“So, what happened?”
Kandace shrugged. “We got my aunt. She’s domineering. And uncaring. My sisters are with her now and I would be stuck living at her place too, if I were home.”
Noel folded her hands on her knees. “I’m sorry. It doesn’t feel like God cares about you right now, but he does. He really does. We can’t always understand why we struggle. I never understood why my dad was an alcoholic, but God could.”
“Really?” Kandace asked. “I have no idea what that must have been like.”
Noel paused a moment. “It was awful. He was seldom home, but when he was, I wished he weren’t around to hurt us.”
“Oh. Wow. I’m sorry. I can’t imagine.”
“By God’s grace I survived it. I’m still working through that whole forgetting part.”
“But why is life so hard? I mean, why is my dad so far away? He sends money, he calls and we can talk, but still. I’d rather have way less money and have him home.”
Noel spoke softer. “I’ve wondered and asked God the same thing. About why I had to go through so much pain. But I know that He had purpose in all of it. I think that’s what faith is.”
“What happened with your dad?” Kandace asked.
Noel breathed deeply and exhaled, as though releasing her pain. “I was eighteen. Had no idea how to live or pay bills, but I was determined to support myself. I’d dropped out of school and got a job, but after my hours were cut, I didn’t have enough to make rent, so I went looking for a job as a waitress and that turned into dancing instead. I had no idea what I was doing.”
Kandace raised an eyebrow, studying Noel. “You were a dancer?”
“Yeah. I was. We all were. All of us girls from church.”
Kandace nodded. “So… what happened?”
“I was dancing, maybe four months, three or four nights a week. And I’d been high on something—no idea what was in the drugs—and I’d been out of my mind, and this one customer, I recognized him. But the problem was, he recognized me.”
“Oh, no.”
“Yeah. He was one of my parents’ friends.”
Kandace gasped. “He told your parents.”
“Worse. He blackmailed me. He threatened to plaster it all over town if I didn’t start giving him money. One hundred a night, then kept raising the price. By the third week, I’d hit my limit and asked management at the club if they could bail me out. Management took that a different way than I expected.”
“What do you mean?”
Noel shrugged. “I thought they’d just make him leave. Instead they put the guy in the hospital. He pressed charges against the club and the whole thing turned ugly. I had to prove the blackmail. Security video was crucial.”
“So… he went away?”
“If only. It was a disaster. And my parents found out I’d been dancing. All my friends too. I was so humiliated that I couldn’t go back to the club. And because of all the attention, my father sobered up. That was the good part. He called me maybe a month after I’d moved on and he told me he was cleaning up his act.”
“Do you know where he is?”
Noel’s eyes watered. “He lives five miles from my place. And he’s a good dad, a good grandfather. He got into AA and cleaned up, got saved and got on the right track. Miracles do happen. He’s proof. I’m proof. I come here to witness them.”
“I need a miracle. Seriously. If I can’t find my father, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Noel smiled, sincere and warm. Accepting. One of those rare people who saw the world from the positive side. The quintessential church lady. “I’m here for you, if you need me. Call me anytime,” she said, as her phone buzzed in her pocket. “I think that’s my husband… it is. I better take this. We should talk more later.”
15
Kandace hugged Noel, savoring a sudden friend who understood—an outsider who loved without an immediate benefit to herself.
Noel walked away with her phone cloaked by blonde hair, on the other end was a good reason to go—a husband and a family. Noel knew she was good enough.
Kandace stood and felt strangely at ease. She tossed off her robe, admired herself in the mirror and told herself all the things she wanted to hear. Beautiful. Wanted.
She had fun picking out a string bikini at wardrobe for her next tank dance.
Kandace could understand Noel’s comfort around greedy, naked women, for love and for money, starving for attention—she had been one herself. And the glow, the euphoria of the stage, the soft lights, the catcalls and floating cash—it all felt dangerously like fame. Stardom. A highly addictive concoction in motion, that once started, how could anyone turn away?
Where was April? Dancers were everywhere, chatting, changing, retouching. Kandace sat alone with her thoughts. Other dancers were friendly, but the family she’d left behind had sapped Kandace’s energy—she suddenly felt like being home, but the longing didn’t last, as girls going to and from the floor with arms of cash passed by.
The Blue Moon room felt like a longer walk the second time. She thought about Noel. Even though she was older, they could relate to one another and Kandace felt understood. And Noel spoke from experience.
Kandace felt like her own life was similar. Her glass slipper was out there.
This is fun, but I won’t do it forever.
Kandace followed the same routine: dark room, small lights to the tank, bathing in faint blue light when the music started. Hands To Myself by Selena Gomez was her opening track.
She got into the song and let the music, the moment, take her. In the shower, she was someone else—Autumn. It was a fantasy show for her engaged spectators, but it was as much a fantasy for her. She felt naughty, in the best of ways. Uninhibited. In that glass enclosure, she could let loose and feel free, uninhibited by her past and unafraid of her future. The glass, the water, and her overzealous audience, was her own paradise, as though the party of parties was within those clear walls. The guys were missing out. She pressed against the glass, testing her enclosure. When the lights brightened as Black Widow by Iggy Azalea hit the chorus, she was doused in bright pink lights, foam and nothing else.
