Page 23 of Eagle

Once I finally stopped crying again and the water had run cold, I toweled off, got dressed, and brushed my hair and teeth. Swiping the steam from the mirror, I sneered at myself. My eyes were puffy and my face looked swollen. Looking down at my makeup bag, I just pushed it away and then walked out, wet hair and all.What’s the point?

Wandering down the hall, I found the living room and took it in. A fluffy white couch and loveseat surrounded a light wooden coffee table sat in the middle of the room. Some beauty magazines sat on the coffee table and different colored fuzzy pillows were thrown across the sofas. Sheer curtains covered the huge double windows facing the street.

Turning, I found the entrance to the kitchen. There was no door there, just a walkway into the other room and there was a little cutout over the sink looking into the living room. The kitchen had clear containers of graduated heights full of sugar, flour, and coffee.Jeannie is one of those ladies that keeps everything in cute little containers.

I had lived with a few roommates and some guys over the years after I left home and we never used cute little containers.None were ever particularly messy, but just very basic. Certainly not as organized and well stocked as Jeannie’s house. The bathroom was fully stocked and the kitchen proved to be the same.

The fridge was full and I found creamer. Coffee filters were in the cabinet above the cute little containers. I filled the coffee machine with fresh water and coffee grounds and watched as it dripped. She had a mug holder next to the coffee pot with little sayings on them so I pulled one down and found a spoon, ready to stir the flavored creamer into the hot coffee just as soon as it was done percolating.

“Hey girl,” Jeannie said on a yawn as she shuffled into the kitchen. “You one of those early birds?” she asked as she pulled her hair into a messy bun.

“Was I loud? I’m sorry. Just needed some coffee.”

She shrugged. “I’ll live. I can nap. I don’t work tonight anyway.”

“Oh.” I was hoping to ambush Mama Hen there later. She often goes over on Sundays. But without a car or any money I had no way to get there, other than catching a ride with Jeannie. I figured even if I couldn’t start right away, I could always hang by the bar or even serve some drinks. Servers at those places did okay, too.

“Why the pitifulohhh?” Jeannie asked through another yawn as she reached around me for a mug.

“I was just thinking if you had to go to work, I could tag along, maybe audition. But I can wait. When do you go back?”

The coffee pot finally stopped hissing, so I grabbed the carafe and filled both of our mugs, then poured some creamer into mine.

“We can go up there, but you need something to wear.” She took a sip of her coffee and crossed her arms, still holding the mug. “I have a few outfits you can borrow but you need your own thongs. Let me go shower. We’ll go shopping, then I’ll take you over. Mama Hen’s usually there before opening, anyway. She likes auditions without crowds.”

Before I could protest or thank her, not sure which I wanted to do since she moved so fast, she was gone. I wasn’t sure how quickly she’d be ready, and I couldn’t leave the house with my face and hair looking like it did, especially to audition, so I topped off my coffee and headed back to the bathroom.

After a few cups of coffee and a daytime face, I grabbed my makeup to take with me to go a little heavier once I was ready to go on stage. I didn’t often wear stage makeup out and about. Plus, it was so muggy outside, I’d just have to touch it up later anyway.

It was closer to eleven before we left and it was hot and bright out. Jeannie offered me a pair of sunglasses and we headed to the mall. We hurried inside away from the blistering Georgia sun and humid air.

We both flipped our sunglasses onto our heads as we walked through the automatic doors. The food court was just above us on the top level and my stomach growled again, reminding me I still hadn’t eaten. I only had a little bit of money. I managed to get out of the club when the guys rescued us just with what was on my person from the couple of hours I’d worked that night. Tony always took our cash before we got shuttled back to his prison he referred to as a compound.

“Hungry?” Jeannie asked as she walked toward the escalator going to the food court.

“I’m okay.” I had money, but I needed some fancy thongs anda new pair of platforms if I was going to audition. My guess was, I’d have the job if I went. I could make one pair of shoes last, but nobody wanted to recycle a piece of fabric that was jammed between the cheeks of your ass all night while dancing. I didn’t sweat a lot, but anyone would get a sheen of moisture from moving and being under the stage lights.Eeww. I probably had enough to buy shoes and thongs, maybe even a cute little outfit. But if I got to work, I’d have cash in no time. “Actually, yes. Let’s grab something. I don’t need a full tummy later, so best to eat early.”

We grabbed our food and ate in the bright open space upstairs with all the tables around. It was quiet for most of the meal, but no uncomfortable silence. Jeannie was easy to be around. Daisy was still my best friend, but it was nice to have another woman to lean on.

Jeannie finally pushed her tray to the side and wiped her hands. “Sorry I’m not very talkative. It’s early for me. But I feel a little better now.”

I wiped my face, finished with my food and said, “I’m so sorry. I told you I could’ve waited. You’ve already done so much for me.”

She waved me off with a crooked grin. “Girl, your bar is low. I’m just a friend helping a friend.”

Nodding, I sipped my diet soda through the straw. It had been low. I was still fragile; I couldn’t lie to myself about that. But, with time I’d see my worth and get back on my feet. “Okay,” I said as I took the last sip of my soda and stood. “Show me the shoe store first.”

After finding a great pair of platforms with clear straps and stocking up on some thongs, garters, and a cute little outfit toaudition in, we then stopped to get pedicures. My money was running low, but I was confident Mama Hen would at least let me serve at the club, if not dance. Jeannie said she had plenty of outfits to hold me over for the week and I could build up a new dance wardrobe, and new daytime wardrobe, after working a few times.

I’d been shaving and using hair removal creams so no waxing was in order. Tony didn’t let us leave and while the girls at the compound could do a little hair color and trims, nobody waxed so I’d gotten used to other methods of keeping my snatch neat and tidy. Even though I hadn’t danced in a few months, I still liked to keep it completely clean or just a small little patch. I did buy some decent fake lashes before we left the mall. I had some really good mascara, but hadn’t gotten any lashes since I hadn’t been dancing and they were part of the normal ensemble.

We had browsed and lingered at the mall so long that it was after three in the afternoon before we arrived at Destiny’s Desires. It was a standalone building with ample parking and from the outside appeared to be a classier establishment. Some strip clubs were very bougie, and some were a little rough around the edges. I’d danced at both and everything in between. Some of the nicest ladies I’d met were at the not-so-fancy clubs. A lot of the women at the high-end clubs were catty, aggressive, and cutthroat when it came to work and men.

As we stepped from the car, I grabbed the bag I had brought from home and the bag with the shoes. I had already stuffed the cute little outfit and a new thong and garter inside. Looking up, the building appeared to be well kept. I briefly wondered if I’d encounter any of the less friendly brand of women here, since it seemed like a nicer place. But when Jeannie shut her door and walked around, putting her hand out for me to take, I took it and my shoulders relaxed. If any of them were half as nice asJeannie, I’d be fine.

Walking up to the door, my stomach knotted when I saw Butch. He was in the MC with Eagle. He had been seated but stood when he saw us. He had thick blond hair that was a faux hawk style. He was one of the bigger guys in the club, and probably in his forties if I had to guess. He wasn’t ever mean to me, but not overly friendly either. Most of the guys seemed to dodge me and Daisy like the plague, more so her than me, but the men of DE didn’t look too long and hard at me or speak much.

As we got closer, he tipped his aviator sunglasses down and looked me over with a furrowed brow. “Jeannie, how’s it going?” he asked, still seeming to size me up.

---