
“No, I mean he sounded odd.” I frowned. “Hey, you don’t have to answer this, and I probably shouldn’t be asking, but does Tony have a history of cheating?”
“Tony? Never.”
“I didn’t think so, but…”
My voice trailed off.
“He’s never talked about cheating on any of his girlfriends before.”
“Thanks. Like I said, I don’t think so, but I do? Ugh.”
I sighed.
“He’s on his way back. Do you mind giving us time to ourselves?”
“Sure. Thanks for all the gifts today.”
“Don’t worry about it. I had fun. Thanks for coming with me.”
“Anytime.”
She stood, grabbing multiple store bags in each hand. I opened the door for her, watching as she stuffed them in her car. The sun sunk toward the horizon.
I waved as she backed out of the driveway.
Back inside, I waited for Tony to arrive. Why did he have to be so damn controlling? As a grown woman who had taken care of myself for a good portion of my life, I didn’t need his hands-on guidance.
Would we ever be able to get along? The questions continued as I transported bags upstairs to my bedroom. I had gone overboard with clothes, but they were all on sale. It wasn’t a lot of money.
The more I thought about Tony putting me down for spending so much, the more upset I became, especially with his acting so weird on the phone when he had called me earlier. What the hell.
As I finished transferring the clothes to my new walk-in closet that was bigger than my entire previous apartment, I collapsed on my comfy mattress and stared up at the ceiling, waiting for Tony.
Was he the man for me?
“Heidi Cassano,” I said out loud to test his name with mine.
I liked the sound of it, but that was silly. He was right in that I was a grown woman. Ever since my parents died, I’d been a grown-up in mind if not body.
My thoughts turned to my money, what I should do to invest. A business of some sort would be good. Why not a strip club? I wondered, imagining the revenue.
Tony appeared in the doorway to my room, startling me. I sat up.
“You didn’t answer, so I came in.” He stepped across the room. “Are you okay?”
“I’m better now,” I said with a grin. “Just been thinking about investing my money. Do you think a strip club would be a good idea?”
He stopped halfway to me.
“A strip club? Really?”
I stood.
“Yeah. Why? You don’t like the idea?”
“I thought you were getting away from that life.”
“When did I say that?”
“I don’t like the idea.”
He stepped forward and put an arm around my waist.
I pulled away, squinting and staring at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re trying to control me again.”
A frown formed on his chiseled face.
“Come on, Heidi.”
“Speaking of coming on. Did you sleep with someone tonight?”
“What?”
His brow furrowed.
Genuine surprise?
“You heard me. Are you cheating on me?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
He moved forward, capturing me with an arm around my waist.
I let him pull me close.
“Why would you say that?”
“You’re acting weird.”
“No, you’re the one acting weird. And I think it has to do with all that money.”
“Whatever, Tony.”
“Nice job acting like a teenager.”
I stomped my foot.
“Get out of my house.”
“I’m leaving,” he said.
As he walked toward the door, I fumed. Even if he hadn’t cheated on me, did I want to be with a man who tried to control me too much?
Maybe I was acting like a teenager because I’d never had a chance to be one before. He didn’t know me. Not the real me. I took a deep breath.
Why did life have to be so damn hard? Money had changed everything in my life, making it worse not better. Sadness came over me as I stood in my fancy bedroom.
All the money in the world wouldn’t make me happy, not in the end. Why did Tony have to be so damn controlling? Most men loved to do what I wanted.
He drove me crazy, but I loved him. I was not able to get him out of my mind the entire night no matter how hard I tried. And believe me, I tried my hardest.
TWENTY-FOUR
Heidi
The next day, I didn’t hear from Tony all morning which was fine with me. He couldn’t stop me from starting my own strip club if I wanted to open one.
Instead of worrying about Tony, I drove down to Mansfield to talk with Ugly Stan. The parking lot was empty when I pulled up – a good sign.
When I walked in, Terrance, one of the bouncers, smiled and nodded. I smiled back, feeling weird being in the club during the day, especially after being gone for weeks.
I walked straight back to Ugly Stan’s office, determined to get him to help me open my own club closer to Cleveland. He probably wouldn’t help, but I’d at least let him know I was getting into the business.
And even if I never did go through with my plans, I loved the idea of him worrying about me opening my own place and stealing his customers. Honestly, that’s what I wanted the most, his fearing me.
