Slash took the money. “Thanks.”
A few more steps before another guy asked if she was dancing again.
“Not tonight,” she replied.
“How ‘bout a lap dance?” he asked.
“No,” Slash replied.
Twice more she was stopped and given tips.
After Jilly found a two-person table in the corner by the bar, she flagged over a server. “Coffee.”
“Sparkling water,” Slash said to the server.
After she left, Slash set the tip money in front of Jilly. “For you.”
“No, you keep it.”
“I told you and Deb you could have my tips tonight.” Slash flashed a smile. “Take it, ‘cause you won’t get free money from me again.”
On a laugh, Jilly scooped up the money. “Thanks.”
“Catch me up on your life,” Slash said.
“I’m single, no kids,” Jilly said. “I’m taking college courses online. It’s taking forever but, fingers crossed, I’m supposed to finish up this year. I’d like to work in marketing, maybe sales. I’ve been dancing for a while now and I’m totally burned out. That’s me over the last fifteen years. Tell me about you.”
“I bounced around for a while, did some dancing, lived in my car,” Slash said. “Then, I met someone who changed my life. I went to college?—”
“What did you study?”
Slash graduated with a double major in criminal justice and psychology, but she couldn’t tell Jilly the truth. It had been years since she’d needed a cover for people outside ALPHA. Elsa knew she’d been a Special Agent with the Bureau, so when she made the jump to ALPHA, she never mentioned it.
“Liberal arts,” Slash lied. “I was in sales. When my last job didn’t work out, I was hoping to make good money here.”
“You’ll clean up,” Jilly said. “This place is busy every day of the week. I pick up day shifts when I can, but my classes keep me super busy.”
The server returned with their drinks.
After she left, Slash asked, “Why’d you shake your head when Karen mentioned how the dancers ghosted on her?”
A man approached the table. “Hi, how you ladies doing?”
“Whatcha need?” Slash asked.
“If your shift isn’t over, I’d love a lap dance,” he said.
Her guts churned. She hated giving lap dances then. Wasn’t gonna like it now either. “My shift ended.”
“Tell me when you’re back and I’ll be here.”
“The schedule hasn’t been worked out,” Jilly said. “Slash is new.”
“What about you darlin’?” he asked. “You’re a hottie. How ‘bout we get some alone time?”
“No, that’s not my thing,” Jilly replied.
“You got great tits,” he said. “I’d love to fuck you?—”