She suddenly looks bored and sniffs, “You look a’ight.”
I know my sister well enough to know that if she’s teasing, I look smoking hot. Smiling, I turn to Flick and state, “Okay. I’m wearing it.”
Nat smirks, then snickers, “Dear God, Max is going to have a fit.”
My smile falls as my stomach knots. “You don’t think he’ll like it?”
She makes a noise of annoyance. “No, dipshit, he’ll love it.” She walks out of my apartment, but adds on a shout, “Unfortunately for him, so will all the other guys there.” Before she enters her own apartment, she cackles maniacally.
Oh.
Felicity grins, nodding at me knowingly. “Oh yeah. Time Flirtzilla got his.”
I roll my eyes at them, but I do it smiling. A jealous Max? I’d kill to see that.
My phone buzzes on the dresser.
Max: Two hours ‘til I hear your sweet laugh.
My heart beats faster as serene warmth flows through me.
Oh brother.
I’m fucking doomed.
***
Helena
As soon as we arrive at the club, my stomach dips in excitement for seeing Max. I’m pretty sure I’m not meant to feel like this. B-rock greets us and lets us in. We hold hands, swimming through the crowd of people. It’s pretty darn full already, and it’s only nine forty-five. Normally, the place would be dead until past ten. As soon as we arrive at the bottom of the stairs to the VIP area, the new, shy Alice stands there, eyes firmly fixed to the ground. Felicity speaks first. “Hi there. Helena Kovac and friend.”
Shy Alice stutters, “Of c-c-course. P-p-please, go right up.” She reaches over and undoes the velvet rope, but as she does this, I get a good glimpse of her face. And I still as shock washes over me. “Willa?”
Shy Alice cringes. “No. Sorry.”
Felicity watches me with curiosity in her eyes. She steps closer to the new Alice and bends down to look in her eyes. Flick’s eyes widen in surprise as she all but yells at our co-worker, “Holy shit, girl! You got some ‘splainin’ to do!”
Willa cringes once more, turning her face up to look at us. Her eyes dart from side-to-side. “Please, you can’t tell anyone I’m working here. Please.” She’s in a serious panic.
Placing an arm on hers in comfort, I utter, “Hey, we’re not going to tell anyone. Right, Flick?”
Felicity smiles softly. “It’s not my business to tell, Willa.”
Willa visibly slumps. “Oh, thank goodness. I don’t want Whit to know. I don’t…” she lowers her voice, “…I don’t want him to see me dressed like this.”
I look down at the sexed-up Alice in Wonderland costume she wears. The skirt is shorter than a mini, with white lace fishnets and garters underneath. Her feet are adorned by ridiculously high white Mary-Jane heels. She wears a white-blonde wig with a light blue bow, and bright red lipstick. And she looks sexy.
I grin up at her. “Willa, have you seen yourself? Did you take a good look in the mirror before you came?”
She looks uncomfortable. “Of course I did. I know what I look like.” I’m confused until she adds, “I look like a tramp. It’s unseemly for a lady to dress like this. But I’m desperate. I need the money.”
Felicity chokes on a laugh before asking, “Do you think Helena looks like a tramp tonight?”
Willa’s face turns pale. “Oh, heavens no!”
Felicity turns on the spot. “What about me?”
She suddenly looks wistful. “No. You look beautiful. Both of you.”
I take a step up the stairs. As I do, I tell her, “You look sexy wearing that, and if James saw you in it, I don’t think he’d be able to keep his hands off you.” I continue up the stairs, but hear Felicity add, “I’ve never seen you look better, honey. Have fun tonight. And don’t worry, we’ll keep it quiet.”
Reaching the top of the stairs, I look down to find Willa biting down a shy smile.
Mission accomplished.
We reach the booth to find poor, pregnant, massive Tina sitting with her shoes already off, resting them on a stool one of the guys must’ve brought over for her. She’s talking to Nat, Isa, and Leti while rubbing her belly. Mimi, Lola, and Maria talk over drinks at the VIP bar. The only guys in sight are Nik and Trick, standing by the booth.
Saturday nights are normally much more relaxed for them. Ash will be busy in the security room, while Max works the floor, making sure the patrons are kept happy.
“Hi, guys,” I greet as Felicity and I sit across from Tina.
She doesn’t look happy. “Hi.”
My brow furrows. Whoever made Tina upset will be getting bitch-slapped. It takes a lot to upset Tina. You just don’t do it. “What’s wrong?”
Nik sighs. “Tina was using the downstairs bathroom and saw women doing drugs in there. She’s upset someone brought that stuff into the club.”
That’s understandable. I look up at Nik. “Can’t you do something about it?”
He shrugs. “I can’t go into the girls bathrooms. I’d need to hire a female staff member to man the area. And I’m not sure if it would pay to do that.”
Felicity bunches her face in thought. “Can’t Max do it? Just stand by the door?”
Nik shakes his head. “He does a lot on the actual floor. We’d miss him there. Besides, what could he do standing by the door? It’d be a waste of his talents.”
Because I’m special, I raise my hand. “I’ll do it.”
Tina blinks. “You’d do that?”
My shoulder jerks up lightly. “Sure.”
Nik eyes me for a moment, looking to be thinking hard. “I don’t know. Sorry, babe. You just don’t look aggressive enough.”
Nat grins. “Oh, she’s aggressive all right.” She clears her throat. “For instance, I could tell you about a little poster she keeps in—”
Before she’s even finishes the sentence, I throw myself across the table, tackling Nat to the ground. I grit my teeth as I wrap her in a headlock. “You say one more word and you’re dead!”
A laughing Nat chokes out, “See!” I tighten my hold on her a wee bit harder and she cackles. “Get the fuck off me, bitch!”
From somewhere behind me, Lola singsongs, “Helena, I can see your undies!”
Trick mumbles in a daze, “You don’t see a lot of women wearing those types of undies.”