Page 67 of Mimosa

Daiq brushed along Mims’s face, purring loudly. “You know, he’s right. What if you got out? You could get hurt and that would make us all very, very sad.”

More purring, then, like he’d heard Mims, he jumped off the bed and went to the door, meowing loudly.

“Okay, let’s go to Cosmo’s room.”

After depositing Daiq with his daddy, Mims got dressed and everyone met in the basement for practice. Mims did some fancymoves that Goldie taught them, and Hippy volunteered to do the running with Cosmo to the patio and backroom tables.

That meant Mims would be front and center the entire night. That made him nervous.

“You know you’re a good dancer,” Haze told him.

“I do not know that.”

“Well, you are. Come on, do some more moves.”

Mims closed his eyes and let the music take over his doubts and he remembered he was unencumbered. He was light and free, and for once, he let his body sway and dance, happy to feel each note of the song penetrate him.

Goldie grabbed him and they danced together, Goldie moving him easily around the basement floor, and Mims saw it, the lights, the faces. The many, many nights he’d been in the spotlight, all the patrons cheering on their fun. He was there, on that bar, dancing for them, making them love him.

For so long, he’d begged to be loved, missed that love that he thought he’d lost, but remembering he’d been loved all along, that made him smile, and suddenly, he couldn’t wait to show his joy to all those that came each weekend to play.

The six had never really considered their jobs work. Yes, their feet ached at the end of each weekend night. Their bodies sore, their voices ragged, but instead of work, it was as if they were at a bar with friends having a good time, because they were.

That Friday, he danced on top of the bar, pouring shots down the throats of customers, shaking his ass, and flirting terribly with Cosmo, Haze and Goldie, who were closest to him.

The music was kicking, all his favorite pop songs, songs that were easy to dance to.

But Saturday was when he really shined.

Abs helped him dress extra sexy, and he had a thin line of black around his eyes, his lips a little darker and shinier withgloss and his pants were stretchable, so he could dance all he wanted and not split them.

“Your man is coming tonight. He’s gonna drool all over you.”

Mims stood in front of the mirror and spun around to look at himself front to back. “I think he just might.”

“How long is this gonna last, you know, with him not getting away much?”

“I don’t know. Maybe until they get busted.”

“Bummer,” Abs said, and hugged him.

“Yeah, but tonight, he’s mine. I may hide his damn phone.”

“Do it. I’ll hold onto it for you.”

“I may take you up on that.”

They went out together in one line to the bar and the crowd that had already gathered cheered and whistled. Hippy began his juggling as Haze took orders, and Mims poured beer after beer while trying to find Sonny in the crowd.

He wasn’t there.

“Where’s your bae?” Abs asked as he came over to Mims to grab a bottle of tequila.

“I don’t know. I’m ready to get really pissed.”

“I don’t blame you.”

Checking his phone, he didn’t see any messages from Sonny and no missed calls. There was no time to worry about it, though, as they were especially busy that night.

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