“Hey Roche, what’s up?” I ask.
“I’ve got another gig for you next weekend if you’re interested.”
“Ummm,” I hem and haw. I don’t want to jump on it because I can tell she’s holding something back.
“It’s at Aphrodite’s.”
I sigh. Aphrodite’s is an all-nude club, whereas I’m more of a bikini dancer as opposed to a full-fledged stripper. I just don’t want to take it all off because I want to save myself for someone special, even if that someone special hasn’t shown himself yet. Rochelle knows that too, and I don’t want to get into this discussion with her again, so I merely tell her that I’ll think about it.
“Alright, Lina, well you know that if you want it, I’ll set it up.” She hesitates before hanging up. “I know we’ve been over this, but you’d make more money if you took everything off, Lina. No one pays that much for bikini dancers. It really doesn’t even compare.”
I grimace.
“I know, Roche, I know. I’m just not ready for going all the way yet. Listen, I appreciate the opportunity, okay? I’ll text you tomorrow with an answer, but I have to go. It’s almost time for me to get on stage.”
She murmurs something, and then we say our goodbyes and I hang up. I take a deep breath and run a hand through my hair. It’s normally brown and curly, but I spent the last hour and a half straightening and then re-fashioning my locks into long, gleaming, glamour waves. The tresses fall to my middle back and I love flipping it around, but it’s such a pain to get it to this state, so I only wear it like this for my dancing gigs.
The door opens and a fellow dancer, Marlene, comes bouncing in. She’s got curly red hair and bright green eyes, and is a curvy girl like me. Marlene works at the Krazy Kat full-time, and we’ve been friends since she saved me from a crotchety old man who cornered me in the parking lot. I still remember the way his breath stank of alcohol as he tried to force me to get into his van for a “quickie,” but the redhead appeared just in time and scared him off with some choice words. I still feel like I owe her for that night.
“Hey, Lina,” she chirps, sitting at the vanity next to me. She’s skimpily dressed in a pair of booty shorts that cling tightly to her waist and a tiny bikini top that basically hides nothing. Her shoulders glimmer with a fine sheen of glitter. “You’re up after Christa, huh?”
“Yeah,” I say, running mascara over my false lashes. “Why?”
She grins before dabbing at her chest with a couple of Kleenexes. “Because I was worried you’d miss out on him.”
“Miss out on whom?” I ask, only half-listening.
Marlene lets out a happy giggle.
“There are some gorgeous guys out there tonight, and if I weren’t with Mike, I’d ask one of them to take me home.”
I cap the mascara and give her a droll look. Most of the time, our customers are middle-aged, pot-bellied guys who like their beer cold and their women hot.
“Really?” I ask. She nods happily.
“Yes, and I’m not joking. Listen, just make sure you really pump your booty tonight because there’s an especially gorgeous guy in the back. He made me drool, he’s so fiiiine!”
I shake my head and smile. Mike, Marlene’s boyfriend, is an old, toothless ex-con. She’s a beautiful girl who could probably have her pick of the men of the town, but she’s crazy about him. “Hot” could mean anything when it comes to Marlene. It could mean grandpa with a long white beard, or it could mean swashbuckling billionaire who looks like Matthew McConaughey. The possibilities are endless. My friend can tell that I’m not convinced, but before she can say more, I’m called away because Christa’s finishing up and it’s almost my turn.
“Break a leg,” the sassy redhead giggles. “And remember what I said. In the back left corner! You can’t miss him!”
I merely smile and check myself one more time in the full-length mirror before heading on stage. I’m wearing a white blouse, a red plaid short skirt, a matching tie, and red stiletto heels. I have a red begonia from my shop pinned to my headband because my stage name is “Petal,” so I always have a blossom as part of my costume. But the truth is that flowers have a special meaning to me because it’s what I hope to pursue in life. I only dance at night; during the day, I work at Amazing Blooms, a flower shop in Prescott. Actually, I own the store, and Amazing Blooms is my baby.
But starting up a business is hard, and I had a lot of bills that piled up quick. There was the deposit to my landlord (not to mention monthly rent), as well as fixtures, furniture, insurance, and inventory. As a result, I haven’t made enough to stay afloat, so I need to dance on the side to make ends meet. But I was careful when I started looking for a second job. I only auditioned at a few clubs, and I made sure they were a good distance from Prescott. As a result, I have to drive half an hour to get to the Krazy Kat, but it’s unlikely I’ll see anyone I know.