Page 21 of Knot Happening

“My real name is Dream, if that helps. No one ever believes that, though. Tatum is hot. If you don’t go with a nickname, then just keep in mind that not all our customers are always going to be a ten out of ten. A creep or two sneaks their way in from time to time. The bosses will keep you safe, but you never know.” Dream shudders like she’s imagining said creeps, and I nod my understanding.

“Babygirl?” I ask, cringing slightly. “I don’t know, this is actually so hard.”

“Baby could work! We don’t have a baby working your position, so you’ll be good there.” Apple says as she manages to apply another layer of red lipstick. I can’t even manage that level of precision without speaking… She catches me staring, and winks. “You’ll get good at a lot of things while working here.”

“Baby it is then,” I decide, and Dream pouts.

“I would have stuck with Tatum.”

After six hours learning the basics of the club, I manage to make it home so I can check on Mom, before starting the second half of my training tonight. Meg told me that Mom was able to eat most of her food before she fell asleep earlier today. Thankfully, my new schedule works well with hers so that my mom isn’t alone all day.

The good news is that every penny made after midnight is overtime. I didn’t get the vibe that I could ask any of the girls about meds, though. At least not yet. The closer I get to the end of my current supply, the worse the anxiety is going to get.

I need to find someone who can give me what I need, and I need to find them fast.

Because of the neutralizers worked into the air system at Haze, scents don’t become overwhelming, but an Omega in heat, is an Omega in heat. I want to avoid that possibility at all costs. For so many reasons.

Just the thought of going into heat at a time like this turns my stomach. I’ll be down for no less than three days, but it could be longer. I’ve missed three years worth of heats.

I make it into the bathtub, and I’m resting with my head on my arm that's draped over the edge of the tub, when my phone beeps. I dry my hand and grab my phone, unable to resist a little smile when I see who messaged me.

Declan: How was training?

Tatum: Exhausting. I’m having to search my soul deeply for the willpower to get out of this tub. I’ve refilled it three times already.

Declan: Thanks for letting me know you’re naked and wet. It’s making it so much easier to keep this professional.

Ahh. Right. I hadn’t meant for my reply to come across as suggestive or sexual, but I suppose he’s got a decent point.

Tatum: If it makes you feel better, it’s not a sexy bath. I am wet, but I look more like a drowned rat than anything else. Everything aches, and my toes need emergency intervention, or they might perish.

I’m being wildly dramatic, but…better than letting him get all hot and bothered for his new employee. That, and I don’t know that I would be all that great at ignoring his attempts for verylong. I struggle to type my next reply for a moment, unsure how to word what I want to say.

Tatum: Thanks for accelerating my training. I really do need the money.

Declan: I can think of a few ways you could earn some extra money.

Declan: Shit, that sounded suspicious. Ignore that message. I only meant there are a lot of events at the club coming up. Not that you could do things for me… You know what? I’m making it worse, aren’t I?

Tatum: Riiiight. Well, I’m going to extract my weakened body from this tub now. Try not to think of me, naked, dripping wet…

Declan: Cruel.

I chuckle, and consider sending him a picture. I let my mind imagine how that might go. How he’d respond.

Would he ask me to meet him in his office when I arrived? Would he bend me over his desk, like he keeps telling me he wishes he could?

I picture it, for just a moment, and then I shake the thought away and climb out of the tub.

Chapter Ten

Tatum

Six days. I’ve been working here six days, when everything gets so fucked.

I walk in, head for the lockers, and then stop short. I blink… Blink again. There’s no way. There’s no fucking way!

“Wh-who’s that?”

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