“He didn’t rob you,” Josie said.
She walked to the kitchen and got herself a coffee mug first. She poured the coffee and waited for Starla to shuffle her way into the kitchen. Josie could see the hangover written across her forehead andalmostfelt bad for her. In some stupid way, Josie was a tiny bit jealous of Starla because of her figure and breasts. They were huge, full, and attracted a ton of attention. Starla probably made in a week what Josie made in a month. But Josie promised herself she was going to put her business degree to some kind of good use. Even if it was managing a strip club. It went well beyond the notion of women taking off their clothes. In some sense, they were all a family. Almost like the MC, which was a weird comparison, but it was the truth.
Josie opened the drawer in front of her and took out a stack of cash. She turned and held it out.
“What is that?” Starla asked.
“Your money,” Josie said. “I saw you drinking the way you were, and I snuck to take it all from you before anything happened.”
Starla put her coffee on the table and hurried toward Josie. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. All yours. I’ll be honest, I was thinking about letting it go on for a little while longer just to mess with you.”
“Bitch.”
“Please,” Josie said with a grin. “I saved your ass last night. You’re lucky Jefferson didn’t see you.”
“Fuck him,” Starla said.
“He owns the club.”
“He’s a pig.”
“Of course he’s a pig.”
“If he saw me that way he would have found a way to milk it. Some way to make money off me.”
“I know,” Josie said. “That’s why I faked that you threw up to gross that guy out, then I got you home. Well, here. I didn’t want you alone overnight.”
“Damn, you’re a good friend.”
“Boss.”
“Oh. Right. Boss.” Starla took the money. Then she swallowed hard. “Am I in trouble here?”
“Drinking? Maybe. Looking like you did in front of a customer? Probably. Losing your money? That’s not my problem. My bigger worry is what else I found on you.”
Starla’s face turned white. “Oh.”
“I’m not going to judge anyone for what they do in life. But you know that stuff like that isn’t allowed in this town.”
“Allowed? I’m not afraid of the cops.”
“I’m not talking about the cops, Starla.”
“Oh,” she said again, looking nervous. “You mean…”
“Yeah,” Josie said.
“The motorcycle club,” Starla said. “They hang around the club a lot.”
“I know they do,” Josie said. Oh, she knew it. Her heart felt it each time she had to watch Reese walk through those doors and all the attention he got. The way the ladies flocked to him, already with a leg up on Josie by being topless. Knowing damn well every single one of them would do anything to and for Reese, even though Josie kept it close to her chest that she had already experienced everything they all dreamed of.
But again, that was a long time ago.
“I’m not… I mean… you know…”
“I’m not your mother,” Josie said.