Casually Compromised - Book 1

31 Girls

Growing up there was a Baskin Robbin's ice cream parlor my folks would take us to from time to time. 31 flavors, my favorites were mint chocolate chip, chocolate and just plain old vanilla. I never did get around to trying all those flavors.

The so called purge lasted a whole 5 days. Karma was laughing at me in the corner yet again. Often you know your own patterns of obviousness- there I was denying my true nature. Chalking it up to some greater cause. Was there one really all that greater than just wanting what you wanted?

Detoxing from the club was way harder than expected. Theres few to no absolutes in software or startups, seems silly to think I'd find some absolutes around how I'd handle the club or Vera for that matter, the never ending particle of interest. Sure she was away but we managed to stay connected- she was enjoying the beach, having fun, and I was a bit of fun too. The young and the stupid, ageless in the mind.

Friday arrived and I felt the pull of the club.

Always the fool.

I could tell the crowd was out of order. One too many girls draped over Misery's arm, too few dollars happening ring side and only a handful of girls working the gents. I needed some Joe time, the manager sat in the back, drank his water and enjoyed a few conversations from his flock. I dropped in a seat next to him.

"I figured you'd be back..." he said sipping his water and looking out into the back stage area of the club.

"Yeah.." I said nodding in general defeat but lets play nice.

"Ya know ya need a new girl. Variety is important Parker." the manager said receiving some slip of paper from one of his employees. I used to imagine those notes passing from person to person- what were they, dance counts, the number of beers left, the amount of cash gained per hour, one wonders.

Joe had been subtly attempting to ween me off Vera for a long time now despite the considerable cash donations I had been giving the club. He still wanted the cash but I could sense he didn't like seeing a fellow be quite consumed as I was with Vera.

"Beverly is here..." he nodded toward the back of the main stage.

Beverly, the porn star. Yes I remembered. Seeing her take to the main stage I couldn't help but wonder a few things. First of all, why strip when you're a star ya know, was she slumming it tonight, or just bored? I hadn't made the connection between clubs and porn stars yet,I guess they made sense in the end. After all they can make a dollar here, why not?

Girls are not as complex as I would like to think. They're just like the rest of us, living, breathing, boring. The club does offer a stage of reassuring thoughts tho- still pretty, still wanted, still desired, who doesn't want to hear that from time to time?

She was gorgeous. She didn't do any crazy pole tricks and probably didn't need to. Aside from shaking her ass her moves were fairly reserved, but boy she slinked on the ring side stage.

Beverly worked he way up to this lone guy that watched her do trick after trick and found it hard to find a dollar on him to tip. This played out for 30 seconds yet felt like 10 minutes as the manager and I stared on in anger.

"I hate those guys, like find your god damn dollar.." the manager said visibly annoyed at the man.

"I know, I hate them too, ya can't sit ringside without having your cash ready.." I replied watching the event unfold before us.

"I notice you never sit there Parker." the manager said.

"Yeah, well its ringside, to me thats where you're saying your here for the full show, you're an addict.." I said, though in reality I was an addict.