“These were strange human beings, weirdly inflated, their breasts enormous spheres, held in place by string bikinis with cups the size of fourteen-meter yacht spinnakers.”
Chapter |11|
I, Cassandra “Honey” Jones, was going to be owner of one of the most famous strip clubs in Nevada, Hustler’s Palace and damn did that shit feel good! Of course I had no knowledge of business and management but Big Poppa said he was going to coach me through the whole thing and encourage that I take some buisness classes so that it looked like I been managing for years.
Shit, it was also a great oppertunity for me to go to school. Something I've always wanted to do since I graduated.
As a pre-celebration, Tyrone decided to take me out for drinks at one of my favorite bars, Daphine’s. Tyrone, Nora and I sat in one of the booths while loud music was blaring through the building speakers. Tonight, it was packed full of people. We had a tray full of Vodka shots sitting in the middle of the table as Tyrone spoke.
“Congratulations to Honey on her new business venture! May her days be filled with headaches and lazy workers!” I laughed and rolled my eyes as we all grabbed our first shot glass. Nova did the honors.
“To headaches and lazy workers!” She squealed. We all repeated the phrase and clanked our glasses together, taking the first shot without chasers, straight to the head. I felt the warm of the alcohol spread across my chest and scrunched up my face like I tasted a lemon.
“Woah, that shit is strong!”
“I don’t know what you guys talkin’ about. This vodka tastes like water.” Nova said already reaching for her fourth shot glass. All I could do was shake my head and laugh. That girl was a trip! Nova was small in height and weight so I was sure she was gonna get hammered way before Tyrone and I.
“Speaking of business ventures, you should let me help you invest in other businesses after you get used to handling the club.” Tyrone said downing his second shot of vodka. He slammed his hand down on the table at the strength of the alcohol.
“Sure,” I replied. I really didn’t care about future investments, as long as this money was rolling in by the barrels, everything else didn’t even matter. If Tyrone was willing to help with that, shit, who was I to say no?
“Did you tell Zeke yet?” Nova asked. I looked at her and shook my head no. I actually planned on telling him tomorrow night though it was going to be a little hard seeing as he didn’t know I was a stripper. We were going on our third date. The second date was when we took me to the Aquarium last weekend. I couldn’t help but smile at the memory of him asking me out again yesterday after I ran into him at the bank. It seemed we kept doing that lately, running into each other that is.
“I was going to tell him tomorrow night.”
“He’s meeting you at the club?” Nova asked while digging into her purse. Her head was almost completely swallowed by the purse. It was a tote purse so it was big enough and now I was positive it was bottomless.
“Nope” I said popping the ‘p’. “We’re actually going out again on a date.” Nova lifted her head from inside her purse and grinned from ear to ear.
“Ooh, Cassy done found a bear to eat her honey!” She joked.
“Nova!” Her big mouth was going to embarrass me in front of the entire bar!
Nova shrugged her shoulders. “Bitch, you know it’s true. He just can’t wait to put his hands in that jar girl.”
“Girl shut up, you forgot Tyrone is still sitting here.” I pointed to Tyrone and Nova only waved him off returning to the contents of her purse.
“Girl please, aha found it!” She pulled out her tube of lipstick and stood up. “He’s like one of the girls, he doesn’t care. I’m going to the bathroom.” With nothing left else to say she sashayed her way to the back of the club. I couldn’t help but feel bothered by her comment. If anything, I knew Tyrone did not want to hear about either of us being with men. No man would.
I looked to Tyrone and all his attention was on his phone.
“Tyrone, are you ok? I know that heffa can step out of line some-,”
“No its fine.” He said impassively. To anyone else they would think that he was fine with the situation, but I knew Tyrone. If I was bothered, he must have felt uncomfortable. I know I would be. Not for a second believing him, I placed my hand on top of his wrist.
“Are you sure? Tyrone, look at me.” He raised his head and starred straight at me but I had this eerie feeling that he was looking through me.
“Yeah.” Was all he said. He then reached for his coat that was sitting beside him in the booth and began putting it on.
Confused I asked, “Why you putting on your coat? Where you going?”
He ignored my question and stood and started to leave, but not before I figured out what the hell was wrong with him. I grabbed hold of his arm and the look he gave me when I stopped him from leaving….If looks could kill I would have been dead.
“Let go Cassy, I have somewhere to be.” His voice was low and unnerving.
“Or what Tyrone!” I yelled, but I lowered it at remembering where I was. He was really beginning to piss me off with this attitude switch. I looked away and mentally counted to ten before speaking again. “Why, I thought we were having fun?”
When he didn’t speak I took that as an initiative to stand to his level and hold his arms so that I could look at him. But doing that, I wish I was prepared for the amount of hurt that was sheltered in his eyes. If Nora’s comment hurt him that bad, then I was sure to let Nova know!
