Desiree chuckled. “Fine. But, we heard you won’t be able to dance for a while.”
“Yes. I didn’t know Punc had such a big mouth.”
Lucy laughed. “Not him. He told Yak, and Yak told us.”
“Besides, it’s better for all of us to know what’s goin’ on,” Desiree said.
I lowered my chin. “Fair enough.”
“Since you can’t actually dance for a while, Desiree had the idea that you could help us with our routines,” Lucy said.
“I don’t need any help,” Heaven muttered.
Desiree tossed Heaven a look over her shoulder. “You could still take some constructive feedback.”
Heaven’s dark brows drew together. “Only feedback I need comes from the men sittin’ in front of the stage.”
Desiree shook her head and focused on me. “Never mind her, Yak and Turk said they want us working on our social media. I figured you can definitely help us with that stuff. How did you know your dance wouldn’t get banned from TikTok?”
My lips twisted. “I didn’t know, and to be fair, it was shadow banned. It just took a few hours before it happened.”
Lucy shrugged. “I don’t care. I suck at videos and shit with my phone, so come to the club tomorrow and help us out. Desiree and I are willing to pay you - though it won’t be much—”
“But we figure every little bit will help,” Desiree added.
I nodded. “Thank you.” Then I twisted my lips. “But I can’t drive for a week.”
“You live south or north of Platinum’s?” Desiree asked.
With a small grimace, I said, “I’m west of the club in Oakleaf.”
“I live in Orange Park. I’ll pick you up,” Desiree said.
“My kid’s sitter is in Oakleaf, so I can take her home, unless she’s staying late,” Heaven said.
“Who can you take home? And who would be staying late? All of you women have your own wheels,” Punc said, striding into the room. His hair looked different. A little longer, no, it struck me that he hadn’t parted it down the middle quite so much.
Heaven beamed at Punc. “I’m taking Ava home after she gives Desiree and Lucy pointers.”
“Not pointers,” I muttered.
Lucy and Desiree had been dancing for years. The idea of me giving them pointers was insulting, especially since it should be the other way around.
Punc shot me a curious look. “What are you talking about?”
Desiree spilled the tea about her plan.
Lucy aimed her glamorous smile at Punc. “Great idea, right? She can’t make any money if she isn’t dancing, but we can pay her for helping us out.”
Punc’s eyes skated to Lucy. “And how is she going to help you out?”
“All that social media crap,” Desiree said. “I don’t even know how she managed to video herself while dancing. Do I need a tripod? Did someone help her? It sounds like she did it all herself.”
To the others, they probably believed Punc’s slow nod, but I knew better from way back when. Once Alanis and I had decided to make milkshakes. But Alanis was convinced that we could do it without the lid on the blender and not make a mess. She inadvertently hit the high-speed button, and we made a humongous mess.
A chocolate milkshake soaking our shirts and dripping off the ceiling kind of mess.
Punc had stormed into the room and paled.
