Changing Seasons

Twelve

****

"Heyyyy," he greeted Atira when she joined the FaceTime call, grinning. She smiled back. She was always so beautiful. That night, she had her hair in loose waves and soft eyeshadow that brought out her eyes. He saw she was wearing a light pink top with an embroidered v-line neck that exposed her shoulders, "Look at you. You get all dolled up just for me?"

He could see her cheeks flush, and she laughed, "Not even kidding, but I did."

"You look beautiful," he told her approvingly, "Let me see the rest." Atira placed her phone on what Krist assumed was an end table and stepped away. "Hey girl, hey," he said, "I like it."

"Aw, thanks," she blushed, "Let me see you now, it's only fair."Krist did the same, giving her a good look. Atira let out a whistle, "Looking good!"

He lay down on the bed, "How was your day?"

"Not bad. I had today off and go back to work on Monday, so I got caught up on my laundry and slept."

"Always good," he replied, "I know you said you were going to your friend's house Thursday. You got anything else fun planned?"

"Not really. I might do some shopping on Friday. Otherwise, I'll just do the whole Cyber Monday thing. I hate dealing with crowds."

"I feel you," Krist agreed.

"Do you have any plans?"

"Nah, just work and go to my mom's."

"I never asked you," Atira began, "What do you do for work?"

Now it was his turn to blush, "I do delivery," he said, wanting to be as vague as possible.

"Like a semi-truck?"

"No...I do like Instacart, DoorDash....all those," he admitted.

"A job is a job!" She said optimistically.

He nodded, "I also am a bouncer at a strip club."

Atira tried to look positive, but he could see in her face she wasn't alright with it, "Oh? Do...you like it?"

Krist shrugged, "It's ok. Every night is different. Some days it's boring, and I just sit out front and bullshit with the other bouncers, other times, people act stupid and try to fight us or get creepy with the girls, so that can be fun," he chuckled.

"How did you end up working there?"

"Do you remember my friend Jeordie from high school?" Atira nodded, "He DJs there like five nights a week. They were short-staffed one night, so he asked me if I wanted to earn some money, and I've been doing it ever since."

"So...do you like to watch the girls?" She was jealous.

Krist decided to play it honestly, "When I started, like four years ago, yeah, I did. It's not that exciting after working with them, some of them the whole time I've been there. Especially when you get to know them and hear about their baby daddy drama or that tonight sucks because she's got cramps, that this girl doesn't like this other girl because that girl stole her regular or slept with her baby's dad, or she has a bitchy face. I mean, I can see some of them dance and acknowledge that this girl or that girl is good, but I'm not getting anything out of it, ya know? I don't like, want them or anything," He laughed, "I feel like I'm their therapist or girlfriend for real."

Atira gave a forced laugh, "Almost like they're real people?"

Krist felt like they were treading into dangerous waters, "Yes."

"Do you ever spend time with them outside of work?" He had no idea that Atira had a jealous streak like that, and quite frankly, if she hadn't been her and he'd felt the way he did for her, he would have been very irritated and probably would have just ended the conversation. He dealt with enough jealousy and trust issues from other girls, warranted or not, and hated that shit,