“I don’t know yet, but I’ll figure something out.” He stops again and faces me. “Unless I can just convince you to take the money. We can call it a bonus.”
“I’m not looking for a handout, Wing. I earn what I get,” I tell him. He’s offered before, and my answer is and always will be the same. I don’t want to owe anyone anything.
“Girl, you’re so stubborn.” Winger’s tone implies it’s the worst possible trait one can possess. “Anybody else in the world would take anything I offered and never look back, but you…” He just shakes his head and continues across the street. I glance back over my shoulder at the building, and swear I see someone watching us, but it could just be my eyes playing tricks on me.
“Why’d you start parking way over here anyway? I told you to use the lot.”
“I don’t like people knowing my car.” I should probably admit I think someone’s been following me, but since I won’t be at the club for a few days or longer, there’s no point now. Plus, I hate to add another burden, I know all about those.
“Well, it’s too far. If you don’t want to park in the lot, then use the underground next door.”
I make a face behind his back. That place is even creepier. I always feel like I’m going to run into something I shouldn’t. “Okay,” I tell him anyway.
My truck is one of the only vehicles left in the lot when we make it to where I parked. I use my remote and unlock the door. The interior lights come on, and I take a quick peek inside to make sure it’s empty—you can never be too sure.
“Hop in and I’ll drive you back.” I tip my head to the passenger side. Winger looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Come on, it’s cold and I feel bad for making you walk so far.” I don’t mention the shadow, even though it’s still on my mind. I would hate if something happened to him because of me.
“I’ll drive,” he declares.
I roll my eyes like it’s a huge deal but toss him my keys. “Fine, but be gentle. Lady doesn’t like the cold much more than I do.”
“Lady? You call this beast Lady?” Winger wedges himself behind the driver’s seat, then hits the switch on the side so the seat goes all the way back with a loudthunk.
I rub her dash affectionately. Lady’s been a good truck. She’s almost twenty years old and has only ever needed routine maintenance. “She’s got good bones.” I give Winger a little smile. The corner of his lip dips into an even heavier frown. I realize I’m probably being too personal. I’m blurring the line between employee and friend way more than usual.
I hit the lock on the door out of habit and cradle my bag in my lap after buckling my seat belt as Winger starts the truck. In spite of the cold, she purrs quickly to life.
Winger mutters, “Deathtrap,” under his breath as he puts my truck in drive and speeds out of the lot.
“Hey,” I chastise him while grabbing onto the oh shit bar.
“Is this ayou break it, you buy itsituation?” He looks over at me, completely ignoring the road.
“No, this is ayou break it, you fix itsituation. Watch the dagum road!”
Winger’s eyebrows shoot up high on his forehead, but then he turns and looks out the windshield. Thankfully, there isn’t much traffic at this hour.
Within just a minute or two, Winger is pulling up in front of the club. Everyone waiting outside looks at my loud, beat-up truck. I don’t make eye contact with anyone as Winger jerks it into park.
“Remember, don’t come in tomorrow,” he warns me.
“What about the other work? I can’t get away until the evenings,” I remind him.
Winger sighs. “I don’t know why you gotta be so difficult.” He shakes his head. “I’ll figure something out and call you in a day or two. No going to any other clubs. I don’t even want you in the city.”
I want to tell him he isn’t my father, but I think that would be pushing our boundaries even more. “Fine, but you have to promise to let me come back as soon as I can.” I almost tell him not to worry about me so much, that I can take care of myself at the club, but I can’t force the words past my lips. Knowing I have Winger on my side comes with a huge sense of protection.
“I will, now get your butt home.”
“I’ll be waitin’ on your call,” I tell him before he manages to slam the door after getting out. I don’t bother opening my door, I just slide over the bench seat to get behind the wheel. As I drive away, I look into the rearview mirror and see a man join Winger on the street. He’s dressed in all black, but I’m too far away to make out much more than his stature and hair color. He’s taller than Winger, wider also, with hair so dark, I thought it was a cap at first—I’m still not certain it wasn’t. It’s probably one of the bouncers, but he’s standing a lot closer than the others do. Almost everyone gives Wing a wide berth, but it doesn’t seem like this guy is worried about that.
Just as I’m about to turn the corner, I realize they are both staring after my taillights, watching me. After two blocks, I’m at the entrance ramp for the expressway, and from there, it’s only a forty-five-minute drive home. I don’t even bother with the radio, because I have too much going on in my head to listen to music.
Two weeks off won’t kill me, but it sure will put a dent in my savings. As my mind starts to worry over everything it could affect, I force myself to think about the other things I can accomplish in that time. Like posting some flyers at the Tractor Supply, advertising I’m accepting new boarding horses, and getting the barn cleaned up. Hell, the kitchen could use a coat of paint. I bet Mom would love that. She may even be able to help. Gwen’s always asking me to go out on the weekends, but on the nights I have off, I just want to stay home and relax. It’s been ages since I’ve even seen a movie. Plus, Wing said it might be sooner. Instead of stressing about what could happen, I try to think about it as an actual vacation.
Maybe now will be a good time to start focusing on the future. I can’t strip forever. It was just supposed to be a means to an end, but I’ve become so dependent on the money, I haven’t given myself a chance to think about what else I could be doing, especially now that I’m over eighteen. My thoughts keep circling around in my head until I’m turning into the dark driveway of our old house.
Chapter 4
