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Authors: Hilarey Johnson
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better.
“Congratulations.”
“Huh?” I stop and look at Cori.
“Stage dancer.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“What’s your act?”
“Act?”
“Yeah, I use fire in my act. Talia, the girl who
was sitting here,” Cori points to where the girl with long brown hair sat in
the group of three. “She does this ribbon twirly thing. It’s cooler than it
sounds.”
“I just dance.”
“Oh?” She has all of the counters cleared of
makeup. “Well, we should do something about that.”
“Why?”
“You’re pretty new. Have you ever worked burlesque?”
“I just danced.” How many more times can I say
this?
“I get that…Baby Bird?”
“Just Baby.”
“I get that, Baby. It’s a little more competitive
here. Everyone wants the lead dancer role.”
“To be on stage?” It comes out more sarcastic than
I intended.
“Well, there’s quite a few perks. And some of
these girls are trying to get, um—” Cori clears her throat. “discovered.” She
laughs again. She laughs a lot. I like it.
“You like dancing?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah.” Cori smiles, and again the ocean swells
in her blue eyes. “I have power when I dance.”
I know what she means; I miss the power I felt at
the Wild Lily. Men looked at me because I let them, and my goals were possible
with the money. Cori grabs a purse from under the counter and a jacket from the
back of a chair. As she turns, I see that the claw tattoo on her shoulder is at
the end of a scaly arm disappearing down her back, into her shirt. “Can I drop
you somewhere?” She smiles like she knows I was staring at her tat.
“Is the sheriff’s station on your way?”
Chapter 9
The dress is even prettier on me than it was on the
hanger. I guess that isn’t saying much, but I do like my curves. The midnight
satin drapes in folds of shine, like a robe of magic water, as though I’m
rising out of the sea with legs. I’ll be the Little Mermaid tonight.
No, I’m not waiting for a prince. I’m in control.
I turn to see just how far the back plunges and a
thigh-high slit peels open. It covers one shoulder like a toga. Should I wear
my hair up?
“You’re breathtaking.” Brody claps his hands
together; his eyes are large and deep green. I hold my arms out and give a
little spin. He steps closer and leans in to kiss my cheek. His pupils seem to
widen, or darken, after his hand touches my naked spine. His head drops and the
next kiss lands on my neck. “I’m lookin’ forward to spending the evening with
you.”
I realize I haven’t exhaled since his lips first brushed
my skin. I turn and let it out slowly so he doesn’t see how it affected me. Why
do I crave touch so much? He stands behind me and puts his hands on my shoulders.
There’s a full-length mirror to my left and he angles me to view it. We look
like a couple. Brody wears a tux, and he stands several inches taller than me.
His light brown hair is receding, but he wears it very short. He has the build
of an athlete, and his shoulders extend beyond mine on both sides.
“Sometimes I don’t think you realize how sensual
you are.”
Of all the descriptions to use. I gave myself away
once to someone who called me sensual. Steve Mackenzie: basketball star,
scholarship to some school in California, towered above me like a redwood. I
dressed up that night too. It just made it harder to find my way home after the
party. Not a glance or a word all week at school, then on the following Friday he
was a drunken sweet-talker on the phone, asking me to find my way over to his
house again. I hung up.
“Go get makeup on. We’ll leave soon.”
His smile is wide, and he looks right into my eyes
until I smile back and turn. The next three hours are a blur. Cori helps with
my makeup, just like a sister. Brody and I drive to the casino in his Porsche.
Valets. Attendants. Shaking hands with strangers. Pictures. Brody discovers I
like grape soda and pays a waitress to make sure I never have an empty glass. She
is pleased
“Congratulations.”
“Huh?” I stop and look at Cori.
“Stage dancer.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“What’s your act?”
“Act?”
“Yeah, I use fire in my act. Talia, the girl who
was sitting here,” Cori points to where the girl with long brown hair sat in
the group of three. “She does this ribbon twirly thing. It’s cooler than it
sounds.”
“I just dance.”
“Oh?” She has all of the counters cleared of
makeup. “Well, we should do something about that.”
“Why?”
“You’re pretty new. Have you ever worked burlesque?”
“I just danced.” How many more times can I say
this?
“I get that…Baby Bird?”
“Just Baby.”
“I get that, Baby. It’s a little more competitive
here. Everyone wants the lead dancer role.”
“To be on stage?” It comes out more sarcastic than
I intended.
“Well, there’s quite a few perks. And some of
these girls are trying to get, um—” Cori clears her throat. “discovered.” She
laughs again. She laughs a lot. I like it.
“You like dancing?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah.” Cori smiles, and again the ocean swells
in her blue eyes. “I have power when I dance.”
I know what she means; I miss the power I felt at
the Wild Lily. Men looked at me because I let them, and my goals were possible
with the money. Cori grabs a purse from under the counter and a jacket from the
back of a chair. As she turns, I see that the claw tattoo on her shoulder is at
the end of a scaly arm disappearing down her back, into her shirt. “Can I drop
you somewhere?” She smiles like she knows I was staring at her tat.
“Is the sheriff’s station on your way?”
Chapter 9
The dress is even prettier on me than it was on the
hanger. I guess that isn’t saying much, but I do like my curves. The midnight
satin drapes in folds of shine, like a robe of magic water, as though I’m
rising out of the sea with legs. I’ll be the Little Mermaid tonight.
No, I’m not waiting for a prince. I’m in control.
I turn to see just how far the back plunges and a
thigh-high slit peels open. It covers one shoulder like a toga. Should I wear
my hair up?
“You’re breathtaking.” Brody claps his hands
together; his eyes are large and deep green. I hold my arms out and give a
little spin. He steps closer and leans in to kiss my cheek. His pupils seem to
widen, or darken, after his hand touches my naked spine. His head drops and the
next kiss lands on my neck. “I’m lookin’ forward to spending the evening with
you.”
I realize I haven’t exhaled since his lips first brushed
my skin. I turn and let it out slowly so he doesn’t see how it affected me. Why
do I crave touch so much? He stands behind me and puts his hands on my shoulders.
There’s a full-length mirror to my left and he angles me to view it. We look
like a couple. Brody wears a tux, and he stands several inches taller than me.
His light brown hair is receding, but he wears it very short. He has the build
of an athlete, and his shoulders extend beyond mine on both sides.
“Sometimes I don’t think you realize how sensual
you are.”
Of all the descriptions to use. I gave myself away
once to someone who called me sensual. Steve Mackenzie: basketball star,
scholarship to some school in California, towered above me like a redwood. I
dressed up that night too. It just made it harder to find my way home after the
party. Not a glance or a word all week at school, then on the following Friday he
was a drunken sweet-talker on the phone, asking me to find my way over to his
house again. I hung up.
“Go get makeup on. We’ll leave soon.”
His smile is wide, and he looks right into my eyes
until I smile back and turn. The next three hours are a blur. Cori helps with
my makeup, just like a sister. Brody and I drive to the casino in his Porsche.
Valets. Attendants. Shaking hands with strangers. Pictures. Brody discovers I
like grape soda and pays a waitress to make sure I never have an empty glass. She
is pleased
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