Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
I lean against the wall, catching my breath. I feel like I’ve been through a whirlwind, and in a way I suppose that I have. I head down the stairs, and as soon as I reach the bottom, Cosette practically tackles me from behind. “I’ve been looking all over for you! Where were you?”
Not fucking the boss. “Just wandering,” I say. “Have you seen this place? It’s insane!”
Cosette beams. “It’s amazing. I’m so excited, I start tomorrow!”
“Yeah,” I say, a flush burning across my cheeks. “So do I.”
“What?” Her face falls, and then looks confused.
Anxiety swirls in my gut. I want her to be okay with it, I want her to be happy with this. I shrug, trying to play it off like no big deal. “I changed my mind. After seeing how great everything was, and having so much fun dancing with you, I didn’t want to miss out. I have to come in early tomorrow to do my paperwork.” Or at least I hope I do. I didn’t exactly talk over those kinds of details with Julian.
“That’s great,” Cosette says with a smile that’s overly bright. “It’ll be really fun to work together—to dance together again.”
“I hope so,” I say softly. I really do. I think that this could really be good for both of us. “Do you want to hang out here or are you ready to leave?”
She gestures towards the door. “I’m ready to go. You?”
“Lead the way.”
The drive home to our apartment is a little tense, but I think we’ll be okay. I hope we’ll be okay. Once Cosette sees how fun it will be to work together, I’m sure she’ll be fine. That’s what I tell myself at least.
It’s just as I’m getting into bed that my phone chimes with a text with from an unknown number. I open it, and my heart starts to pound.
Thinking of you.
Sleep tight.
— J
Never in my life have I felt like a text message had the power to undo me until now. This does. Right, like I’m going to be able to sleep now that I know he’s thinking about me, possibly touching himself while thinking about what happened earlier. God, this is crazy. I start to type a response, and delete it. Again. And again. Nothing seems right. I don’t know what I can say that doesn’t sound dumb or childish. After a good fifteen minutes, I give up. I’m sure I’ll see him tomorrow at the club, and I’ve always been better with my words in person. I shut off the light defiantly. I’m going to sleep. But as soon as my head hits the pillow I know that it’s going to be a long night with those words echoing in my head. Thinking of you. Sleep tight.
4
The Club Deep parking lot is practically empty when I pull in. It’s well before opening, so it’s not surprising, but still, without the cars, this building looks more like an abandoned office building than a popular club. But I suppose that’s at least partially the point. I’ve come early to fill out my paperwork, and I hope I finish it before Cosette arrives. After the awkwardness last night, I don’t know how to tell her about the absolutely ridiculous salary that I’m going to get. I think that news has to come later, with a lot of tequila shots between us. Or maybe I won’t tell her at all. I can’t really see how her knowing that I’m making more than four times her salary is going to help anything. She’s already hesitant about both of us working here, and I want her to be happy.
Early in the morning, the club is almost unrecognizable. With normal fluorescent lights instead of the roving colors, this looks like an industrial loft space. Funny, you never think about the way a night club looks in the daytime. Probably part of the charm. They’re places that can really only exist at night, when you can be in the shadows and your better judgement takes a vacation. Time will tell if my better judgement was present last night or not. One thing’s for sure, my boss at the restaurant wasn’t happy to find out I was quitting, and I wasn’t sticking around for two weeks’ notice either. Yeah, I don’t think I’ll be eating there any time soon.
“Hello?” I call across the club because I don’t see anyone, and I have no idea where Randall swept Cosette off to last night for all the employment stuff.
A man appears from behind one of the bars carrying a box full of glassware. Seeing me, he gives me a once over, and I’m not sure what conclusion he comes to. “You need something?”
“First day as a dancer,” I say, explaining. “I need to fill out paperwork?”
He points behind the bar. “Double doors back there, second office on the right.”