Page 15 of Encounter

“Won’t be much of a surprise if I tell you, will it?!” I grinned, unable to help myself but to enjoy the worry my childish excitement brought to his face.

Like one of the little neurotic handbag dogs, he tensed up, sank in the seat, and averted his gaze. Sure, a lot of it might have been because of what happened, but I knew all too well that the best way to get over it was to quickly bounce back. Galen seemed like the type of person to think too much. Sitting in his designer bedroom, in their staged, showroom house, losing his fragile little mind...

As we made our way through what I imagined was a part of the townfaraway from where he would usually spend his time, I couldn’t help but smile to myself even more. He was going to appreciate what was going to come.

“I’m n-not dressed for going anywhere,” he mumbled, looking down at his clothes.

Course he would worry about that.

His feet kept pointing toward the door like he was ready to jump out if necessary. I really needed to calm him down.No more teasing, Chast.

“Nobody’ll fucking care how you look where we’re goin’,” I replied in a pragmatic, amused tone. “Look, I think we both deserve to let off some steam. I’m fucking miserable having to sit around your house all day. And judgin’ by your demeanor... you could use some firing up as well,” I said, winking at Galen.

After about half an hour, we finally arrived at our destination at the very edge of the city. Obstructed by crumbling, old factories, the familiar, flashy building made me more excited than I should’ve been—especially as I waited for Galen to notice the signs and see his reaction.

Burying himself as deep in the seat as he could, he looked up at the neon lights above the strip club entrance.

Hell, this is fucking priceless. His face looks like I took us to a slaughter house. The poor kid probably hasn't touched a woman ever. And at that age, that’s a shame.

The parking lot was half-full, and people were moving in and out of the door. Every time it opened, a bright pink light from inside the establishment flashed over the cracked concrete. Satisfying buzzing slowly spilled through me as my body already reacted to the familiarity of it.

“Ever been before?” I asked him after I parked. I tried not to seem too mocking, but I couldn’t help it. He was the very stark opposite of the people I would usually spend my time with—which made it so damn entertaining.

Frowning, Galen shifted in his seat and glanced at me. “No,” he said.

“Well, you’re in luck. This ain’t just any regular strip club,” I teased while I undid my seatbelt. “We’re right outside the city borders. Things work a little different here. The law’s... a bit skewed. The girls here are more than happy to give a ‘lil more than a lap dance if you ask and pay right. But if that’s below you, feel free to wait in the car.”

As expected, Galen twitched, barely stopping himself from grabbing me as I stepped out. I waited, holding the car door and gazing at him through the window.

He checked the rear view mirror while nibbling at his bottom lip. “I’ll go,” he finally blurted. Something told me he deduced he was better off inside with me. It wasn’t the safest area—though I doubted anything would’ve happened to him.

“Thought so.” I smiled and began walking off while he stumbled out of the car like a bundle of nerves. “Come on, you gotta stop fretting. This is supposed to relax you too, you know? Ain’t just for me. I’m doin’ you a service.”

Excitement hastened my gait as I made my way toward the entrance, while Galen barely kept up, moving like he was on thin ice. For how skinny he was and how much smaller he made himself to be—always hunching his back and lowering his head—I almost hadn't noticed he was about the same height as me.

Looking up, he studied the flickering neon sign.Vixen’s Nest. A silhouette of a woman with fox’s ears and tail was next to it—probably nowhere near as classy as the escorts people in his circles would pay for, but he was going to enjoy it.

I opened the heavy metal door and released the chaos trapped inside. Moving aside with an exaggerated, elegant gesture, I held it for Galen to get in. Trying to suppress an awkward smile, he frowned and hesitantly entered.

Seemingly overwhelmed by the mixture of sounds that crashed into him right away—or startled by the bouncer—he needed me to nudge him to continue. I lifted two fingers up, waving at Mike, who seemed to grow twice in size every time I saw him.

Steroids are hell of a thing...

He didn’t care or ask for ID, not if the fledgling was with me.

The large main area of the club was filled with smoke, the scent of cheap perfume, and booze. Considering the early hour of the night, there were only three girls on the stage, and more of ‘em gathered up at the bar, chatting and laughing. The early shift crowd of drunks and weirdos didn’t pay much attention to us as we walked by.

“Early today, huh?” Frankie raise her brow at me when I stopped and leaned on the counter in front of her. “Your nephew or something?” she added with a raspy chuckle as soon as her eyes traveled toward Galen, who pussyfooted next to me.

“Sit down,” I ordered, pushing him down on the bar stool. Wouldn’t be surprised if he fainted again—especially here, considering the stale, heavy air. Taking out my wallet, I rested it on the bar and made a finger gesture at Frankie. “Glass of bourbon. Give him... whatcha want?”

“I don’t really drink,” Galen said while slumping his shoulders, earning him an annoyed eye roll and a chuckle from me.

“Give him a shot of vodka or somethin’ to loosen him up a bit.” When Frankie gave me a look, I leaned closer and winked. “He’s almost twenty-one.” She didn’t need more than that. This place was way past caring.

As I gulped down the glass Frankie set in front of me moments later, I ran my eyes across the room. There was a strange feeling at the bottom of my chest, and I wondered if it was because of having the kid with me. When I turned to check on him, I noticed a guy at the end of the bar, wearing a hoodie, and I caught his eyes.

Frowning, I stared at him, but he shrouded his face with his drink.

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