Chapter 3

Makynzee

My mom thought I still worked at the restaurant. I told her I took an extra shift and I’d be home late. She’d told me she needed a break from me anyway. That stung, but whatever. I threw my keys into my purse and went inside the club. A few men lingered by the main stage—none of them Kalil—and a woman behind the bar waved me over.

“You’re Minx?” she asked once I was close enough.

“Who?”

“Kalil said to look out for the new girl. That’s you, right?”

“Oh. Yup. I’m Minx.” That’s the stage name he came up with?

“Come on back, let me show you a few things. Put your purse and keys in this safe, only open it before we open and after we close, only the barmaids use this one. If you miss the cutoff use one of the lockers in the back. Wear this for your tips.”

She tossed me a garter and I quickly slipped it on my thigh, refusing to wonder if it were used, as the three men approach us.

“This the new chick?”

“Minx, meet Chino, Ralphie, and Bruce. Anybody mess with you, their hands linger too long when they giving you tips, being disrespectful, let them know.”

I smiled and shook their hands, but Bruce didn’t let go.

“I’m sorry, but I have to ask,” he declared.

I knew the question before he asked, especially with the shorts I wore. Was my butt fake. It wasn’t that big, the rest of me was just small.

“It’s mine, got it from my momma,” I answered.

“Well that’s nice, but my question was can I touch it?”

“Get out of here, Bruce! You’re supposed to protect her, not harass her,” Cari yelled and pushed him away before going back into her training spiel.

By the end of the night I’d spilled a million drinks and messed up just as many orders. I was tired and not looking forward to the drive home. Surprisingly, I’d still made about $250 in tips. Cari said once I got the hang of it, I’d make more. I could sacrifice a little sleep for that. As expected, I’d felt hands all over me all night. Wasn’t looking forward to that part. I grabbed my purse from the safe and headed to the door. Just as I stepped outside I heard my name—my real name. I hadn’t seen him all night. Just the thought of seeing him now caused butterflies to take up real estate in my stomach. I pretended not to hear him and kept walking. I pushed the auto start on my mom’s car and within seconds of the club’s door closing he was next to me. I couldn’t look at him. Those eyes would destroy my mental capacity. I was already drunk off his scent again.

He gently grabbed my arm and chastised, “Never walk out here by yourself.”

I was instantly awake. His touch seared into my arm, sending shockwaves of pleasure deep into me. I stopped walking and glanced up at him. He must have felt it too because he quickly dropped his hand. Too late. I still felt his touch and I wanted it again. I took a steadying breath and forced a smile. “Okay.” I reluctantly walked away wondering if he watched me. I chanced a glance back. He was, his eyes wary. That made two of us. “Have a good weekend,” I called out before slipping into the car.

When I finally made it home, I snuck into my room and took a quick shower. Exhausted as I was, I still couldn’t fall asleep. I couldn’t shake his image from my mind. I couldn’t get the smell of him out of my nose. I couldn’t fight the urge to feel him. For the first time in a long time I touched myself. I let my hands become Kalil’s hands, his fingers slipping through my folds and pinching my clit. I loved the way they felt against my skin. Gently pinching my nipples. Slowly caressing my thighs. Slipping two fingers inside of me. My back arched as I moaned and  welcomed his touch, yearned for it. I erupted quickly. My body convulsed and I bit my bottom lip to keep from crying out. I needed that. Sleep came easily after that.

***

            I graduated from high school today. My mom showed up long enough to see me walk across the stage. She actually looked like she was proud of me. That had to be my imagination though because she disappeared before the ceremony was even done. I’d been working at the club for a while now and I avoided Kalil at all costs. It wasn’t hard though. When he was there he was usually in his office or entertaining guests in the VIP sections. Women threw themselves at him, literally. He caught the last one and immediately handed her off to security before she could latch on to him. Every blue moon one got lucky and he left with her. I had the audacity to be jealous. Imagine that. It should be me he left with.

Since that night in the parking lot he’d said little to nothing to me. I was pretty sure I was love with him, but would never admit to it. Every once in a while he let me catch him watching me, but he still said nothing. I guessed that was okay, since every other word out of his mouth was a curse word. When the VIP guests requested “the tall waitress with the fat ass” he made up excuses. That was the case tonight and it pissed me off. I wasn’t sure what pissed me off more, the fact that he didn’t want me around or that he was messing with my tips. His presence robbed me of my practicality, so of course I went with the fact that he didn’t want me around. I watched him for a while knowing that sooner or later he’d leave the guys he was with. When he did, I made my move. He smiled when he saw me coming towards him then ducked into the men’s room. Son of a … I hesitated as two guys came out then made my way inside. I froze like a deer caught in headlights. He leaned against the opposite wall with his arms folded across his chest and a smirk playing about his lips.