Katy nodded.
“She wants you to go somewhere?” I moved my fingers in a generic sign language for walking.
Katy didn’t answer me, just held up a finger.
“I’ll get Bee,” I whispered, and she rolled her eyes and shushed me
“We’ve got to get stuff ready for Ariel’s bachelorette party.” I heard Sophie say.
They finished their call and Katy hung up.
I twisted so that I was facing her and made myself comfortable. “So, what’s up?”
“She was trying to see if I could help with a few things for Ariel’s party. It’s just her and Stella right now. Piper is getting off early, but still, none of them will be there until right at six. So, she was just trying to see when I could get there.”
“Go. Have fun. I’ll pick up Bee.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“I’ll call the community center and let them know to expect you.”
Katy left a few minutes later, and I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Carter.
Me: At the community center, do you go inside or do they bring the kids out to you?
Carter: You go in and sign them out.
Me: Is that all?
Carter: Why?
Me: I’m picking Bee up.
Carter: Aren’t you cute?
Me: Fuck you.
Carter: :)
Me: No. Don’t ever do that again. I never want to see that emoji shit coming from you.
Carter: ❤ :)
Me: Goodbye
I moved to put my phone back in my pocket, but it vibrated, alerting me to another text message.
Carter: Welcome to the club.
Me: What club?
Carter: LOL
Me: What club?
Carter: You’ll find out.
Slamming my phone down, I turned back to my computer, but I couldn’t fucking concentrate. It hadn’t even been thirty minutes since Katy left. My mind was whirling with questions. What club? Where should I take Bee? Would she be excited? Finally, giving up my day as a loss, I turned everything off and headed out of my office.
“Damon.” I turned at the sound of my father calling me.
“Hey, Pops, what’s up?”
“You cutting out early today?”
“Yeah. Have some errands to run.”
“You look a little tense,” he said, but his eyes were lit with amusement.
“Fuck. Who texted you? I’m going to murder them.”
“Ah, now why would you do that? We’d never know anything going on.” Pops held up his phone. “Like I always said, telegraph, telephone, tell-a-Sophie.”
“That about sums it up.”
“Pops, Carter said something.” My father raised a brow in curiosity. “He said welcome to the club.” Pops let out a chuckle. “What club? Kid club because I’m picking up Bee?”
“No. I think he’s referring to the club where you finally admit that you’ve got it bad for a girl and would do just about anything to make her smile.”
“Oh.”
“Is he right?” Pops asked.
“Not sure yet. I’ll let you know as soon as I do.”
“You do that. Now go have fun with that little girl.”
I gave a double knock on his doorframe and headed to my truck. Ten minutes later, I was walking into the large brick building. The woman sitting just inside the door stopped me and asked for my ID, so I handed it over so she could check me in and verified the information.
“Would you like to wait here for me to get Bee or would you like to get her?
“I’d like to surprise her if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. You’ll just need to come back through the building to exit.” She led me to the back entrance and pointed out to a small area of the field. “If I’m not mistaken, that’s probably her.”
“Thanks.” I gave a wave and headed down the steps.
Bee was staring up at the sky, hands behind her head and feet crossed as she gazed totally at peace. I was a little jealous of how relaxed and carefree she appeared.
“So, whatcha looking at?”
“Damon, you’re here. Did you come to play with me?”
“Better. I came to spend the day with you. Your mom said that I could get you. We have big plans.”
“Really? I don’t have to stay here all evening?”
“Nope.”
I stretched out beside her, taking the same position and staring up at the sky. “So, what are we looking at?”
“Nothing, I’m just imagining.”
“What are you imagining?
“Clouds. I see things in the clouds.”
“You mean like a dog?” I looked around and then pointed to one over to the left. “That one looks like it has a face and snout?”
“Yep, exactly like that. Her name is Cricket.”
“Oh, you already saw the dog?”
“I always look for a dog.”
There was a longing in her voice I took note of. “What else do you see?”
“A castle just like your house. I’d have my own room forever, and Mom would have hers.”
My house a castle? I wanted to give this girl and her mother those things. A dog, my house . . .
“Why don’t we go and we can talk about all the things you see in the clouds while we’re driving? We’re going to have some fun.” Standing, I held out my hand and pulled Bee up. We headed back through the building and got into my truck.
First stop, Kelly’s Ice Cream. Yeah, I knew that I was royally sucking up, but I didn’t care. “What’s your favorite flavor?” I held the door open for her.
“Chocolate with sprinkles.”
“Do you get it in a cup or a cone?”
“Cup. I don’t like cones.”
“All righty then.” I did my best impression of Jim Carrey before ordering Bee’s ice cream along with a double scoop of coconut for me.
“Why don’t you grab us some napkins and a table while I pay?”
I joined Bee in the booth and took a quick bite. “Next week is your mom’s birthday. I thought we could go out so you could get her something. Would you like that?”
“I don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have money.”
“I have money. You just pick something out that you want to give her, okay?”
The door constantly opened and closed with people coming in for ice cream as Bee and I sat and ate.
“You about ready?” Bee had the cup up to her face and was licking the inside.
