I will do everything, Kai, you need only ask.
The lights go out, and Denver stands up and pulls me into his chest. “I’m so sorry. They made me do it. I think I owe you big time,” he whispers. “But … for the record, I kind of enjoyed it.”
“Well, I—I think I need to go home,” I mutter.
Chapter Nine
Denver
They wanted a show tonight, and poor Kai was volunteered to be my guinea pig. It might have been more for the enjoyment of her sister and Noa, but after her snippiness this morning, it was a little payback, which she thoroughly enjoyed … I think.
The night skated by, and the simplicity of the menu and drink specials made my transition seamless. Oddly, I got used to walking around nearly naked and almost forgot about my lack of clothing by the end of the night.
“Dude, you sorta killed it tonight,” Noa says. “How were your tips?”
“I thought you said some of the guys were making up to a few hundred a night.” I respond.
“Yeah, some of the guys do. Why?”
“Well, I made a grand. Does some of it maybe go to Lani?”
“No shit,” Noa says, wide-eyed. “No, Lani is taken care of. That’s all yours. I don’t think anyone has made that much in one night. Clearly, you’ve got a gift.” Noa chuckles and wiggles his eyebrows. “Oh, and we don’t have shows like that every night. It was a welcoming haze for you, champ.” He gives me a wink.
“Nice.” I shake my head, figuring and hoping the showcase was a one-time thing. “Well, thanks again for the gig. When’s my next shift?”
“Tomorrow night. Same time.”
“Cool, I just have to secure a babysitter for Aya.”
“Dude, my mom has you covered. Trust me. She’s in her glory tonight.” I feel weird imposing on an older woman like that. I’m sure she has better things to be doing than watching after a little girl every night. “I’ll talk to her about it privately first, though, okay?”
“Okay, but don’t push her. I can find someone else if she can’t.”
“No problem. Oh, and your house will be empty by noon tomorrow. My buddy called me earlier and said the current renters are to be out by nine. Cleaners will be there by nine-thirty, and you should be good to move in tomorrow afternoon.”
“Perfect. Thank you so much for helping me out with that … and with the job too. While I’d prefer to be wearing pants, I can’t deny the pay is great.”
“Right?” Noa says, holding his hand out to shake.
“Thanks, dude. Really. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Now dressed and able to walk outside, I head through the dark restaurant, noticing Lea with her head down on the table. She appears to be sleeping, or passed out.
I stop for a minute, wondering if she’s okay, but Noa pipes up. “Don’t worry about her. She warned me she was going to sleep if we didn’t leave in the next few minutes.”
I chuckle and continue for the door. I noticed Kai left in between the time my little entertainment ended and when I returned from my short break in the back room. I would have suggested she sober up a little first, and by the looks of Lea, asking her if Kai is okay doesn’t look feasible, either. I don’t know a thing about either of them, but here I am, worried about everyone else like usual.
I step outside into the damp, ocean-mist-filled air and quickly remember Noa drove me here because I don’t have my truck yet. What was I thinking? I’m thinking too much has happened in one day for me to keep track of where the hell I even am at the moment.
Just as I reach behind me to open the door to the restaurant back up, I notice movement a couple of curb blocks away from where I’m standing.
It’s a woman with her hair tied up into a messy knot. Her arms are wrapped tightly around her legs, and her cheek is resting on her knees.
“Are you okay?” I ask, warily walking toward her. The closer I move toward her, the more I think I recognize who she is. The simple but perfectly fitted dress Kai had on tonight is dark, like this woman’s … and the heels. I noticed her heels end-capping her long, perfectly toned legs earlier. “Kai?”
She doesn’t move at all. She didn’t even budge when I asked if she was okay. I quickly make my way to the other side of her, finding her eyes open, staring out into the distance. “I was hoping you would think I was sleeping and leave,” she mumbles.
“You think I’d leave someone sleeping on a curb?”
