My head reared back. “I’ve only danced for three songs and a lap dance. There’s no way I’m done in ten minutes. Besides, I drove myself here.”
His head tilted. “You aren’t on for a full shift. Not sure where you got that idea, but you’re on for three hours. It’s been four.”
My brows drew together. That couldn’t be right.
Punc crossed his arms on his chest. “I can show you the time-stamped footage of when you took the stage. My guess, you spent an hour on your makeup and shit because Lucy and Heaven love to give new girls pointers.”
I shook my head. “I’ll give you that, Punc, but the three songs Desiree and I danced to didn’t last an hour and neither did that lap dance.”
“They were extended versions, and Desiree gave that asshole more than his money’s worth in an effort to show you everything you needed to know. Bottom line, Smythe, you’re done.”
If it weren’t for the cash in my hand, I’d have told him this was a waste.
Almost as if he knew what I was thinking he leaned closer. “You’re fresh blood, and the regulars love that. You got a little more money waiting for you in the office… we need your tax forms, though.”
I decided to take his word for it and went to the dressing room to get dressed. Twenty minutes later, I took my tax forms to the office and in exchange I received two hundred dollars and a key card to get in the back door.
Punc walked me out to my car, his head seemed to be on a swivel.
“I appreciate your vigilance, but the sun hasn’t even set, Punc.”
The seriousness in his deep blue eyes made me stiffen. “You’re right, but certain types of bad people can be especially bold. You’re headed home, right?”
I glanced down at my arms. Earlier, I hadn’t realized the body oil had glitter in it. “Yeah. Not that I’m a vampire or anything, but I don’t like to sparkle in public if I can help it.”
“You’d sparkle even without glitter.”
I huffed out a laugh. “Why? Because of my personality?”
He chuckled. “You said it, not me. Get moving, Sa—” He stopped short and shook his head. “Ava. You got a growing sister to feed.”
I laughed. “Yeah, except she’d be perfectly happy to eat nothing but pizza for the rest of the year.”
He stared at me for a long moment. “I don’t see anything wrong with that. I’ll bring by a pepperoni pizza from Renna’s if you want.”
I dipped my chin and narrowed my eyes. “Aren’t you working right now?”
His eyes slid to the side and the tiniest smile curved his lips. “No. I only let you think so.”
My mouth fell open and I stared at him for a beat. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Punc.”
He sighed. “Let me do this for you, Savannah. I didn’t say it on the phone yesterday, but it’s clear you’re dealing with nothing but shit right now. It’s just a pizza and it’ll make me feel better about not fighting harder to keep you from dancing.”
“I’m good at it, you said,” I reminded him.
His lips stretched out in a slight grimace, and he turned his head to the side for a beat. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I like it.”
I took a deep breath while I hit the button to unlock the car. “I appreciate it, Punc, but you don’t have to bring us dinner.”
“Savan—”
I opened the door and turned back to him. “I’m not being ungrateful. I just don’t want to cause you trouble.”
Catalina opened the front door after I bleeped the locks on the car. “I’m starving! What’s for dinner?”
Instantly, I wished I’d taken Punc up on his offer.
I pulled my phone from my purse, and saw it was four-fifty. “Hello to you, too, Catalina. How was school?”