Bee nodded her agreement with a face full of ice cream.
“You enjoyed that ice cream, didn’t you?” asked an older woman who had just walked in holding onto her husband’s arm.
“Duhhh,” Bee replied, showing her the empty cup.
I wanted to chuckle but fought to hold it back.
“Looks like it. Did you share any with your daddy?”
I froze at the woman’s words and looked at Bee, who stared at me. “I don’t have a dad.” Bee’s voice cracked, and for the first time, this eight-year-old who was always so happy seemed to have a chink in her armor.
The woman’s face was full of apology, and I gave her a small nod of understanding. Reaching across the table, I grabbed ahold of Bee’s sleeve and tugged. “Hey, it’s okay. She didn’t know. She didn’t mean anything by that.”
“Damon?”
“Yeah, Bee bug?”
“Are you going to stay around?”
“I hope so if you let me. Will you let me stay around?”
She nodded. “Next year at school when they do guy stuff and we can bring our dad, granddad, or uncle, will you come with me?”
“If your mom says it’s okay, then I will come.” I hated the thought of her feeling left out of stuff and would go with her in a heartbeat.
“I’m always the only one without a guy. My teacher’s husband came this year, and he sat
with me, but I didn’t know him. Last year, I sat in the library while my class did stuff.”
“I bet that was boring.” I didn’t know what else to say, what was there to say?
“Yeah. But Mom had to work, or she said she’d have let me stay home.”
“You know that I’ll go to anything you ever need. We are friends, promise.” I picked up a napkin and wiped off the table and then threw our garbage away as an excuse to give Bee a few moments to collect herself. After that, we headed to the Millennia Shopping Center; there were several stores all connected and we could walk around.
Helping Bee down, I held her hand as we walked and talked.
We found a gift for her mom, a few Barbies for Bee, and a unicorn outfit that was, and I quote, “to die for.”
“I’m glad school’s out.” Bee looked up at me as we added another item to our pile of stuff to purchase. “I didn’t like Tawney, and she didn’t invite me to her party.”
“Why didn’t she?”
“She said it was only for her friends, and we weren’t friends. Besides, it’s her birthday and people bring gifts and she said that I probably couldn’t afford a gift anyway.”
“She said all of that?”
“Yeah. She’s mean.”
“She sounds mean.” Overall, I thought kids were cute and sweet, but I already didn’t like this Tawney kid. “Why not have your own party?”
“Damon, can I tell you something?” Her lips were pinched as if she were weighing each word before she spoke it.
“You can tell me anything.”
“And you won’t tell anyone, cross your heart?”
I made a cross-my-heart sign.
“It would get Mom into a lot of trouble. We’re saving money, but it’s hard. We sleep in houses that aren’t ours. Mom works to pay the people back. But I’m never allowed to crawl under the covers. I have to sleep on top so we don’t ruin anything.”
Her confession crushed me since I already knew what they had been doing, but for her to trust me enough to tell me threatened to shatter me. “Well, not anymore. You can stay at my house as long as you want. You can have that bedroom as long as you want.”
“It’s mine?”
“If you want it. I don’t have kids, and I kind of like you as if you were my kid.” I gave her hand a light squeeze.
“I don’t have a daddy, and I kind of like you as if you were my daddy too.”
Chapter 24
Katy
I crawled into the limousine, Bee and Harlow stood next to Damon, shouting their goodbyes as Sophie followed me in. Adjusting my skirt so I wasn’t strangling myself in the seat, I got comfy and waited for Stella, Leo, Everly, Piper, and Vivian to take their seats, one crawling in right after the other.
The chauffeur pulled out and down a block to Ariel’s house. We quickly passed out beads, tiaras, and champagne glasses before the door opened and our bride-to-be crawled in.
“Welcome to a night to remember.” Stella handed a glass to Ariel.
We all raised them, cheered, and then we were off.
“Want some more?” Stella held out a bottle of champagne to me.
“Sure, why not?” I had agreed to let Christine watch Bee tonight. They weren’t going anywhere. They were safe, and this would be my last time since Tristan came home on Monday.
Riding in a stretch limousine down Orange Blossom Trail accrued a lot of attention so we turned honking into a drinking game.
After the first few horn blows accompanied by Stella shouting horn blows, how ‘bout the driver we turned the experience into something more beneficial. A drinking game. Hear a honk, we all took a sip. By the time we arrived, we had each finished off our own bottle of champagne and Stella was now liberally pouring vodka.
When we pulled into the parking lot, lights lit up the back of the car and I felt like a kid as I tucked my legs under me to peer out the window. The building looked as if it had been picked up right off the Vegas strip and dropped in the middle of Orlando’s red-light district. The Crystal Chandelier, with its neon lights and blinking sign, called to passersby.
“Oh my God, umm, exactly how did you find this place?” I turned to Stella.
“A friend at work had a party here. During the day they teach classes but at night it can be rented out for parties.”
The door of the car opened, and we climbed out and headed for the building. A tiny woman wearing Mary Jane platforms and a Farrah Fawcett feathered style wig held the door open. “I’m Chanda; welcome to my lair.”
