Page 1 of Beautifully Reckless

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Stumbling backwards as I round the corner, I plaster myself to the wall of the narrow passage just as a set of voluptuous breasts come bouncing my way.

“The crowd is hungry tonight, Angel.” Shandi beams, tossing her sweaty bra at me where it smacks me dead in my face. “I bet they’d love a baby mumma shaking her milky tits at them.”

My glare is nothing new as I peel the hot pink lace from my face, stacking it on top of the other lingerie I have bundled in my arms.

“Give it a rest, Shandi. Stop trying to get Angel out on the stage.” Ariel slaps Shandi’s bare arse as she squeezes past, both women giggling as Shandi gives a playful shake of her well endowed butt with a wink over her shoulder.

Sighing, I shake my head, fighting back a grin.

Who would have thought I’d end up in a strip club? No one I know, that’s for sure, which is exactly why this is the perfect place for me.

“I go on in five minutes,” Ariel smiles playfully, hitching up her breasts so the tops of her nipples peek over her black lace bra. “Make sure you watch from side stage. I’m doing my new trick tonight.”

“Sure, I’ll try to make it.” I roll my eyes, smiling. “As soon as I get this in the wash and clean the vomit from the men’s toilets, I’ll be sure to watch you squeeze baby cucumbers from your hooha.”

Ariel gives my shoulder a playful slap. “Girl, this ain’t no hooha. This is grade-A pooosey,” she coos, thrusting her pelvis at me.

“Stop it.” I giggle, shaking my head before leaving her to limber up in preparation for her set.

My cheeks are red, just as they usually are when conversation turns to anything remotely sexual, so I force myself to think of something else. Anything else as I weave through the maze of passages heading towards the back room, where the washing machine thuds loudly on the spin cycle.

Dropping the pile of lacy undergarments into the basket, I move to the dryer, watching the clothes spin.

My reflection stares back at me in the glass door.

I look like me, but also, I don’t.

My hair is a dusty pink now, thanks to Martini and her pink shampoo, allowing me to have a temporary change without really doing any damage to my hair.

A fake nose ring glints in the light, reminding me that this new life I’m living is nothing more than an illusion. A bad attempt ata new identity as I hide away from the police, my family, Daniel and his mates, and the Southern Sadists MC.

The curve hugging clothes Ariel insisted I wear to help me blend into the vibe of this place feel too revealing given how big my twenty-four week baby bump is.

Even so, Abbey Delany, the good little Catholic girl from Fox Pines with her makeup free face and golden blonde hair would stand out like a green grape in a bowl of deep red cherries in this place. Hence the appearance change.

But I’m not her anymore. I can’t be if I want to keep my unborn baby safe.

As if the little tacker can hear my thoughts, the sensation I started feeling last week flutters, like a ghost of movement, so light it barely registers. But I know my baby. I know he or she is reminding me that soon enough, I will hold him or her in my arms.

“I’ll find somewhere safe for us, little carrot. I promise,” I whisper, running my hands over my bump, hoping my baby can hear me and feel the safety I want to provide that I haven’t felt in so long.

Even here, at Leather and Lace, I’m not truly safe. It’s not the best environment to be living in, but it’s better than living on the streets of Melbourne. Better than the shelters where cops lurk and questions are asked.

It’s been over three weeks since I fled Ringo. It was by chance that Ariel and Martini found me defeated and crying, sitting on the curb outside Leather and Lace. They took me in. No questions. Just a lumpy couch, a job cleaning, and a little security.

It’s more than I had before, and I don’t even have to take my clothes off and dance on the stage. You could even say I’m happy.

Kinda.

Sorta.

Okay, maybe that’s a lie I keep trying to tell myself to stop myself from thinking about him… Ringo.

A sudden burst of shouting from the club shakes me out of my thoughts, and I frown.

It kind of sounds like a fight has broken out, but it could also just be overexcited patrons watching Ariel squeeze those cucumbers out. She’s definitely a crowd favourite.

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