Page 2 of Double Cowboys
Cindy nods thoughtfully.
“So what do you think it is?” she asks. “What’s your motivation, girl?”
I shake my head.
“I don’t know. Habit, I guess? Boredom, even? I don’t know. Maybe it’s because dancing is something that AI can’t do, so I want to keep my skills up.”
“Oh my god!” Cindy chortles with mirth. “You’re thinking too far ahead, Ki. Seriously, AI isnottaking over the world.”
“You don’t know that,” I say in a dark tone. “One day, maybe beautiful bot girls will get on stage and gyrate for a hungry male audience. Anything could happen.”
“Or maybe Brandon and Brent will be replaced by robots who play football,” Cindy quips in return. “That could be interesting.”
“You get my point,” I say. “I have no idea why I’m going on stage tonight. Talk me out of it before I do something really stupid.”
“Oh, you know you’re talking to the wrong person,” Cindy purrs. “I met Brandon and Brent at a debauched Sweet Lies party, so I’m definitelynotgoing to tell you to not go on stage. Excuse the double negative,” she adds with a wink.
“I know,” I sigh heavily. “I just think that … I don’t know, that I should be moving on. That I should try to cultivate an image of a good-girl who goes to church and does godly things. Instead, I’m entertaining men at the Starlight Saloon.”
“But it’s fine,” Cindy says in a soothing tone. “Who wants to be a trad wife? Those women are sooo repressed.”
“I never said I wanted to be a trad wife,” I say with a smile. “Just that I should try to be respectable for a change.’”
Cindy pshaws.
“Respectable is boring, and you have your whole life for that. Right now, you’re twenty-one and gorgeous, Ki. Why not live itup a little? Besides, you’re doing something that you enjoy, and that you’re good at. So what’s the harm?”
I shoot her a wry smile.
“Getting up on stage and shimmying for strange men sounds okay to you?”
Cindy shrugs.
“To each their own, girlfriend. You know I don’t judge. Besides, this gig was set up by Sweet Lies, right? So it’s not like you’re in danger or anything like that. The agency’s already vetted the venue, and you’re going to be fine. Enjoy yourself, Ki! Like I said, you’re young and only live once. Take it from me,” she purrs with another wink. “I’m a mama now, and I have no time for sexy shenanigans.”
“Unless said shenanigans involve your two boyfriends,” I interject.
Cindy has the grace to blush.
“Yes, unless they include Brandon and Brent,” she amends. “But you’re young, beautiful, and curvy, and -- oh my god, your screen just lowered and I caught a glimpse of your outfit. You lookdivine, Ki. Those purple pasties are going to drive the men wild.”
I giggle then while looking down at myself. I’m curvy everywhere, and my Double D breasts look especially ripe tonight, lush, large and bouncy.
“So you think I should do it.”
“Yeah, absolutely,” Cindy agrees. “If you hate the men at the saloon, then just finish the set and stop. It doesn’t matter because you don’t need the money, and it’s not like Sweet Lies isgoing to ding you or anything. You’ve fulfilled your obligation to them, so it’s all good.”
“Okay, so now I should be a responsible person, if not respectable.”
Cindy winks at me.
“It’s all semantics, Ki, and you know it. You’re going to knock ‘em dead with your bangin’ body, and the men will reel and gasp when they see you. Or should I say break a leg?”
I giggle.
“I’ll take the sentiment, not literally of course. Okay, thanks for the pep talk, Cin. Give Stormy a kiss for me when she wakes up, and say hi to Brandon and Brent.”
My friend winks again.