Much love, Tank Tuesday. Easy money.
By her third song, Good For You, she could read lips:
Can you believe she did that?
So sexy.
This chick is crazy hot.
Is she having an orgasm?
Her set finished with Worth It by Fifth Harmony. The audience was yearning for more. Whistles. Applause. She toweled her off outside the tank, then followed management’s directions for three table dances in succession—she felt like she possessed limitless energy—then returned to her station when she was told.
Wrapped in familiar terrycloth at her station, Kandace caught her breath, sipping water. Main stage next? The shower show was less work and for more cash—no wonder dancers coveted those time slots.
10 pm. Where had time gone? She guessed at her earnings so far, but every number coming to mind felt too small. Kandace polished three bottles of water, yet she felt parched. Jasmine walked over from her station to chat, and then she was gone to make money.
“Autumn. The private party starts in forty minutes, upstairs, members’ room,” a silver suit said, standing behind her chair. “You need to get to beauty, then wardrobe.”
“What is it?” she asked, spraying her face.
He had started walking away, but stopped and said over his shoulder, “Bachelor party. Platinum package.”
Several girls walked past in street clothes. The back door had a wood block, propped open for smokers—a horde, half of them naked, bonded around their collective habit.
“Okay. I’ll get ready. Do I have another shower show?”
“The scheduler wants you on at two, but no guarantee.”
“How about a group? Maybe three of us?”
His eyes widened a little, and he smirked. “I’ll see who’s interested.”
“Should be fun,” K
andace said.
“I’m sure you know, that’s a three-way share.”
Kandace shrugged. “If it doesn’t happen… whatever.”
“I love your commitment,” he said and walked away.
In the beauty room, two stylists were chatting while working in tandem with five dancers. Kandace complimented their efficiency and the stylists gave a virtual fist bump across the room.
On taking an empty chair, she admired her transformation from damp and straight to voluminous in twenty minutes. Kandace felt classy—and wondered on her way to wardrobe what the party ahead involved.
Wardrobe had a fantasy treasure chest of lingerie, with a special request list the silver suit shared with Kandace when she entered.
April, donning white thigh highs, garters, and a white lacy bustier, said, “Hey, you. This party is phat. Just sayin’.” She needed help getting into a beautiful Maggie Sottero wedding dress—it traced April’s subtle curves and was adorned with crystals like twinkling stars. “Get dressed, gorgeous. You are getting married, after all. It’s his big fantasy, coming to his very near future.”
“We’re both on the bachelor party?" Kandace asked.
“Yep. We’ve gotta blow this groom’s mind. I’ve danced for him before, so it’s outrageous, him getting hitched and all.”
“Is he nice?”
“He’s decent. Been a member as long as I’ve been here.”
The manager pulled a dress from the closet and unzipped its protective cover. Strapless, similar to April’s dress, embroidered and lacy. Kandace hoped it fit right and could hardly refrain from jumping and screaming.
“Hold up, spaz. Lingerie first,” April said, sliding open a long drawer.
Kandace donned a pair of white thigh highs with garters and a bustier. “Where’s the thong?”
“Nada. Commando in a wedding dress. Get it on! I’m pumped,” April said.
“You look fabulous, by the way.”
“You’ve not seen anything yet. It starts in like, ten minutes, but it’s best if we walk in late, that way management can educate the non-members so we don’t have to expel half the bachelor’s friends from naughty class.”
Kandace cracked up, slipping on the lingerie. The suit helped her get into the dress.
“Don’t worry if the fit is not perfect. You won’t be wearing it long!” April said, admiring Kandace as she twirled among a trio of mirrors.
“Yeah. I’m down with this.”
“Hell yeah, hot stuff. You’re gonna blow minds and loads.” April led the way to a third-floor room where a suit held up a hand to them outside big double-doors. Two minutes ticked by.
He nodded, then the doors that made Kandace think of an old mansion opened. Tall windows and curtains. Old wood paneling. Large oil paintings. Red carpet. Fifty men, mostly twenty-somethings—holding their own in personal fitness.
The girls pranced side by side, holding hands, beaming. They mounted the stage as Close by Nick Jonas began. Side by side they teased their frilly skirts and flirted, making deliberate contact with patrons.
As the song ended, the groom sat on a chair while guests surrounded him, rooting in a low cohesive grunt. Shouts came for off-menu services as the girls examined their target. April planted an open-toed shoe on his chair and played with him. “What will it be, Ian?”
The room grew suddenly quiet.
“You know what I like,” he said, to whistles and cheers.
Maroon 5’s Sugar played. April and Kandace shared the future groom’s lap, teasing from each side, taking turns. The room got obnoxiously loud while removing their wedding dresses, a delicate process the girls had fun with. A suit emerged from behind closed doors to carry away the gowns—reminding Kandace that someone was always watching. Freed from the gowns, the girls had fun in close encounters with the groom and he made no secret how much he liked their attention. And their attire.
