by Erin Osborne
“Oh, okay,” I tell him, not sure of what to say.
I never know what to say to guys. Since I’ve never been on a date or gone out to meet guys, I don’t have the chance to talk to them. Flirting isn’t my strong suit and Santana has tried to teach me so many times to no avail.
“You sure you want a job here, Syd?” Bounce asks me as I go to get in Santana’s car.
“It doesn’t matter if I want to work here or not. I have to have a job and now I have one. I hope,” I answer him.
“Why do you say that?” he asks.
“I’m not into drugs and I don’t drink. There are just things about me that have seemed to hold me back my entire life,” I tell him.
Bounce looks at me as if he’s searching my soul. It’s unnerving to say the least and I’m not sure I want to be in close proximity to him for long periods of time. He sees too much and there’s too much I don’t want him to see. I mean, what biker is going to want a twenty-three-year-old virgin to work for them?
“I’m not gonna push right now, but I will be pushin’ later on,” he tells me. “Get home and I’ll see you around.”
Once I’m in the car, Bounce shuts the door and I turn the car on. He stands in front of me and I watch as he pulls a cigarette from his pocket and lights up before turning my attention to driving. It’s Been A While by Staind blares from the speakers as I open the windows to let the air from outside in. It’s hot out and I should use the air conditioner, but I don’t want to.
Before I leave the club, I look in the rearview mirror to see Bounce and Breaker outside talking. Now that I’m working at Legacies, I’m going to have to see Bounce on a regular basis. I’m not sure if it’s wise to do anything with him considering he’s essentially one of my bosses and if we stop messing around, because he doesn’t seem like the kind of man to commit to a woman, I don’t need it to be awkward when I try to go to work.
Plus, once he finds out I’m a virgin, I’m sure he’ll be running the other way as fast as he can.
Leaving the club parking lot, I head home. I’m sure Santana wants to get home and out of my area of town. Maybe one day it won’t be an issue, but who knows when that will be. I can hope and dream of getting into a better house, but the reality of that happening is not likely. Not unless I make damn good money working at Legacies. Until I know what that is, I can’t set anything else in motion. As long as I can keep providing for Karson, I’ll be good.
Pulling into the makeshift driveway of the house, I roll the windows up and turn the car off. I walk up to the house slowly to savor being alone for just a minute longer. That is until I feel someone’s eyes on me. My neighbors don’t want eyes on them, so it’s not like they pay attention to anyone else not in their house. Glancing around, I don’t see anyone or any cars out of the ordinary. It must be my imagination or something.
“I’m home,” I call out.
“We’re in Karson’s room,” Santana answers.
Walking to his room, I see them lying on the floor on top of a pile of blankets. A cartoon is on his TV as I walk in and sit down next to them.
“How did it go?” Santana asks me.
“I got the job,” I reply.
“I’m so happy for you,” she says. “Well, I’m happy you have a job. I would rather you be working somewhere other than Legacies though.”
“I know. But I have bills I need to pay and a few I need to catch up on. Plus, Karson is growing like a weed and I’m going to have to buy him new clothes again soon. There’s just so much I need to do and not enough time or money to do it,” I tell her.
“I get it. I just wish you’d let me help you out,” she says pouting at me.
I offer her a smile and pull the paperwork from the floor beside me. The first thing I see is the rules of the club. Glancing over them, there’s nothing out of the ordinary. Other than the fact I have to buy everything I’ll need to wear while dancing. Shit! I don’t have the extra money to pay for that kind of stuff. It’s not like I can go cheap and buy things for comfort rather than sexy bras and panties.
Handing the paper over to Santana, I pull out the other paper. It’s the schedule for practicing with Heaven. We have practice at nine tomorrow morning. I’m used to getting up early, but I’m not sure if Santana is going to be down with watching Karson first thing in the morning.
“Looks like we get to go shopping,” Santana blurts out. “You’re going to let me buy this shit for you. And you’ll pay me back when you can. That good?”
“Yeah. Thank you,” I tell her, handing her the schedule.
She looks it over and looks up at me. I can already see the wheels turning in her head. Santana has a plan and I’m not sure I’m going to like it one bit.
“Looks like I’m spending the week with you,” she tells me. “As long as you’re okay with that.”
“I’m good with it. Are you sure you want to stay here?” I ask her, knowing she hates being at my house because of my neighbors.
“I’m down to stay with you,” she answers. “So, did you see any hot guys there? Other than bikers?”
Of course, she’d be the one to ask me about hot guys. They’re always on her mind. I laugh out loud and just shake my head at her. After explaining to her the club was closed for auditions and I think it’s just too early in the day for customers to be there, we get up to start making dinner. Tonight, we’re having lasagna and garlic bread. I just don’t have anything for a salad this time. Karson will like that aspect because he hates eating salad.
“After dinner we’re going shopping and for me to get some clothes here, so I don’t have to go back home every day,” Santana announces.
“If you say so,” I tell her.