The door to his office swung open as I approached. A woman with sagging breasts walked out with tears in her eyes. She kept her head down as she rushed past, heading toward the bar.
“Close the fucking door,” Ugly Stan snarled.
I walked into his office feeling confident, but I still left the door open.
“What the hell are you doing here? Didn’t I say you couldn’t get your job back unless…”
“Yeah,” I interrupted. “That’s not going to happen. What did you do to that poor woman?”
He grinned, showing his two missing teeth.
“Never mind. I don’t even want to know.”
“Damn straight you don’t,” he said.
“Anyway. I’m here to tell you I’m opening my own club.”
“Yeah? So?”
“I wanted to see if you want to go in business with me. You’ve probably not heard, but I won the lottery.”
“Yeah, I heard.” He kept smiling, pleased with himself. “But I don’t need your damn money.”
“Oh? Are you really satisfied with what you’re making here? With my help, you could make so much more.�
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He laughed, leaning back and putting his pudgy hands behind his bald head.
“Don’t you worry about the size of my money-wad, sweetheart.”
Ew. I’m not going to look at money the same way ever again.
“Fine. Just know your customers are going to be coming to my place.”
“Yeah? You think so?” He shook his head. “I don’t care. My latest plan is working out.”
“Latest plan?”
“Don’t you worry about it, sweetheart. You go open your own club. I’ll be here making more money. Guaranteed.”
“Until you get shut down for prostitution.”
He sat up and put his hands on the desk in front of him.
“That doesn’t go on here. You better watch your mouth.”
“Whatever, Ugly Stan.” I stared into his eyes as I said the name he hated. “I’m going to see Jessica. Is she working today?”
“Get the fuck out of my club,” he said. “Before I have you thrown out.”
“Terrance isn’t going to throw me out.”
“He’ll do what I tell him, dammit.”
Ugly Stan stood, his belly resting on the edge of the desk, and pointed.
“Get the hell out!”
“Is she working or not?”
“No,” he growled.
I turned and left his office without saying another word. On the way out to my car, I called Jessica.
“Hey, girl. Where you at?”
“The club. You home?”
“Yeah. Why are you at the club?”
“Ugh. It’s a long story. You mind if I stop by?”
“Not at all.”
“See you in a bit.”
As I drove to her house, I thought about my future. Tony not wanting me to open a strip club made me want to do it even more. Ugly Stan’s secret plan also concerned me.
I needed Jessica to tell me what was going on.
* * *
Jessica sat down on the other end of the couch, twisting to look at me with her arm on the armrest.
“You look upset,” she said.
Her concern was evident in her facial features.
“Yeah, I don’t know. Ugly Stan said he has something big going on. I was thinking of starting my own club.”
“And you told him about it? Why would you do that?”
“I wanted to throw it in his face, I guess. Tony is upset by the idea.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
I glanced up and looked over at her.
“Why do you say that?”
“He’s a good guy from what I could tell. What man wants their woman dancing in a club.”
“I wouldn’t be dancing.”
“Yeah, but you’d be there a lot of the time, and you know how the atmosphere can get toxic.”
“My club wouldn’t be that way,” I insisted.
“You can say that all you want, dear, but women dancing and grinding naked attract a certain type of men. They’re going to be the ones setting the tone of your club.”
I sighed, hating that she was right.
“But I don’t want to not do it because Tony doesn’t want me to do it, you know?”
Jessica snorted and shook her head.
“You’re something else. I’d kill to have a man like Tony in my life.”
“I don’t want to be a trophy wife or anything,”
“From what you’ve told me, that’s not the case.”
“Thanks, Jessica. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too. The club isn’t the same without you.”
“What’s Ugly Stan up to anyway?” I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.
She frowned and turned her head away from me.
“What is it?”
“He told me I shouldn’t tell anyone about it.”
“Hey, it’s me.” I scooted over on the couch and put my hand on her shoulder. “You know I’m not going to tell that bastard anything. Are you okay?”
“Not really.” She continued staring at the floor. “He cut me out of the new plan, and I’m not making much money anymore with my body the way it is…”
“Hey,” I interrupted. “You’re beautiful.”
She glanced up at me.
“You know what I mean. I’m not good looking enough to make money simply dancing, and he won’t let me in on the new thing.”
“What new thing?”
“Ugly Stan is working a half-dozen escorts down at the stadium.”
I moved back in surprise.
“What?”