April accepted a pair of handcuffs, provided by Aaron; he made a point to tell April that he’s the best man, several times.
She cooed while she cuffed Ian behind the chair, and it earned more excitement.
Then she led the way, pulling at his clothing and twisting his nipples. Guys were screaming: Spank him!Bitch slap him!
Stripped down to boxers, he sat, cuffed behind his back.
Kandace teased Ian’s neck and face with her fingertips. On his lap sitting backward, she rubbed him the right way until he told her to stop. When she stood, April had a free hand to resume where Kandace left off. She worked his equipment until he begged for mercy.
Kandace came to his rescue. “What would you like to see?”
“I want to watch you and your friend,” Ian said.
The men were elated, screaming indecipherable things.
Kandace watched April. Curiosity held her stone cold captive as April came near, a sly romp on heels, a smile she couldn’t contain. Bass moved the floor.
Kandace’s pulse hammered and she felt terrified and excited at what came next.
“Close your eyes,” April said in Kandace’s ear.
“Have you done this before?”
“Nothing like the first time, right?”
Kandace closed her eyes, standing still. A nibble at her neck, gentle hands at her hips. Kandace expressed how good being touched felt; her nerves were as lightning through her back from her feet. Is this E talking?
A roar erupted as lips, then teeth made contact.
Kandace felt the straps give way as her bustier came off to more cheers. Followed by April’s tongue at her abdomen, traveling slowly north, camping out on Kandace’s nipples, circling for landing. Kandace’s leg muscles tightened and she resisted the urge to open her eyes.
This is amazing.
Unable to wait any longer, she opened her eyes and their tongues met. Playful. Kandace no longer heard men screaming, but only blood through her ears. Curious, exploring deeper. Did she like it? April was laughing. The girls finished with each other and turned on the groom, and explored him from all angles. One teased. One punished. Both gave pleasure.
The music ended and staff came in to serve. Kandace and April chatted and drank with the party guests. Kandace wondered if April felt uncomfortable—though she acted like her normal self, making vulgar jokes with the guys. Kandace wondered how much the drugs had to do with her pleasure during their kissing, caressing. And she was surprised at how good it had felt.
After the break, a silver suit pushed in a rolling cart with strawberries and whipped cream.
Dessert came next.
Kandace and April finished the party wearing traces of whipped cream, lying on a sofa, in a money bath.
“That was a ton of guys,” Kandace said, as she sipped from a water bottle and set it on the floor. “Oh, did that one guy that was, like, all over you, did… did he?”
“Nah. He obeyed the rules. Those guys were well-behaved. I only had like, three guys ask for sex, which is way below the norm. Shit. Maybe I’m getting old. Past my expiration date already.”
“So you have done that before.”
“Bachelor parties? Oh, yeah. That’s our lifeblood. One bachelor party can rescue a bad week. Can’t get by without them. Whipped cream, strawberries and champagne are bachelor party staples. This was kinda tame, thinking about it. I’ve had whips and chains before. Leather. They beg me to spank the groom, force him to eat my ass, things like that. Those parties can get pretty sick.”
Kandace laughed. “You seriously have done all that?”
“Hell yeah. Spanking’s my fav. Wicked fun and works out some good vibes. Everyone has a good time, drinks too much and tips a ton. My first money bath was a bachelor party.”
“Never thought it would be this much fun! This is gotta be like, ten grand?”
“I know, right? Those guys had some cash to spend.”
“Okay, so tell the truth. Seriously. Did you fake it?”
“I don’t fake the O, girl. If it’s real, it’s real. I only ride real waves. And t
hat was some wave.”
Kandace said, “I was jealous. The best I got was the one guy, he wasn’t bad, and he wasn’t drenched with cologne, but he kept toying with the strawberry on my nipple instead of eating it, which really had me going crazy. Like all my nerves were ignited.”
“I hate it when guys play with their food. Just fucking eat it, already.”
“Your hair still smells nice,” Kandace said, burying her face into April’s hair.
“No. I feel gross. And as much as I like spooning with you, I’m getting off the sofa and finding out what time it is.” April stood, money falling, some sticking her to her back, legs and arms. She brushed off the crinkled bills and put on a robe.
“It feels early to me,” Kandace said from the sofa.
“If you mean early as in three in the morning, then yes.”
“Fancy a dance?”
April laughed. “If I can get a shower show, then yes. It’s worth it for that money.”
“You want to go together? Team up?”
April paused. “Sounds hot.”
Kandace got to her feet, donned a robe and followed April downstairs.
2:45 am. An hour and fifteen left to the shift. Hunting for the first suit she could find, she stopped one she didn’t know and asked about the showers. Booked for the night.
Determined not to be disappointed, Kandace hit wardrobe for an outfit, picking a white lingerie set and a sheer dress. With the stage schedule full, she set out to stalk the floor and pick up table dances before closing.
April was at her station, resting. “You are ambitious. Look at you go,” she said.
Goodbye, Good Girl Page 14