“You don’t mind the scarf yet,” Gray said, then tapped Jameson on the hip. “It’s going to make it impossible to kiss you when we’re out in public. Not to mention I won’t be able to take you out for dinner.”
“Dinner dates are out, but at least I can get around without wearing the helmet now.” Jameson struck a pose in the mirror one more time. His plain blue jacket and grey denim jeans didn’t really match the look, but he’d find a way around that soon. “What’s next?”
Gray toed at the pavement. “Well, next is the tricky part.”
Jameson leaned back on the motorcycle. “Why’s that?”
“You asked about what me and my guys did, but what me and my guys did wasn’t exactly legal.”
Jameson nodded. “I know. You told me that.”
“But you still want to see?”
Jameson thought about it. “Will I regret this?”
“I hope not.” Gray looked nervous as he kept his boot against the pavement, moving a rock around. “I’m kind of laying it all out here, Jameson.”
“Thank you,” Jameson said. “For doing that.” Seeing Gray vulnerable reminded him that he wasn’t the only one taking risks, which Jameson appreciated.
Gray smiled, but still looked a little hesitant. “Well, we need a new ride, so the first thing we would normally do is to find a mark. You know, like a guy to target. With my crew, we’d normally just steal his car, but considering we’re trying to ditch a stolen ride, I don’t know if that’s the best idea.”
Jameson felt a strong urge to push Gray forward. Stealing a car was a crazy idea, but the fact that Gray used to do that with his crew made Jameson weirdly jealous. Despite that, he could pick up on the way Gray was feeling hesitant, and he just nodded his head instead of arguing. “Okay,” Jameson said. “You told me you always pick men who are assholes?”
Gray stopped kicking at the pavement. “Yeah, that’s right. Abusive dickheads, bosses who exploit their workers, that sort of thing. From there, it’s kind of an art. I feel people out, see what they’re all about, and try to think on my toes. You’ll just stay in the background while I do the work. Try to blend in and help me keep watch for trouble.”
Jameson tugged on his scarf. “Where the hell would someone dressed like me blend in?”
“The place where all the biggest assholes in the area will probably be, too. A little strip club by the business district.”
“A strip club?” Jameson bounced, nervous energy bubbling up inside.
“Is that too much?”
He shook his head quickly. “I just never thought I’d go to a strip club, that’s all.”
Gray grinned, then nodded to the motorcycle. “Well hop on. We’ve got a whole world to check out.”
GRAY
“It’s not that everyone who goes to a strip club is an asshole,” Gray explained as he hopped off the motorcycle, parked safely in an alley. “But a lot of people who are assholes go to strip clubs. You follow?”
Jameson thought about the logic, then nodded. “Sure, that makes sense.”
They strolled to the parking lot behind the club, with tall fences and shadowed corners that were supposed to make the place feel private. As Jameson spent several minutes touching up his makeup and fussing with his scarf in a small mirror before he was ready to go in, Gray raced over options in his mind, trying to come up with the best plan to keep Jameson safe without spoiling the fun.
Because every time Jameson pursed his lips in a smile, Gray felt like he lost his ability to say no. It just felt that good to make him happy.
“We’ll have the best luck if we split up inside,” Gray continued. “You’ll hang out at the bar, and I’ll mingle around the floor. After that, all we have to do is listen. It won’t be long before someone starts bragging about what a dickhead he is.”
Jameson laughed, then smoothed down his jacket. “Don’t I look a little… gay? To be in a strip club, I mean.”
Gray shook his head, then took Jameson by the arm to walk in. “You’d be surprised. A lot of gay men find their way to strip clubs. Not sure why, but I’ve never been in one where I felt out of place.”
“How many strip clubs have you been in?”
“It’s only to find a mark, babe, don’t you worry,” Gray teased, leaning in. “Anyway, if the customers look away from the stage long enough to notice you, they’ll just think you’re a weird millennial or something.”
Jameson paused by the back door, then took in a deep breath. “If someone told me a few weeks ago that I would go to a strip club with a full face of makeup, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
