Page 700 of Hell Hath No Fury
My mind immediately goes to something that Tool used to call me. He said I was a siren he couldn’t resist. Well, he’s about to find out how true that is.
“Siren. I want to be called Siren.”
“Girl, yes! The guys are going to go crazy over you.” She lifts a piece of my dark hair. “You’re like a sexy-ass mermaid with your black hair and green eyes.”
That makes me snort. “Thanks.”
After filling out the paperwork, I meet Jas, who’s waiting for me out front. She pulls me into a hug when she sees me.
“Holy cow. You looked so hot up there, Machelle!”
“It’s Siren now.”
“Hell yeah! Come on. This calls for a shopping spree.”
We spend the rest of the afternoon buying items for me to wear on stage. Jas tells me how she got her club name, which isJasmine, after a failed themed night at the strip club. We both laugh so hard that tears leak from our eyes.
“Thanks. I really needed this.”
She bumps her shoulder into mine. “Ditto.”
I look over at her.
“Do you think I’m crazy for doing this?”
“I think this is you claiming your life back. So what if Tool was the catalyst? You’ve just been going through the motions since we got back and haven’t really been living, ya know?”
That makes me frown. And here I thought I was hiding it so well.
“I’m not saying this to hurt your feelings. I truly think it’s great you’re getting a job and putting yourself out there.”
“And Tool?”
“What do you hope happens?”
That has me sighing dramatically. “I don’t know. I didn’t think he’d just let me walk away, so I’m not sure this will do anything.”
“The main thing is making sure you’re happy.”
I think back to how I felt while dancing for Arizona and the other women. I felt like a rockstar up there. I feltalive.
“I’m happy.”
Happy-ish…
Jas says, “Then that’s all that matters.”
* * *
I manage to avoid Tool at the clubhouse over the next ten days, which allows to me to dive fully into my new job at the strip club. Liv offers to watch Wentworth while I’m working, which takes a lot of pressure off me since childcare is expensive, especially since I work from eight at night to two in the morning. Eachnight, I do what I love, and I discover something shocking. I’mhappy. Like, happier than I’ve ever been in my life. And everyone who sees me notices.
Tulip stops by my vanity, where I’m adding smoky shadow to my eyelids.
“Girl, you’re glowing. Tell me what bronzer you’re using.”
I hand her the bottle. “It really makes glitter pop, too.”
“You are speaking my language. Mind if I borrow some?”
