Page 108 of Reclaimed

“Do tell him I said hello.”

I hold my breath as Manny rises from his chair. The urge to flee zips through my bones. I watch warily as Manny flips through a file and extracts a letter-sized white envelope.

He rounds his desk, stopping in front of me. Close, but not crossing the line.

“Your check.” He extends the envelope between two fingers.

I pinch the paper, but he holds firm. His eyes lock on mine as he leans into my space.

“And a bonus.”

Then he lets go.

Only once he walks toward his desk do I release a shaky inhale.

“You made me a lot of money, my dear Stella. For that, I gave you my cut this week.”

I harden my voice. “I don’t want your money, Manny.”

The wave of his hand resembles that of shooing a pesky bug. “Relax. No strings attached. I do this for all my best entertainers.”

The need to push back rises inside of me, but I tamp it down. I’m not about to fight this by myself. Maybe with an audience I’d let my fire fly. But not alone.

I’ll fill in Aiden later and together we can decide what to do. If anything. It’s possible I’m being paranoid, but I don’t like the idea of being indebted to anybody. I’d rather take precisely what I earn and not a penny more.

I hold up the envelope. “Thank you.”

Without waiting for his response, I walk out the door. A heavy weight leaves my shoulders as I step in the hall and drag a cleansing breath into my lungs.

I did it.

I’m officially done dancing at XO’s. Possibly dancing for an audience ever. I still need a job. Something during daycare hours so that I can work and pick up the baby when I’m done. But withthe money I’ve saved, I have a little time to figure the next part out.

Closing this chapter in my life is fitting. It just means the page is blank for what’s about to come.

And if it includes Aiden and this baby, then I can’t wait to see the story we write together.

A few more customers have joined the early evening rush, but the three men at the bar vacated sometime while I was in the back.

“Isla!”

I turn at my name. Benjamin lifts up the partition and walks out from behind the bar. “Hey, I was hoping to catch you.”

“Hey, Ben.”

The white towel in his hands twists and untwists between his restless fingers. “Last day, huh?”

“For the second time,” I laugh.

“You probably won’t be back this time though. With the baby and all.”

“You know?”

He nods, the motion oddly sober. “Kelly heard Juniper talking about you at The Rocks. Heard you’re having a boy.”

“I am.” I rest a casual hand on my stomach.

“Carter will have a new buddy to play with.”

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