I’ll remember the things that he made me feel, desired and beautiful, worthy. I’ll remember every moment with him, because these moments will last me a lifetime. I will never end up with a man like him, so just to have him for this short time, it means absolutely everything to me—everything.
Chapter Ten
TULIP
I don’t know what I expected tonight, but Louis doing exactly as he promised was not it. Work is over, I did my dancing and not once did he cause a scene, or try to talk me out of going on stage. I’m not sure if I’m happy that he followed through with his word or disappointed.
Charlie watches me from the corner of the dressing room as I pull my oversized hoodie on over my skimpy dance outfit. Shifting my gaze to hers every so often, I wonder why she hasn’t said much to me today.
“Is everything okay?” I chance asking as I hitch my small bag over my shoulder.
She clears her throat, shrugging a shoulder as she packs her makeup and things inside of a small bag. “That guy, the one looking for you?”
“Yeah?” I ask when she doesn’t immediately continue.
“He wasn’t just some guy from town, was he?”
Pausing, I press my lips together as I avoid her gaze for a moment. Louis isn’t just some guy, he never will be. He is bigger than life, he is massive from the inside out. Lifting my gaze to meet hers, I release my lips, still unsure of how I want to approach this.
“He’s the one, right? Which means that he won’t want you doing this much longer. You’ll be leaving me,” she whispers.
My breath comes out in a whoosh when I realize that she wasn’t talking about him being a boxer, but more that she’s worried I’ll be quitting the club. To be honest, this was only supposed to be temporary anyway, but I can’t deny that meeting Charlie was probably one of the better things to happen to me in the past few months.
“I don’t know if he’s anything more than the one for right now,” I admit.
He could definitely be the one for me, but I’m fairly certain that I am not the one for him. He is going to go on to bigger and brighter things.
She presses her lips together, then shakes her head. “You’re in denial. It’s cute, but I doubt you’ll be working here by the end of the month. It’s okay really, you were never meant for the stage anyway.”
“Why do you say that?” I ask.
I’m no better or different from any of the girls in this place. I was born and raised in this town, just like Charlie. Came from the same kind of parental background and like her, I’m just trying to get a little ahead in this life.
Charlie takes a few steps toward me and reaches for my hands. Once my hands are placed in hers, she squeezes them with her eyes focused on mine. “You were not meant for this place. You’re too sweet. Too soft and too damn nice.” She grins with a wink. “Go to your man, he’s probably waiting for you, isn’t he?”
“How did you know?” I breathe.
She shakes her head. “I didn’t, not really. But the way he looked when he came here yesterday, I knew without a doubt that he wouldn’t ever let you out of his sight again, not unless he didn’t have a choice.”
“Charlie,” I whisper.
She dips her chin, her eyes lifting to meet my own. “I was meant for this, Tulip. I was raised in this life. You weren’t. Now, I want you to hold on to that big beautiful man for as long as physically possible. One of us deserves a good life and it’s going to be you,” she whispers.
“No, you do too and you’ll have it,” I say with a determined nod.
“Okay, hun,” she says to pacify me. I know that’s what she’s doing. “Now, go and be with him. Maybe he’ll give you some more of what he gave you before you came into work,” she says with a wink as her hands drop from mine.
My mouth falls open and I stand there with my lips parted, just staring at her. She laughs as she shakes her head a couple of times.
“Go get you some of the good stuff, girl,” she calls out before she brushes past me with her bags in her hands and walks out of the dressing room.
Gathering my things, I follow behind her, only to run into someone in the middle of the dark club. Slowly, I lift my gaze to the man who is blocking me from leaving to see that it’s Joey standing in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask between gritted teeth.
He tilts his head to the side, his eyes looking down into mine, but they aren’t focused, not on me or anything else. His gaze keeps bouncing around and it’s then that I know he’s on something.
Pressing my lips together, I try not to make any sudden moves. He’s not in his right mind. I’m the only person in here. I already know that the sad excuse for security is outside with the dancer that he’s screwing on the side.
“You changed your mind yet? You’re killin’ me here, Tulip,” he says in a rush.
Shaking my head, I try to take a step back, but his hands wrap around my biceps and he tugs me against him. He shakes me a couple of times, his eyes frantically moving all over the place, never settling anywhere.
“Joey, you need help,” I whisper.
He snorts. “I need you to let me back into my apartment,” he snaps.
“It’s not yours,” I murmur. “Go home to your mother’s. I know she’d be happy to have you.”
“You know Raylee means nothin’. It was just a little fun. You know that I love you, Tulip. You’re my girl.”
I wince at his declaration. It’s too many years late. I’m not his, never really was. Not now and never will be. Trying to wriggle from his grasp, he finally releases me with a small push and I stumble backward.
“Nobody will want you, Tulip. Once everyone in town finds out that you strip on the side, no man will want a whore like you,” he spits.
Straightening my spine, I narrow my eyes on him. “I don’t care. Even if I stay alone for the rest of my life, I will never regret not taking you back. I’m done, Joey. We’ve spent too many years together being unhappy. I want more for myself.”
“You won’t have dick here by the time I’m done with you. You’ll be singing a different fucking tune and I’m going to enjoy watching you crawl back to me and you will crawl, Tulip. Fuck, it’s going to be great watching you degrade yourself for another chance with me.”
He turns around before I can respond and I watch him slip out of the back of the club. Closing my eyes, I inhale a deep breath before I let it out as I attempt to compose myself.
“Hey baby, are you ready?” a smooth voice asks, causing me to practically jump out of my skin.
Turning around, I give Louis a shaky smile as he watches me with a look of concern from the front entry. Hitching my bag up on my shoulder a little higher, I shuffle in his direction, reaching out I wrap my hand around his waist as I press against his side and tip my head back to look up into his beautiful sea green gaze.
“I am, let’s go,” I breathe.
He doesn’t say anything, thankfully. Instead, he dips his chin and touches his lips to my forehead.
“Let’s get that glitter and shit off your body. You know how long it took me to get it off this morning in the shower?” he asks as he presses his hand to the small of my back and we walk toward his waiting truck.