Their Best Friend

Meeting Them

Sammi POV

I watch as the club begins to clear out, turning I look at the guy.

“Okay, Doll, here’s the deal. You come here tomorrow and meet with some ladies and learn to dance. If you do well by the end of the week, you have the job.” He holds out his hand and waits.

“Your name?” I’ve still not been given it.

“Jake, what’s your real name, Doll?”

“Sammi.” I reach forward and shake his hand.

“Well, Sammi, I hope that in a week, you’ll be officially part of the team,” he winks at me. “Don’t forget to lock up, Darling. Sort out meeting her tomorrow and lock up.” He turns and walks out.

“Okay, so we will focus on simple dance moves and basic moves on the pole, aerial hoop and aerial flying pole.”

“Aerial what?” I look at Darling. I need her real name. “What’s your name?”

“Jodie, we stick to the stage names, though, while here and working. The aerial equipment are these.” She walks over to a large hoop, wraps her body around it, and, in a way, dances. I stand shocked. I doubt I can do that. “This is the hoop.” She jumps down and walks across the room. I watch as she jumps onto a pole, and it moves. “This is the flying pole. I’ll teach you basic moves that you can repeat over and over until you learn more.”

She skips over and smiles at me. “So you met Honey. Her name is Ellie. That is Sapphire, but her real name is Lisa. Then we have Jersey, and her real name is Rose. Then, over there sulking is Cutie; her real name is Rachel. Meet me here tomorrow at twelve. We will train all day, so bring a change of clothes for when it’s time to work.” She smiles and hugs me.

I walk out and get in the car. It’s nearly four a.m. I hadn’t even noticed the time. Driving home, my body feels exhausted, but I force myself to stay awake. Finally, stopping in the garage, I take off my shoes and carry them in. Getting to the fridge, I pull it open and grab a bottle of water—something I need as I feel thirsty as hell.

“Where were you?” I jump and turn. “It’s past f*****g four in the morning, Sammi. Where were you?” Zade stands and walks towards me. I can’t see anyone else, so did he stay up and wait?

“I said I was working,” I shrug slightly.

“Till gone f*****g four?”

My head nods at him.

“Where?” He stands waiting.

“What happened to it? It’s my life, and you won’t get involved? It’s a nightclub,” I lie, but saying it’s basically a table-dancing club isn’t going to go well.

“Tell them you finish by one at the latest.” His words have me laughing. “Fine, do as you wish,” he turns and leaves.

Sighing, I walk upstairs, climb into bed, and pass out.

When I wake up, I realise how late it is. Grabbing clothes to wear tonight, I throw them in a bag along with shoes. I put on a pair of shorts and a cropped top. I would wear leggings, but if I’m practising, I need to be in something similar to what I’ll be wearing when working.

So, dancing in leggings won’t help, as the friction will undoubtedly be different when dancing on the pole. Rushing down, my plan is to grab something quick for breakfast. I’ve thrown my hair up into a messy bun. As I get into the kitchen, the guys turn and look at me.

Throwing some bread into the toaster, I walk to the fridge and get a bottle of water out.

“Late for something?” Zade looks at me.

“Work,” I mutter as I grab the toast out.

“Work? You were there till gone four, and they expect you back in already?” His words are loud, and my eyes roll.

“I’m not going there to work, but I’m meeting some of the ladies to get to know them. That’s all.” I shrug and begin to butter the toast.

“Which club?” Joel looks at me now.

“Does it matter?” They won’t approve of it, anyway; they didn’t approve of the last club I worked for.

“Yes, what if something happens, and we don’t know where you are?” Jax looks at me.

“If something goes wrong, I can tell you, but I’m not now. I don’t want you showing up and threatening the owners,” I argue back and watch as Grayson walks out of the room. After finishing buttering the toast, I grab it and the bottle of water. Screw standing here and arguing.

“I’m going. I’ll be home late again,” I say as I prepare to leave, but Zade stops me.

“Think about it. Coming home past four in the morning is dangerous.” I can sense his concern and hear it in his voice.

