Page 7 of Sling’s Awakening

I’m sick of not being appreciated for being nicer than I should be. I dial it back on a daily basis, and people should be thankful.

“I think you telling me my dick is little is basically the same thing.”

I cock my head to the side. “Is it?”

“Afraid so,” he says, his tone laid-back and as casual as ever as his lip tips up.

“Now you’re just putting words in my mouth.”

He throws his head back and laughs. “Sorry to break it to you, babe, but most of the world is up and getting on with their day by that time. We all can’t sleep in until whenever we feel like it. The best I can give you is that I won’t toy around with my bike before I leave. Other than that, there isn’t a whole lot I can do for you.”

Oh, that’s cute.

He thinks I do nothing with my life.

“You don’t have another mode of transportation?”

His eyes crinkle around the corners as he wipes his hand over his mouth in an effort to contain his laugh. “No, I don’t have another mode of transportation.”

My eyes narrow into tiny slits. “I don’t know what you think is funny about all this. Because I am not amused.”

“No, baby, I’m afraid you aren’t. Told you I would try. That’s the best I can do.”

God, this man is infuriating. It’s like I’m talking to a brick wall.

I heavily exhale through my nose as I point my finger at him as I start walking backwards. “This isn’t over.”

“If it keeps you coming over here like that, it’s never going to be over,” he says.

I spin around on my heel and walk the short distance to my house. I can feel his eyes on me the entire way. “Stop looking at my ass!” I yell over my shoulder.

“It’s hard not to notice with the way it’s jiggling under those shorts of yours!” he calls to me just before I make it to my garage.

Right on cue, his bike fires back up as soon as I close the door.

Something tells me this is just getting started.

“Alright, listen up, ladies!” I call over the music the girls are playing in the dressing room. “We have a busy night tonight! It’s going to be a full house. The Saint’s Outlaws MC has reserved a few tables for a birthday. If they’re anything like the last club we had in here, we know those boys like to party.” And they pay to keep partying, which means this is about to be another long ass night for me. “So, keep them entertained. If anyone makes you uncomfortable or you see some shady shit going down, you know where to find me or Big Jack.”

I don’t tolerate bullshit in my club.

Hex cheers. “Thank god! Mama needs to make the rest of her rent payment tonight.”

“Don’t we all,” Jinx adds as she leans into the mirror while she lines her lips.

“I’m manifesting all of you bitches making thousands tonight,” I tell them as I look around the room.

Sometimes I miss the lifestyle.

I’m still in it, but I’m not in it anymore. I’m still close with the girls, but at the end of the day, I’m their boss now. I don’t get to sit and talk shit in the dressing room while they’re getting ready for the night. Sometimes it’s hard not to feel like an outsider looking in.

“Crystal called off tonight, so I’m going to be filling in behind the bar. If you guys need me, that’s where I’ll be.”

“Thanks, Gin,” Curse beams at me, using my stage name from when I danced full time.

“No problem,” I say as I head out of their dressing room and make my way to the bar to get everything ready for the night.

If I had known I would be bartending tonight, I would have worn something that I wouldn’t mind getting dirty. Instead, I’m in a black corset top that I maxed out the last bit of my credit card to get and a velvet skirt that hits mid-thigh. If any sort of liquid gets on it, it’s done.