Page 65 of Scattered Glitter

Vortex is out of the question, thanks to Hottie, but Vegas has no shortage of clubs. There’s always someone willing to fill the void, but even thinking about it feels hollow. Empty. Cold.

I’m so fucking tired of this.

I close my eyes, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest, suffocating me. My fingers dig into the velvetof the bench beneath me, searching foranythingto anchor me. The itch for oblivion creeps up my spine, but instead of giving in, I let my mind drift to somewhere warmer.

Tuscany.

I force myself to picture it, dragging my thoughts away from the neon haze of Vegas to sun-drenched hills.

The air is thick with the scent of lavender and warm earth. Fields of gold and green stretch out beneath a sky so wide it feels as if it could swallow me whole. Cypress trees line winding dirt roads, their dark silhouettes cutting through the soft, golden light of the late afternoon.

The ache in my chest loosens a little. I can almost feel the warmth on my skin, the way the sun seeps into my bones, chasing the chill away.

The faint rustle of olive leaves in a breeze so gentle it’s like a whisper against my cheek.

In this imagined space, the weight of expectation lifts. There’s no need to beGlitter,no need to be anyone but myself. I inhale deeply, the imagined scent of vineyards and wildflowers filling my lungs, pushing out the stale air of the locker room. I let my mind wander to the feeling of dipping my toes into a cool stream, the pebbles smooth beneath my feet.

The quiet is absolute, a blanket of calm wrapping around me—no pulsing music, leering eyes, or grasping hands.

My fingers loosen their grip, the tremors fading, and the tears that had threatened to fall retreat.

I’m not whole, not yet. But I’m not breaking apart either.

You can get through this,I tell myself again, and this time, it feels a little more true.

When I open my eyes, the fluorescent lights of the locker room are still harsh, the air still cold, and the desperate edge is gone.

I’m still here, still breathing.

Just as I’m about to pull off my wig and call it a night, Carl strides into the locker room and comes to stand in front of me, his thick arms crossed over his chest. “You’ve got a private booked,” he says gruffly.

Perfect. Just perfect.

I huff, letting out a dry laugh. The universe wouldn’t let me off that easily. I know I could say no. God knows I’ve turned down clients before, but the idea of walking out of here, out into the Vegas night sober and alone, feels like a worse fate than dancing for some drunken asshole with a handful of cash.

“All right,” I mutter, pushing myself to stand.

I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror as I stand. Glitter stares back at me, looking flawless despite the cracks I feel inside, so I tug the straps of my G-string, adjusting them. It’s all about the illusion, right?I’m good at this.

As I make my way toward the private rooms, the familiar buzz of the club hits me again. The sound is usually grounding, something that keeps me in the moment, but tonight, it’s merely noise.

My body feels heavy, as though I’m dragging myself through water, each step harder than the last. I don’t have a choice but to keep going because if I stop, if I let the cracks show, I’ll break. And that’s something I can’t afford.

Stopping in front of the private room, I force a smile onto my face as I adjust the strap of my heel. My hand reaches out to push the curtain aside when I hear it.

“Sparkle!”

The sound cuts through the thrum of the club, unmistakable.

Fuck.

I turn toward the voice and watch Hottie weavingthrough the room, his eyes locked on me. My stomach twists, heat crawling up the back of my neck as I snap my attention back to the curtain. I can’t deal with this right now.

Pushing inside, I shut the curtain firmly behind me and take a moment to compose myself. The guy already sitting on the velvet couch looks up at me, his business suit impeccably tailored, his expression neutral but polite.

“Hi,” I say with a practiced smile, stepping fully into the room and letting Glitter take over.

But then I hear Hottie again, just outside the room.

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