“I’ll be driving Zade. I won’t stop for anything.” Smiling, I kiss his cheek and walk out.

Getting into the car, I begin to eat the toast, grateful for a bit of silence. The sound of the door has me turning to face it, and I see Grayson. Great.

“Where do you work?”

“Are you f*****g joking? How dare you get in my car and ask me that after what happened and how you acted? Get out, now!” My words are screamed, and I wait for him to get out.

“The only places I know that would be open that late aren’t clubs, Sammi. They are strip joints and s**t. So where do you work?” He looks at me, and I laugh.

“You’re really special, aren’t you? Get out and don’t ever speak to me again.” I start the car and decide to drive, seeing as I can’t even eat in peace in the car. He doesn’t move. Sighing, I rub my face. “I will scream so damn loud that my brothers come out and see you here, in my f*****g car Grayson, leave now!” The door slams and I look over to see him walking away.

I sit in the silence of the car and eat the toast before making my way to the club while constantly watching for cars following. There’s no way I trust them not to follow me to try to find out where I’m working, but after ten minutes of driving, I’m convinced they aren’t following.

Stopping at the club, I grab my things and rush in.

“You’re late!” Her voice travels to me as the door closes behind me.

“Sorry, I slept in. I brought everything, though.” I smile, and she nods.

“Okay, let’s start with basic dance moves you can do on the bar and such,” Darling, or rather Jodie, says. I begin to practice with her and the others. Slowly, I got used to their real names and their stage names. It’s been hours, and I’m getting better, but I need more time on the Aerial hoop and bar. My body moves on it, and she guides me so it looks like I’m dancing.

“Not bad, Doll.” I hear Jake and look at him. My body slips, and he catches me. His smile widens, and he winks.

“She’s getting there if she isn’t distracted.” Jodie smiles.

“I would say keep her on the bar and give her a few more days to train on the hoop and pole, then she is good to go. She is also fine dancing on the normal pole or in the cage,” Ellie smiles. The cage isn’t exactly a cage. It’s a platform with bars around it that you can dance on. Which, I guess, is a cage.

“Okay, get ready, ladies.” Jake smiles, and I stand, his hand stopping me. “I need your details. Even if this doesn’t work out, I need them to pay you for the week,” he smiles, and I nod. Sitting down, he goes through paperwork with me, including insurance—something I hadn’t considered. Then again, I am dancing on a bar and such, so he would need to be insured.

It takes a while. He walks off and gets us a drink as I finish filling in my details, my address, and my next of kin. Then I write my bank details and past work—the ones that my brothers weren’t involved with, so there’s no negative feedback.

Jake hands me the glass, and I smile. “Thank you.”

He nods and takes the papers. “You’re not from here?” He sits confused.

“No, I’m from a town over,” I smile, and he nods.

“Why would you travel here for work? That’s an hour of travelling.”

I can’t give him the real reason. “Places there don’t seem to fit me. This place is more welcoming,” I smile, and he nods. Sitting, we talk more about general things than work or my experience. I learned that Jake is thirty-four, and the club has been running for ten years.

It shows, though, that his customer base is wide, including women and men of all ages.

“You shouldn’t be driving that far on a night, not after working for so long.” He looks at me, and I sigh. This again, but now with him? He shouldn’t care. “I’m not trying to do anything; consider getting a taxi or having someone drive you.”

“I don’t have anyone I would want to drive me,” I laugh, and he joins in.

“How about I do? One of the women can pick you up and bring you, then I’ll drive you back?”

“No, it’s fine, honestly.” I can’t have them doing that.

“Doll, you’re going to be exhausted between practising all day and working. Let us help you, and then if you find this a fit for you, maybe find a place closer to here to move into?” He smiles, and I slowly nod. To be fair, last night, I almost fell asleep while driving.

“Okay, tonight, you can leave early and drive back. Tomorrow, one of the ladies will collect you, okay?” I nod and smile.

“Thank you, Jake,” I reply while smiling. Standing, I walk through and get ready.