After dinner, Santana and I loaded Karson up in her car and headed for the mall. Karson is just excited to get out of the house. We make the half hour drive to the closest mall and I inwardly groan. Santana has wanted to do something for me for so long and I know she’s going to use this opportunity to do way more than I can accept from her. So, I’m going to have to try to figure out how to get out of this with the bare minimum until I can start getting my own things.
While I look out the window, because I don’t get out of my house or town, my thoughts drift to Bounce. He’s the man I’ve been looking at since the day I first saw him riding through town over a year ago. He captured my attention from the back of his bike when I really couldn’t see much of him. Other than his body. Now that I know what he looks like, there’s no way in hell I’m going to be able to get him out of my mind. His eyes call to me and pull me in. They’re so brown and remind me of melted chocolate. The interesting part is there’s a slight ring of gold surrounding the brown. I’ve never really seen that before and I want to stare into his eyes to see it as long as possible.
Bounce comes off as intimidating, strong, and someone you don’t want to run into alone in a dark alley. He’s got a scar in one of his eyebrows and I noticed his knuckles all scarred and bruised like he’s been in more than his fair share of fights. There’s a dangerous air about him and it terrifies me and excites me more than anything in my life ever has. Including when my own mother wanted to pimp me out to men old enough to be my fathers and grandfathers.
“We’re here,” Santana says excitedly.
She’s practically bouncing in her seat, with her seatbelt still on, in her excitement because I’m letting her do something for me. I can’t help but laugh at her; her excitement is infectious and it’s the first time in a long time I’ve been excited like this in my life. It’s not like I’ve had a lot to warrant this kind of reaction. I’m nervous about stripping. Who wouldn’t be? But I like the feeling of the unknown, the excitement I caught coursing through my veins when I danced for the audition. Especially when I imagined dancing for Bounce. Those same feelings are still coursing through me now as I get out of the car and head to the trunk to get Karson’s stroller out.
“You ready to get your shop on?” Santana asks as I get my brother out of
the car and she locks the doors with her key fob.
“I guess. Santana, only a few things. You’re not going to go insane when this is only going to be used for work,” I tell her.
She shrugs her shoulders and I know I’m going to have a fight on my hands with her. Not that either one of us will get mad at one another; we never do. What I do know is she’s going to burst through what I say and do as she wants. If she thinks I need a hundred damn G-strings then that’s what I’m going to have. Santana may seem meek and mild, but when she gets something in her head, she’s stubborn as hell and won’t back the hell down. Especially when it comes to me and things I need.
We head into the mall and I follow Santana around. She comes here on a regular basis and knows exactly where she’s going and where we’re going to need to stop. So, there’s no point in trying to lead the way when I have no clue what’s in this mall or where it is. It’s not that I’ve never been to a mall, or even this one, but it’s been so long and I don’t just come here to walk around so I’m clueless.
The first store she leads us to is a lingerie store and I can already feel the blush creeping up my face. I’ve never bought my bras and underwear from a place like this. I usually just go into the local dollar store or when I get the chance to go into the box store, I get them from there. This is definitely more Santana’s style than mine. But, this is what I’m going to need if I’ll be stripping for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, I can make decent money and will be able to get Karson out of the hell hole we live in currently.
“What are you thinking about so hard over there?” Santana asks me.
“I’m thinking this shit isn’t my style. At all. But, at the same time I’m going to need it if I want to make any type of money,” I answer her honestly.
Santana and I don’t lie to one another. We know each other so well we truly can’t lie. She will know in a millisecond if I’m lying and I’m the same way with her. So, there’s no point in trying it. I also know she’ll continuously pester me until I tell her the truth so it’s easier just to get it done and over with at the beginning.
“It may not be your style, but it’s about to become your style, babe. Trust me, I know just what to get you so the guys at the club will be slobbering all over themselves over you,” she says, her voice low as an employee walks over to us.
“Can I help you with anything?” the young woman asks.
“No thank you. I know exactly what we’re looking for,” Santana answers.
After nodding her head, the employee walks away from us and lets us shop in peace. Santana goes from one rack and table to another. She’s picking up sets of matching bras and panties in a rainbow of colors. Colors I’ve never imagined wearing. I’m usually a white kind of girl. Not Santana though.
So, I quietly follow her around the store and wait until she walks toward the cash register. I try to discreetly pull some off the counter once she dumps the load she’s been carrying in her arms, but she catches me. Santana glares at me, puts them back on the counter, and places her body between me and the offending merchandise she’s buying for me. Damn her!
“San . . .,” I begin, but she cuts me off.
“You’ll pay me back when you can. I’m not worried about it and you’re not going to worry about it either,” she says, keeping her attention firmly on the counter so I can’t pull anything again.
I sigh out and turn to look at some of the nighties on the rack closest to me. There’s a deep red and black one in front. It’s got spaghetti straps and lace covers the front. The red material is see through, it would barely come to my mid-thigh, and I want it. More than that, I wonder what Bounce would think of me in this. I quickly shove the thought from my mind and turn my attention away from the nighties on the rack.
Santana leads us to the next store and I see we’re in a salon. Well, a store that sells things you would find in a salon. I follow her down the aisles until we get to body glitter. What the hell do I need this for?
