Page 32 of Rex

“Um, do you trust me?” Lisa asks, and I’m instantly wary.

“Yeah, I think so. Unless you want to go to Club Ace, and then it’s a big fat no!” I answer.

“We’re going to go to The Devil’s Angels strip club, Dreams!” Lisa shouts, then laughs hard at the look on my face.

“A strip club? Really? I’ve never been to one.”

“Yep, and you’ll enjoy it. Freddy, a club member, manages it, so we’ll be safe. The security guys are awesome, and the bartender is Suki, and she is a blast. There are a few servers that are fun to hang with too. You’ll love Marti. She’s really sweet. She’s a server and bartends sometimes, too. If you aren’t having fun, we’ll leave. Promise.”

“Okay. Time for me to try new things, so off to a strip club we go,” I answer, then down the rest of my wine.

Walking to the front door, I pull it open to find Candy sitting on the step.

“Candy? Why didn’t you ring the bell?” I ask, confused.

Standing, she turns to us and gives a half grin.

“Where we going?” she asks without answering my question.

“Dreams,” Lisa answers while walking past us. “You coming with?”

“Yeah, I am. Want me to drive?” Candy says while holding out her hand.

Lisa drops her keys into Candy’s hand, and we make our way to Lisa’s car. I slide into the backseat and then contort my body to pull my dress back down to an acceptable level.

“Buckle up, ladies,” Candy orders and then starts the car.

I’m relaxing in my seat as Candy backs us out of my drive. We just start forward movement when suddenly Candy stands on the brakes. The car comes to a violent stop, and my seat belt engages to keep me in place. Shocked, I look at the back of Candy’s head and see she’s focused on the small strip of wooded area across from my home.

“What the hell, Candy?” Lisa half shouts.

Candy doesn’t answer but sits perfectly still, except for her eyes. They’re searching the trees, but for what, I have no idea. After another moment, Candy turns back to the road, and the car starts moving again.

“Sorry. Thought I saw someone I know,” Candy mumbles.

Lisa shoots me an amused look before turning back to the front.

“You have a guy friend you haven’t admitted to?” she asks Candy in an amused voice.

“What? No,” Candy answers, but the words are clipped.

I say nothing because Candy seems to be on edge, and I don’t want to push her over it. Lisa has no such qualms.

“I am offering my services as your hook-up coordinator, Candy. You say the word, and I’ll find you a guy.”

“Save your energy, Lisa. Not interested,” Candy mutters as she efficiently moves us through the evening traffic.

“In men or hook-ups in general?” Lisa teases.

“In general. My experience in life tells me not to trust in relationships or rely on many people. I like to keep my circle small, and I don’t like answering to a man,” Candy explains patiently.

What she doesn’t say speaks louder than her words. She’s been let down, abused, or disappointed before, probably repeatedly, and she’s not going back there again. I have mad respect for her fierce independence but also sadness for her past experiences.

“Not everyone will disappoint you, Candy,” Lisa advises in a soft voice.

“No, not everyone. I’m just staying vigilant as to who I allow in my world. I can be happy or miserable all on my own, but it’s my choice which to be. Like it or not, I’m also staying vigilant as to who’s in your worlds too. Same for the club members and their families. They’ve all adopted me for some odd reason, so it’s the least I can do to pay them back for giving me a family and a home. Not everyone’s going to like my methods, but it is what it is.”

“My dad is missing the boat! He should hire you for his security team. You’d whip those boys into shape fast,” Lisa states with a small laugh. “Even as kids, Lucy and I could lose them any day of the week.”

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