Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
We’re apparently running late when we reach the night’s venue, and Brittany hustles us inside to prepare for our rehearsal. Jordan tries to initiate a conversation, but she’s all business, telling us there’s no time to talk, no time to spare.
I catch glimpses of her talking to the club’s manager while we run through our numbers, but when she looks our way, she doesn’t make eye contact.
Whatever conversation we’re eventually going to have, it’s not going to be good. Like me, the other men are going through the motions of their routines with grim expressions.
The day started off so great. I wouldn’t say the situation has ever seemed completely solid, but I don’t understand what could have brought about such a shift in Brittany since then. Hopefully, whatever’s gotten to her, we’ll be able to talk it out.
There isn’t a ton of time between the rehearsal and the show, but all four of us are determined to talk with Brittany, even though she’s avoiding us. Jordan and I track her down outside, where she’s talking to Toad.
“Can we talk to you inside about an issue?” Jordan says, interrupting the two of them. Brittany’s not fooled, but what can she say? She’s our manager; she needs to handle issues, even if this one has nothing to do with the tour.
“What’s up?” she asks, still not making eye contact as we go back inside.
“That’s what we’d like to know,” he says.
“I told you I’d talk to you later.”
“Now’s a good time.” He grips her upper arm. “Come to the dressing room.”
She shakes her head. “That’s not a good idea.”
“It’ll be fine. C’mon.”
Reluctantly, she comes with us, and once we’re inside the dressing room, Zane stands at the door, blocking it from any surprise intrusions. Not that it looks like anything sexy is going to be happening anytime soon.
“Something happened. What happened?” Jordan asks.
She lets out a sigh. “I didn’t really want to get into this here, but if you’re going to push, then I will.”
“Something’s bothering you, and it has us all concerned,” I tell her.
Her eyes soften when she looks my way, but her mouth is set in a hard line. “I just … I came to my senses earlier. When I’m with you, when we’re talking, when we’re touching, I can’t think straight. I shouldn’t have let things come as far as they have, because this just won’t work, and we need to stop. Cold turkey. No more.”
Jordan opens his mouth, and I can tell from the look on his face that he’s about to protest. I clamp a hand on his shoulder. Right now, an argument is only going to make Brittany dig her heels in deeper.
“You’re having doubts,” I say, wanting to give her an opening to share what she’s thinking.
“I’m in the process of buying a house. I’ve been in an apartment my entire adult life, and I just want a little space that’s my own. If I lose my job, or if I take a step backward, the house isn’t going to happen.
“What we’ve been doing has been a lot of fun, but it’s not worth sacrificing my dreams, meager as they are, and it’s not worth any of you sacrificing your jobs, either.”
Jordan opens his mouth again, but she raises a hand to stop him. “I don’t want to sneak around. I don’t want to try to force something to work that’s destined to fail. Zane and I are damaged people, and if the rest of you aren’t damaged yet, maybe you would be after we tried to make this work.”
All of us look like we want to object, but Brittany’s on a roll.
“Colin and Jordan, I can’t believe that either one of you is ready to settle down with one woman. Owen, too. You’re all living the lifestyle that club dancers enjoy. All the women want you, and I’m sorry to say this, but I’d be selfish. I wouldn’t want to share you with anyone else.”
“Brittany, you’re being —” Jordan starts.
“No, please don’t. We can’t continue what we’ve been doing, but I also really hope we don’t have to go back to arguing and tormenting each other. Can we just be tour manager and performers, and just do our jobs and go home?”
“Brittany —”
She doesn’t let Colin get more than a word out. “Please don’t argue. I will win the argument. We can talk about this more later, but I’m not going to change my mind.”
She strides toward Zane, and he moves out of her way, looking like he’s been punched in the gut. She opens the door and disappears.
“What a fucking load of bullshit!” Jordan’s so loud that Brittany can probably still hear him. “What does she know about what kind of lifestyle I’m living and who I want to be with?”
“She’s just adding reasons to back up her decision,” Colin says, cuffing Jordan’s shoulder and giving him a companionable shake. “Don’t take that personally.”