Page 4 of Claiming Atlas

“Probably a good idea.” For her, not me. I don’t take time off. Which is why I’m retiring at the end of the week. I’ve worked my ass off on that stage for five long years, and aside from Mondays when we’re closed, or the bi-monthly trips to clubs around the country where I spotlight, I’m at Top Tier every damn night.

I love these girls, but very few of them have the desire—drive?—to get out of here anytime soon. My best friend here loves the lifestyle. The gifts, the adoration, the money—

“There are a couple of hotties sitting at the stage.”

—she wouldn’t leave the spotlight, even if she’d saved a mill in the bank. Hell, knowing her, she might have already done that.

“They want to go out tonight.”

The limelight is great and all, but it’s not really for me. I have dreams that don’t involve nudity, if you can believe it—

“Kayla Jane.”

Scar’s use of my first and middle name brings me back to the present. I roll my eyes. “Scarlet Rae,” I say, giving it right back to her. “You know the rules.”

She tsks her tongue. “Friday’s your last day.”

“Then I’ll have fun on Saturday.”

“Lies. You’ll use packing as your excuse on Saturday.”

She knows me way too well.

“I think you can make an exception to the rule just thisonetime, no?”

“No.” I pull my red sequin dress from my locker and hold it up, inspecting the sequins for any bare spots. My Jessica Rabbit routine is up next.

“Kayyyyy,” Scar whines. “You never have any fun.”

“I have fun.”

Scar snorts, so I turn around. She’s naked.

Because of course she is. My best friend would live at a nudist colony if there was one close enough to the club. She strides toward me, wavy blonde hair cascading down over her breasts. She looks up at me through her falsies, like this will have the same effect on me that it does on the dudes who are always taking her out. She places her hands on my upper arms. “Come on, Kay, it’s just one night. You, me, two incredible looking men withdeep”—her eyes widen dramatically—“pockets. Let looseonetime. For me.”

I narrow my eyes, then sigh. “Let me guess. Since there are two of them, they’ll only hang out if you bring a friend.”

Her lips pull into a wide smile and she releases my arms as her hands start to go a mile a minute, trying to keep up with her words. “Yes, oh my gosh, the one, his name’s Brandon, and oh, Kayla, he’ssogorgeous. He wears a suit like no one I’ve ever seen before, all snug and”—she shivers—“and he’stall, with dark hair and these pale blue eyes. He’s only in town for a few days, but his friend—he would be your date—is only in town tonight.” She flips her hair and pulls in a breath of air. “And they really want to have a good time, but Brandon doesn’t want to ditch his buddy, so I said I’d bring you.”

“Me?” Shaking my head, I hold her gaze. “You already told them it was me?”

“Well, yeah, I mean...” She lowers her gaze to the floor. Smart girl. “You’reKincaid Summers, babe, of course they’d want you to come.”

I plop down on the bench. It’s cool on my ass cheeks, reminding me that I’m in nothing but a thong. I jump up quickly then step into my dress before sitting back down.

Scar watches me, waiting for me to give in. Which I will. Because I always do.

I sigh loudly, overdoing it so she knows just how annoyed I am.

She squeals before I’ve even voiced my acquiescence. “Thank you! Thank you!” She rushes toward me and throws her arms around my neck, pressing her bare chest against deep red sequins. “Ow, shit.” She pulls back, rubbing her nipples. “Babe, I’m not into pain play.”

I shake my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You love me.” She teases her nipples a bit before releasing them and shaking her breasts at me.

Ignoring boobs I’ve seen more than I’ve seen my own, I pull my red wig on and tuck any loose strands of brown hair up into it, then secure it with wig pins. I do love her. And, truth be told, I’d do anything for Scarlet. She’s the sister I never had. Family. “Is my guy at least cute?” If I’m going to have to shoot the shit with him all night, I’d at least like to know that he’s easy on the eyes.

“Oh yeah, totally your type.”

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