I was mid-split in my dance routine when I saw him approach the stage. His long hair pulled back slightly, in the typical black button down ruffled shirt which was characteristic of him. The glasses sliding down his nose slightly.
That looks like Howie. Howie would never come in here would he? He never did when we were going out. Or since then. Howie would never bother me here.
“Lucia.” Howie pulled at the garter on my upper thigh, sticking in a few dollars for good measure. “Will you give me a table dance when you get off stage?”
“Are you insane?” I cried. “Get out of here.”
“Is that a no?”
“Of course it’s a no. Oh my God, what are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that I never got the chance to see you dance and I’d like to.”
“No, find someone else.”
“Okay, I will.” He shrugged. “I figured you could use the money is all.”
I was aghast. He was doing it to get under my skin, he had to be. He had to be upset because of what I’d said to him the week before, and he knew that work was the one place that I really could not avoid him, it was the one part of my life he had not infiltrated.
I walked over to the bar. The bartender, Korynne, was talking to Marissa.
“Glass of water?” She asked as I walked up.
“Yes, please.” I said. “Oh my god, my ex is in here.”
“Are you serious?” Korynne asked. “Is he hassling you?”
“He wants me to dance for him!” I cried. “What a loser.”
“Want me to kick his ass?” Marissa offered.
“Why don’t you ask him for a table dance?” I asked. “He’ll probably say yes.”
“Won’t that just encourage him?” Korynne asked.
“It’ll keep him from talking to me,” I replied.
“Are you serious?” Marissa asked.
“Completely,” I said. “I just don’t want him talking to me.”
“Okay, sure.” Marissa put out her cigarette and walked over there.
“Do you think Leo would let me go home early tonight?” I asked.
“Doubtful,” Korynne replied. “there’s hardly any girls working.”
“Yeah, that’s a good point.” I sighed. “I guess I should see if I can make some money.”
“Why would he do that?” I asked, when I told Ben about it at Congress Grill that night. I picked at the french toast I had ordered.
“He was probably drunk or something.” Ben shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about it. It was most likely only a one time thing.”
“What if it’s not, though?”
“Then you can find another club to work in. That place isn’t the only watering hole in town.”
“I just don’t get it. I tried to be nice to him, I tried to let him down easy.”
“Well, you must have some kind of super powers.”
“Super powers?”
“You know, super feminine powers. It seems like men never want to let you go. You must have something going for you.”
“Funny.” I smirked. “I dont know what Howie’s problem is, but it’s getting creepy.”
“Just don’t indulge him. He’ll go away eventually.”