“Yeah. When the season starts, he’ll be making a lot more. There’s busses and vans downtown that pick up the escort and john after they meet in the stadium. He’s got a sky-box too, which will be used.”
“That’s crazy,” I said.
My first thought was Tony – talking to him and asking if he knew what was going on. Would the media tie me and Ugly Stan to him? It would ruin his career.
I stood, looking down at Jessica and feeling pity for her.
“You’re leaving?” she asked.
“I’ll come back.”
She frowned. I pulled my wallet out of my purse and grabbed a couple hundred-dollar bills.
“Here,” I said, handing them to her.
“What’s this?”
“Just a little help. It’s all I have for now.”
“I’m not taking your money.”
“You’re not taking it, okay? Do you know how many times you’ve saved my ass over the years? I’m in a spot now where I can afford to share the wealth, and that’s what I want to do.”
Our eyes locked on each other. I saw a single tear stream down her cheek.
“Thank you,” she said. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. I’ll help more if I can, okay?”
She nodded, wiping away the tear with the back of her hand.
I leaned down and hugged her briefly.
“Call me later,” I said, waving.
As I walked outside to my car, I thought about calling Tony. I loved the idea of him waiting for me at my house, but he had left. We were still separate people, not a complete couple.
Would that change? I forgot all about opening my own strip club as I drove to my house, hoping he came to visit without calling or me having to call him.
TWENTY-FIVE
Tony
I stood in the stands near our end zone, hands on the railing as I observed the new players working out on the field. Would any of them have what it takes to get us to the championships?
As I watched, doubting they would help the team, I heard a commotion higher up in the stands. A female screamed. I turned around and looked up. Some guy was shaking a woman.
What the hell? I thought as I dashed up the concrete steps toward them.
“Hey,” I shouted. “What’s going on?”
The man looked in my direction then took off running down one of the rows of seats to another set of stairs. I stopped at the woman, a hot blond with barely any clothes on.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. “The stadium is closed to the public.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know nothing. I’m leaving.”
She turned to follow in the direction the man had run.
“Hold on,” I said, grabbing her arm.
“Hey.” She struggled. “Let go of me.”
“It’s fine, Tony,” Harris called out as he walked toward us from the direction the man had run.
“What’s going on, Harris?”
The woman squeezed past him then continued running as my teammate approached.
“It’s fine, bro.”
“What do you mean it’s fine? And who was that guy and woman?”
He stopped in front of me.
“It’s fine, bro. Don’t worry about it.”
“You need to tell me what’s going on.”
“Or what?” he asked with a chuckle.
“Don’t fuck around, Har
ris. I’m captain of the team, and I want to know what’s going on.”
I stared into his eyes, not backing down. He took a deep breath.
“You remember that strip club we all went to together?”
I nodded.
“Well, I got talking to the owner, and it turns out he runs an escort service. He’s giving me a cut of the money to help him operate out of the stadium.”
“Are you serious? You’re going to risk your career for a few extra dollars?”
“We’re not talking about a few extra dollars, bro. And this is tax-free money. We’re not going to be able to play our whole lives.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean we go illegal.” I shook my head in an attempt to shame him. “This all needs to stop. I’ll give you until practice starts next week, and if it’s still going on, I’m going to the coach.”
“Are you going to snitch on me, bro?”
“I’m giving you a chance to do the right thing first.”
“When did you become such a pussy?”
I stepped forward, bumping my chest against his, causing him to take a step back. Feeling vulnerable on the steps, I moved back away from him.
“Say it again, Harris, and you’ll see how much of a pussy I am.”
“Damn, bro. Settle down.” He frowned. “I’ll get this where you can’t see it.”
“No, I want it shut down. Completely.”
“Why? So you and your woman can start your own service?”
“You better watch it,” I said, pointing a finger at him.
He backed away.
“You’ve got a week to get it shut down, Harris,” I called after him.
I watched as he walked down the row then disappeared into the interior of the stadium.
What the fuck was he thinking?
As I reached the lower level of the stands, I saw the field empty and walked toward the locker rooms. The coach didn’t need to know anything was going on unless it didn’t stop.
I had to protect the team. Winning a pro championship had been a dream of mine for years. It was time to make it a reality. And to do that, I needed the whole team behind me.
When I walked into the locker room, I saw the new players.
“Good job out there today,” I said.
“Thanks,” Ronnie Jackson said, half-undressed.
