I’d become used to James’s occasionally crude speech, but I had to agree.
“Well, a guy’s gonna do what he’s gonna do. And sometimes it gets real lonely.” Embarrassed, I took another long drink of my beer. Harlan had come out from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dish towel.
“Don’t let loneliness make you do stupid things. I hope you think before you act.”
I knew James meant Harlan and me, but he needn’t have worried. Not after I discovered Harlan drinking on his first day on the job. My bubble of excitement at his turnaround in life had burst, yet I didn’t have the heart to tell James, knowing he’d most likely fire Harlan without waiting for his explanation. Not that there could be one. I knew what I smelled.
“One thing I always admired about you, Cort, is your loyalty to your friends. Make sure, however, whomever you give it to is worth your time and energy.” His gaze shifted from me to Harlan, then back to me again. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
With his words hanging in the air, James walked out, leaving me with Harlan and José, who’d already locked up the cash register.
“I’m outta here. Hector’s waiting for me. I’ll see you tomorrow. Harlan, I know you think I gave you a hard time, but you did okay tonight.”
My heart hurt, knowing how Harlan had deceived my friend. My anger rose, and I wanted to punch his face in.
Don’t fuck with my friends.
“Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
When it was only the two of us, Harlan expelled a noisy breath and sat down next to me. “Wow. Rough night.”
“It was pretty tame overall. The tables were spending, and no one got out of hand.”
He eyed me, and I realized I was still standing half-naked in my costume. How could I flash my ass to a room full of men and have sex on camera with who knows how many people watching, yet feel self-conscious with Harlan?
“Does that happen often? Do customers grab you or do outrageous things?”
“More than you think. And James is usually on top of it, but sometimes it’s a wandering hand that won’t let go or goes where it shouldn’t. Or someone says something crude. Just ’cause I dance here don’t mean I’m a slut. I don’t sleep around.”
Harlan stifled a yawn, and despite my anger, I couldn’t throw him out in the street. At least for tonight, he’d come back to my apartment with me.
“I’m gonna go shower and change. Be back in about ten minutes.” I left him, hoping like hell he wouldn’t steal something else to drink. José had taken away all the bottles before he left, but I couldn’t be sure of Harlan. Not now. Not anymore.
Because of those fears, I rushed through my shower and dressed quickly. On silent feet, and hating what I was doing, I walked back into the club and breathed a sigh of relief to see him sitting exactly where I left him at the bar.
“Hey. Ready?”
“Yep.” He sprang up, and his long, lean body caught my eye. His own clothing had swum on him, giving no indication of the fine body lying underneath. Though Harlan lacked the defined muscle tone, Austin’s clothing fit him well.
We took the subway back, and within twenty minutes we were walking into my apartment. I hadn’t spoken a word to him since we left Man Up, and I could see him giving me the side-eye, knowing something was wrong.
“Tired. Going to bed. See you in the morning.” I left him standing by the sofa and went to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth, and without another glance into the living room, shut the door to my bedroom behind me.
Once in bed, I lay awake watching the rays of moonlight creeping across my bed. I heard Harlan get up a few times during the night, and then at some point I must’ve fallen asleep, because when I woke up, sunlight streamed in through my window. I sat up and smelled coffee.
When I opened my door I saw Harlan fully dressed in his old clothes, sitting on the sofa, sipping from a cup. He glanced up at me.
“I made coffee.”
“So I see. Be right back.”
I took care of business in the bathroom, then passed by him to pour myself a cup of coffee. I sat at the tiny table and sipped.
“Okay.” Harlan pulled out the other chair and sat down across from me. “What’s going on? And don’t say nothing, because I know that’s a lie.”
“That’s funny, you callin’ the shots, tellin’ me not to lie.Me.How about you start with the truth?”
He paled. “Wha-what? What do you want me to say?”
