He nods, those dark blue eyes heedful.
We both stand there staring at each other.Neither of us wanting to be the first to turn away.
Suddenly the door swings open, “Ryan,” adeep, velvety voice calls, it’s the Dominator. “Yo, there areladies downstairs waiting for you, man.”
My stomach turns.
“Go,” I tell him and turn around. I can’tlook back; I can’t bear to see him go through that entryway. I trynot to picture him grinding on all those women. Try not to picturehim humping Emily up and down the stage.
I tell myself I shouldn’t be jealous.
He’s not mine.
Not anymore.
“Alana!” Emily calls my name just before Iclimb into the limo. “Are you okay?”
I examine the multiple meanings of okay;passable - acceptable or tolerable but not exceptional, allowable -acceptable to somebody or permissible, physically well - in goodhealth or condition. I’m a bit of a dictionary geek.
I look her dead in the eyes, “No.”
“Shit,” she pulls me into a hug. Emily knowsall about Ryan and me. She’s about the only one who knows. She wasthere the night we met, she heard all about our relationship issuesand she’s the one I leaned on when he left me in the dust.
Emily hands me my purse, “You probably need acigarette.”
“I probably need a shrink,” I pull one out ofthe pack and light it.
I remember Emily trying to convince me thatRyan was just a jerk, that he played me for one thing, and I fellright into his trap. But I just never believed that. I may havebeen young and inexperienced when it came to guys andrelationships, but character is something I could always read, eventhen. And read it well.
My father says being able to read a liarmakes for the greatest of lawyers, and being able to lie makes youuntouchable. Maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to the law. Not that Itake pride in being a good liar, but being able to read people hasproven beneficial, in academics and in life.
“I swear to God, Alana, I didn’t know it washim until I ripped off his mask, and then when I saw his face all Icould think about was you.”
“Did he know who you were?”
“He had no idea, the last time he saw me myhair was bleach blonde and shorter than his. And you can barely seeanything under those lights. When he recognized me, he asked if Iwanted him to stop. I just told him to finish quick.”
“He came after me,” I say astonished.
“I saw. As soon as you ran out of that room,he was right behind you. One of the other strippers, er, guysgrabbed him by the arm and shoved shoes and a towel in his hand.Then I told Hugo that I wanted him as our private dancer the restof the night.”
“You requested him?” I suddenly feel worldsbetter.
“Ah, yeah, there was no way I was lettinganother woman touch him in front of you,” she says making thiskneading dough gesture with her hands.
“You’re seriously the best, Em.” I hugher.
“Tell me something I don’t know. I’ve beencovering your ass forever.”
“And I love you so much for-”
“So what did he say?” she interrupts me, notcaring at all about the gratitude. “Did he pull the whole ‘itwasn’t you it was me thing?’ Or ‘I didn’t think it was going towork out so I thought it was best to just cut my losses’ asshole,man, excuse thing?”
“Ah no, actually, he told me,” I bubble withlaughter because it’s just so unbelievable. “He called me his girl,and said now that he got me back he wasn’t letting go of meagain.”
Emily’s mouth falls open, “No shit, wellwhere the hell has he been for the last five years?”
“He wouldn’t tell me.”