She held her hands out, and I waited for the moment she’d say, “Ta-da.” But it didn’t happen. Whispering to whoever was next to me, “Chanda’s lair? Did I hear that right?” I turned to see Vivian nodding. Her eyes were as wide as mine.
“It’s about time you bitches got here.”
“Ringo!” We all shouted and pushed through the door to greet him. Tonight he was wearing tight jeans and a T-shirt that read: Up Yours (or mine). Oh, to be a fly on the wall or at least a moth in his T-shirt drawer, I bet he had some hysterical ones.
“Are you going to pole dance with us?” Ariel asked.
“No. I already have one pole between my legs, thank you very much. If I’m going to have a second, it better be attached to a gorgeous specimen of a man.” He looked around as if searching for that gorgeous specimen. “So no, I’m just here to add commentary. And what would a party be without me?”
“Word.” I held up my hand.
“Okay, now ladies, are you all ready? Why don’t you each take off your shoes and choose a pole.”
I slid my skirt off since I had spandex shorts on underneath and tossed it into the corner with my shoes.
“What I wouldn’t pay to hear a boat of seamen say that.” Ringo shimmied his shoulders as he followed us over to the mats.
Chanda waved a hand in the air. “First thing, I just want you to hold on to the pole and walk around on your tippy toes. Shake your butt like you’re Jessica Rabbit.”
“No, Ringo,” I cut him off before he could comment. I could just imagine where his warped mind would take him as we sashayed about.
“Oww, work it girls. Shake what the good Lord gave you and what medical advancements thanks to the perfection of the Kardashians can give me. Ow.” Ringo clapped his hands like a proud papa.
“Let’s start with the basic climb. You’re going to use the front of your foot.” Chanda climbed up her pole and demonstrated.
Stella had yet to walk around it, she was still humping it, pretending that she was in a rock video. She stopped to get Everly’s attention. “Just think, you can practice this at the station. It’s a whole new way to use the fireman’s pole.”
Chanda hit play on the stereo and blared “Chunky” by Bruno Mars.
I held on to the pole and attempted to climb, using the inside of my foot like she’d instructed, but I didn’t move. I used the arch and still didn’t move. Hell, I was prepared to use the crack of my butt cheeks if it meant that I could climb up the damn pole at this point.
I looked back to Stella, expecting her to still be cracking jokes about firemen, but fuck it all to hell, she was at the top shouting, “Ring My Bell,” only doing it to match the rhythm of the song by Anita Ward.
“Now, ladies, I’m going to teach you my favorite move. It’s called the Chopper.” Chanda made the name sound more like a meow.
For fifteen minutes, we held, swung, and fucking Stella suspended herself upside down, legs spread in a V against the bar, in what Chanda declared a perfectly executed Chopper move.
Ringo held up his hand to the side of his mouth to pretend he was whispering. “Why am I not shocked that Stella can climb a pole or spread her legs?”
I wanted to laugh, but instead I needed to shout, “Oh my God, I finally got it.” I was hanging upside down for dear life and trying to get everyone to see.
I had just flipped back and slid to the mat when a buzzer sounded and Chanda turned off the music. “I’ll be right back, ladies. Re
lax. I have some water and snacks set out on the table for you, just help yourselves.” She pointed to a corner then headed to the front lobby.
I had just popped a strawberry in my mouth when a uniformed deputy came in and I panicked.
“Stripper is here,” Stella shouted.
“Now we’re talking.” Ringo licked his lips.
“Excuse me, ma’am.” The deputy who looked as if he was just out of high school said.
Stella shoved Ariel into a chair while Leo and Ringo turned up the music.
I decided to enjoy the show from the sidelines and munch on strawberries.
“Ma’am,” the officer said, a bit louder.
“Baby, that isn’t what I want you to do with your mouth. Now quit talking and start stripping.” Stella snapped her fingers ordering the poor man about. She reached into her sports bra and pulled out some singles and tossed them at the officer’s feet. “Strip.”
“Ma’am, we had a call of a disturbance here.”
“You’re disturbing me because you’re not stripping.” Ringo was as loud and demanding as Stella.
“I’m not a stripper.” The officer held up his hands. “We had a call come into the station.”
“Wow, he’s good. How far do you think he’ll take this?” I asked to Piper as she came out of the restroom.
Piper froze, then raced to the front.
I spat a half-eaten strawberry out, dropped my cup of water, and headed for the bathroom as I saw everything unfurl.
“Stop. He’s a real deputy,” Piper hollered.
“Deputy Dupont, can you please assist?” the young deputy asked.
Sophie and Leo were whistling and making catcalls while Stella kept hollering for the man to take it off. Then Vivian cut the music, I pushed the bathroom door open and headed for the window. There was no way in hell I was getting arrested because of Stella’s antics.
They were going to get arrested for propositioning an officer. Stella offered him money to strip. Holy shit. This was not good, this was so not good. I needed to get out of here. I could call Carter and Kayson. Yeah, that was what I’d do. I wasn’t only thinking of Bee and myself, I was thinking of the greater good, right?
Impact (Iron Orchids Book 3) Page 15