“Hey, man, what’s going on?” I ask, trying to sound happy he’s calling. I haven’t seen or heard from David in about five years. Last I heard, he got some girl knocked up and she was making him tie the knot.
“Hey, man, long time no talk. I’m in town and wanted to know if you wanted to hit some of the clubs like we did when we were younger. You know, relive the glory days?” he chuckles into the phone.
“Don’t you have a wife and kids or some shit now? Are you sure she approves?” I joke.
“Kid yes, wife no. I love my boy to death, but he’s with his mom and I’m in town for business for a few days. I wanted to kick off some steam. Maybe we can visit a strip club. Is that one we went to years ago still around? What was the name?Devil’s Hotspotor some shit? You know, that place where you had amazing sex with that stripper?”
Ember.
I haven’t thought about her since Addison became my assistant. There was something so innocent about her that I couldn’t help requesting a private show when I watched her on stage. I expected her to dance for me, maybe go as far as a hand job, but she did so much more than that. I had to get out of the room and out of the club that night before I went back and demanded that she leave with me.
What I wouldn’t give to see the look on Dad’s face if I came home with a stripper.Fucking hilarious.
“The Devil’s Playground. That burned down years ago. There’s a new place that opened a few years ago calledRISE. I think a group of women own it.”RISEis the only strip club left in town, but I haven’t stepped foot in it. Last time I had the chance was when I was working with my buddy Landry Laurent, but even then, I sent someone in my place to work the deal.
“Women, huh? Kinky fucks.” He laughs at his own joke and I roll my eyes. “For old times’ sake, wanna go? We can meet there at nine-thirty or so? Give the place a chance to really come alive.”
“Sure, what have I got to lose?” Maybe a lap dance will help me forget all about the sexy assistant that keeps me hard all day long.
* * *
I pullup outside the club. It’s a hell of a lot nicer than the shithole I was at with David last time. David approaches me, and we give each other a high-five shake as we walk to the front door. The bouncer outside has a clipboard.
“Name?” he asks.
Is there a special event going on or something?“Ethan Freeman.”
The bouncer looks up at me, squinting his eyes like he doesn’t believe it, but puts a check next to my name. “Keep your guest in line.”
What the fuck is he talking about? “Ah, okay. Thanks.” Why the hell am I on a list here, anyway? I’ve never even stepped foot in the place. I shrug it off and push through the heavy metal door.
The bass beats around us, and there is a girl who looks no older than eighteen spinning around the pole.Jesus, she looks like a kid!I take in the other patrons in the room, most of whom have their eyes glued to the girl on stage. A few girls roam around the room with trays of drinks in their hands, and a few more sit in the laps of other men, giggling. All of them are wearing masks and colorful wigs.
This place is nice as hell. I guess I was expecting it to be like the old strip club, rundown and dirty. The booths are classy and not patched with duct tape, the floor isn’t sticky, and the girls actually look happy to be here. I look at the stage as the girl finishes her set and collects the bills thrown at her.
Yep. Still in a strip club.
“Let’s grab a seat by the stage. Maybe even help a poor girl out and give her a little extra if she rubs me just right,” David says, elbowing me in the stomach in his excitement.
Now, I remember the reason I didn’t give this asshole a job with me.He thinks the world belongs to him and people should bow down at his feet. I’m starting to regret my decision to come here with him.
I look around and lock eyes with a girl who smiles bashfully and waves at me from across the room. She definitely knows what she wants, and I’m not the one to give it to her tonight. I ignore her and motion to a girl with a tray.
“Can I get a Jack and Coke?”
David orders something, too, and the girl scurries off. I don’t need a private dance tonight.No, I need Addy willing to do all sorts of naughty stuff with me.The thought of her makes me hard again, and I adjust myself.Fuck. Maybe Icoulduse a private dance after all. It might be nice to give my right hand a break.
Let me get one thing straight. I can get as much action as I want. Women fawn over me because of my damn money, and I’m not bad on the eyes either. I know that. I spend a lot of time with my personal trainer to keep my physique in top shape. The problem is, all these women become faceless. I want a night with someone who doesn’t know me as Ethan Freeman, Atlanta’s youngest CEO and runner-up for bachelor of the year.I still think I should have won the honors, but what can you do.
The girl returns with our drinks, and I place a fifty-dollar bill on her tray and tell her to keep the change. Her eyes light up as she turns to leave us alone. David is talking about his job or some shit; I’m not really listening to him. I’m looking around forEmber. It would be silly to think she still works at a strip club after all these years.
Don’t most strippers last a few years and move on? She probably has a good job and is settled down now with a couple of kids and a nice husband. Most of the girls working here seem to be in their late teens to mid-twenties. Ember has to be somewhere close to thirty at this point.
I look around and notice a girl with long red hair leading a man toward the back room. She looks back at him with a smile on her face, and I catch her eye, but only for a moment. My heart races inside my chest, and I stand abruptly. A sense of déjà vu washes over me as I focus my attention on the couple.
I know that smile. Jesus, that girl looks so familiar.
“Dude, what’s wrong?” David asks, drawing my attention back to him. I turn to look at him as the mystery girl disappears down a hallway.