“Trust me,” Santana says, not needing me to say a word to her.
I shut my mouth and nod my head as she picks up several bottles. Before she can grab anything else, she turns and slides the handles of the bags down the handle of the stroller. I have to make sure it’s not going to pull Karson backwards because she places the three bags on one handle of the stroller.
Santana goes from one store to the next. I just follow her along and try not to grimace at the amount of money she’s spending on me. Hell, on us. She’s gotten Karson a few things on this shopping trip too. Toys, a new teddy bear, blanket, and she stopped to get him a cookie for when we get home. This was a very bad idea is my only thought.
By the time we walk out of the store, I have a new duffle bag, workout clothes, heels, bras and G-strings, a few other sets for me to wear when I’m not dancing, and a new pair of sneakers. Plus, she managed to get me clothes I could wear over the sets while I’m stripping. I’m not sure how the hell she knows so much about this shit and I’m kind of scared to ask her.
“Santana, that’s enough. It’s way more than enough,” I plead with her.
“Fine,” she huffs out. “You really know how to take all the fun out of things.”
“You spent way too much money,” I tell her. “It’s going to take me forever to pay you back for all this stuff.”
“And you’re going to take your sweet ass time doing it too. I’m in no hurry for the money and you want to get the hell out of your place. So, don’t worry about it,” she tells me, her face more serious than I’ve ever seen before.
“Fine.”
We walk out to the car and place all the bags along with Karson’s stroller in the trunk before we head to the house. Karson is almost asleep when I strap him in his booster seat. He won’t be eating his cookie tonight because he’ll be in bed. I’ll be washing my new things and getting my bags ready for tomorrow.
Santana turns on the radio and I’m thankful she’s not trying to pry into my thoughts. She knows when I need to be left alone sometimes and right now is one of those times. I’m in over my head and I don’t know what I’m doing or how I’m going to handle things. All I know is I have to do the best job for Karson. He’s the only person, besides Santana, I love and would die protecting.
Chapter Six
Sydney a.k.a Delight
LAST NIGHT I tossed and turned once I finally got into bed. It was after one this morning by the time I got everything washed and packed up for today. Thoughts of Bounce, stripping, and what I’m supposed to expect to happen now invade my mind. The worry of someone taking Karson also fills my head space. Needless to say, I didn’t get much sleep at all. Now, my alarm is going off and I slap my hand at it without even opening my eyes up before it wakes anyone else in the house.
Kicking the blankets off my body, I get out of bed and sigh. I walk out in the kitchen and start the coffee so I can jump in the shower while it’s brewing. Nerves fill me as I walk in the bathroom with my sports bra, workout shorts, and underclothes. I’ll put on sweats and a long tee-shirt over them once I’ve had my cup of coffee.
Going in the bathroom, the first thing I do is turn the shower on. It takes some time every now and then to heat up. While I’m waiting I take care of business and then brush my teeth. As I finish, the steam is just starting to rise in the air of the bathroom. I watch it curl up from the shower and reach for the ceiling. Part of me longs to disappear into the misty oblivion with it.
Finally, I step in the shower and let the hot water wash over my body for a few minutes. I probably should be taking a cold shower to wake my ass up, but I can’t. Getting out of my head, I grab my shampoo and begin the tedious task of getting ready to go to the practice session with Heaven. Hopefully no one else will be there, but I bet that won’t be the case. My luck is never that damn good. So, I try to force the nerves aside and steel my spine as I quickly wash and take care of everything I need to.
Stepping out of the tub, I grab the small towel hanging on the back of th
e door. The bathroom is so small, I don’t have to leave the bathmat to reach it. It’s painted an ugly green color and the paint is discolored in some spots. I don’t even want to guess what it’s from. There’s a small mirror above the old pedestal sink that’s cracked and missing a piece of glass. I remember what happened to it like it was yesterday.
When I was fourteen, I was in getting ready for school when one of my mom’s boyfriends walked in on me. He thought it was okay for him to put his hands on me. When I attempted to fight back, he slammed me into the sink and my head flew back into the mirror. I grabbed a piece of the broken glass that had fallen out and used it to make him leave me alone. As he was turning his back to me, I ran to my room and locked my door. My dresser was pushed up against it and I quickly got dressed before escaping through my window. I didn’t go back home until late at night.
I suppress the shudder that tries to go through my body. Today is not the day to remember those times of my life. It’s about moving on toward a new future for Karson and me. One where I can hopefully provide for him better and move us to a new house. My dreams don’t ever include a man because I have yet to meet a man who wants someone with a child, much less a child who isn’t biologically theirs. So, I don’t ever plan on being with anyone and I’m fine with that. Santana doesn’t like, or agree, with my outlook on life, but she has stopped pushing me. For now.
Walking out of the bathroom once I’m dressed, I see Santana curled up on the couch with a cup of steaming coffee in her hands.
“Morning, sunshine,” she says, her voice groggy and sleep filled.
“Morning. I was going to let you know when I left. I’m sorry if I woke you up,” I tell her, walking over to grab my own coffee.