“Tyrone, did what Nova said upset you?” I felt some compassion towards him, but at the same time it was Nova. She was known for her smart mouth and sharp tongue. He knew damn well what he was getting into when he met her. Hell, the first day she asked if she could fuck him. Tyrone tensed up like he was talking to his first crush.
When he didn’t respond, I took him in for a hug. “Tyrone don’t pay her no mind. Please stay.” I pleaded in his ear. His response to me was detached, he didn’t wrap his arms around me like he usually would. Instead he actually gently pushed me back and he couldn’t even look me in the eyes.
“It’s not her Cassy, It’s you. I gotta go.” I stood there with my jaw on the floor as he made his way to the exit of the bar. It was me? What the hell could I have possibly done? My mind was racing with possibilities and then I realized he didn’t start feeling some type of way until Zeke came up. Did he know him? We’re they enemies?
The endless thoughts. So many, I had to sit down and grab another shot glass. That shit was really blowing my mind.
Nova plops her ass back in the spot saying ‘oops’ and began giggling. I can tell the alcohol was starting to take effect of her and every time she drank, it was hella funny. She was a sloppy drunk.
Her head looked like it was weighing more than her body because it just kept falling forward.
She snapped her head up all the way back to where to she was looking to the ceiling, her eyes fluttering closed and then she looks to the empty spot beside her.
“Where’s…where. Is. Ty?”
She swiped the last shot glass, pushed her head all the way back and poured the drink into her mouth. She examined the glass a bit and then put it to her eye as if it was a spyglass.
“Oh look Cassy, you’re soooo weird looking!”
I shook my head and laughed. She was something else.
“Tyrone was upset and left.”
She slammed the glass on the table. “What. Why?” She closed her eyes and started swaying to a tune in her head.
“I don’t know really. He looked upset right after you started talking about Zeke.”
Still swaying she said, “That’s cauussee he’s in love wif you.” She pointed to me or at least attempted to. Her wrist wouldn’t let her hand stay in place long enough.
“No, I know he likes me but love? That’s a little farfetched don’t you think so?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “If you say so.” She waved her hands in the air looking up and down the aisle. “Waiter!”
*****
Later on that night…
“As you all may know, I’m passing the business down to someone you all know. She’s perfect for the job and has more than the capability to run it. Honey baby, come up here!”
Least expecting, there was clapping. I was completely sure everyone was going to hate me for taking over. They clapped and clapped as the spotlight shone on me, making my way to the stage, next to Big Poppa.
I looked down at everyone and couldn’t help but smile. Yes, I could tell some of them had some hater juice this morning but they were definitely not going to blow my high. Wallflower was grinning from ear to ear as well as others who thought I deserved this. Hell being here for four years, I learned a damn lot.
“Hey everyone,” I said coolly. I looked at the glass of gin in my hand then back at the crowd. “I’m more than ecstatic and very grateful to Big Poppa. Being here as long as I have, I seen and done a lot of shit you guys wouldn’t even dream to believe. I won’t make any changes yet, and if I do make any changes it’ll probably just be stage times. I will always keep this place as it has always been. Fun, sexy, and daring. Thank you.” I started to step down the stage as everyone started clapping again but then I remembered.
“Oh wait,” I looked at Wallflower again and cheesed. “Wallflower, you’re sweet ass is dancin’ tonight!” I sing-songed.
“Yasss, Big Poppa you should have done this a long time ago!” She said joyously. We all couldn’t help but laugh.
Big Poppa smiled widely and clasped his hands together. “Alright ya’ll, now let’s go make some money. Chop chop!”
I stepped down from stage receiving hugs and ‘congratulations.’ I was heading up the stairs but not before Wallflower bum rushed me with her bosom crushing my own chest for a hug.
“Thank you Honey!”
“You’re welcome Wallflower.” She released me and I watched as she walked to the stage, climbed up and hugged the pole.
I just laughed. That girl had issues, for real.
***
Hustler’s Palace was bustling with men of all stature. Ladies on the floor tending to everyone and music blared throughout the club. I could feel everyone was in high spirits including myself. Which was the exact reason why I decided to take my place once more on the stage.
I wanted to give a killer performance so that any stripper, who dared to take my number one spot, had to work their ass off to earn it.
So when the song ‘Pop that’, started up I did my best to make sure that everyone old and new to the club remembered Honey for one last time tonight because tomorrow I was going to be Cassandra Jones.
But let me tell you, the money was rollin’ in by the buckets, probably the most I made in one night!
Picking up my money, I made my way to the back and onto the floor to do my rounds. Talking to Wallflower, leaning on the bar top, I was in high spirits. Now one and I mean no one could knock me off my cloud.
“Well, I see you took that nickname I gave you…Honey.”
That voice was very, very familiar. It was close enough to my ear for me to feel the warmth of his breath travel down the side of my neck in chills. Not in a good way either.
I turned to face the man and there stood the man who stomped on my heart and broke it into ten thousand pieces three years ago.
My ex, Teddy.