The Strip - Max

28 / New Normal

Almost two months had passed since my 'five-assholes and a private room' experience and I was settled in at Dan's house, but not in the spare room he had offered me. I was back to work, but only doing performances and roaming the lounge, chatting up customers and playing handler for parties and special shows. The club has small dance floors away from the main stage where groups can gather and have a semi-private performance from one of the girls. As a handler, I worked on the clients to get that party started and moved up to a fully private room. I would be flirty and provocative but wasn't part of the fun. I hadn't been in a private room since that night except to deliver drinks when the waitresses were busy.

"Okay, Lin, take care and call me anytime, if you need to talk." I said my good-bye and waited for her to disconnect the call.

"How's Lin doing?" Dan asked as he crossed the room, looking filthy and exhausted.

"You're home early. It's not even two..."

"I was helping out at a jobsite, now I have to get into the office for a meeting, so just a quick shower, change of clothes, and I'm on my way."

"Oh... yeah, probably a good idea." I said as I plucked a leaf out of his hair while giving him a kiss. "Lin's as good as can be expected. It's her first full week back at school and some idiot substitute teacher in health class tells the girls, 'Don't ask your dads about this; they're pretty useless when it comes to female anatomy,' so Lin broke down and left class crying."

"That's messed up. But it's good that she has you to talk to about it. You're starting early today, right? Do you need a ride to work? I'm just going to be a couple minutes." Dan said as he walked backwards towards the staircase.

"Yeah, staff meeting. But it's sort of out of your way. I can just take the bus."

Fifteen minutes later we were in the car heading towards The Strip and chatting about anything and everything but the topic I had been avoiding for weeks. Dan had driven me to the club countless times, so it seemed he was perfectly fine with my choice of career. But I wasn't back to doing it all. I hadn't heeded Mei's advice to talk, instead choosing to avoid.

I loved my work, but I would give it up, without question, for Dan. In all honesty, I hoped he wouldn't ask me to. I missed doing private room performances and all that came with it. My body craved a return to doing it all. I wasn't sure if I could continue to work at the club and limit my activity to stage work and helping other girls get clients up to those rooms. I needed to do it all or find something else. Something completely different. So, instead of facing the possibility of having to choose Dan over my work, and pinning that choice on his request, I avoided the subject completely.

Tyler had been more than understanding about my slow return to work. The pay from doing stage performance and handling clients was... okay, but my paycheck was better than just okay. He topped it up, adding extra to bring it to almost what I was making before. His daily check-ins never carried any hints of pressure to return to full service. They always conveyed Tyler's genuine concern for my well-being. Perhaps there was cause for concern.

Each night I went to work and put on my best face. At first it was one that hid my worries about being trapped in a room with abusive men. Then it changed. I no longer feared the clients. I wanted to be up in those rooms, doing the job I loved. But I feared losing the man I loved. I was once again crying at night, confused about my conflicting desires.

"Bridget, wait," Dan said as I opened the car door. I turned my gaze from the employee entrance of the club back to his eyes. "This will just take a minute."

I was worried that he might be making that request. The one I had tried not to provoke. "Okay, what's up?" I was still trying to avoid it.

Dan sighed and reached into the inside pocket of his jacket. "It seems like you are avoiding something. Helping Lin has maybe taken the focus off of it, for a bit, but I think you are... avoiding." He extended his hand to pass a business card to me. "I spoke with Marley, the owner of The Naughty Kitten. She's a psychologist and sex therapist. I didn't get into details or anything... I just think that she can probably help you."