Well, tonight could have gone worse. And I thought I did a pretty good job up on that stage, right up until I got dragged off it. I didn’t even get to show off my favorite move where I swung around the pole. Shame.
I’d debrief with the girls tomorrow. I was sure they’d let me practice a bit more with them.
Sebastian got on his bike and helped me up. I strapped the helmet on and slid forward, winding my arms around him. And despite his jerkiness tonight, sitting behind him on his bike was still my happy place.
And I hated myself for it.
At least this way we couldn’t talk to each other. Less chance of one of us getting pissed off.
One thing the short ride back to my house did manage was to give me time to think. And the more I thought about tonight, the angrier I got.
How dare he push me around and tell me I couldn’t dance onstage.
Wait, why am I trying to defend something that I didn’t want to do in the first place?
But it was the principle of it. I was a grown-ass woman, and I could make my own decisions. Nobody else made them for me. And if they were terrible decisions, I would be the only one to blame.
When we got back to the house, I was fuming mad. I hopped off the bike and ripped my helmet off, needing to walk away before I did something I’d regret later. Like kick a member of a motorcycle club in the balls.
I pushed the helmet into Sebastian’s stomach and stormed off. Not the most mature thing I’d ever done, but I wasn’t feeling very mature right at that moment.
When I crashed through the front door, Stella came out of the living room. She saw me and stopped in her tracks, putting her hands up. “Whoa, what happened?”
“I need a drink,” I growled and went to the kitchen.
I didn’t drink much anymore, not since having the kids. A hangover was made much worse by little voices yelling in your ear.
But I stashed a few emergency bottles in the top cabinet. Since I was so small, I had to climb on the counter to reach them. Which was exactly what I did.
Heaving myself up on the counter, I stood up, balancing on the small area. I reached up to the cabinet, the bottle of wine within reach, when I was pulled back.
I shrieked, but no amount of wiggling got me out of being lifted off the counter and set back onto the ground.
I whirled around and glared at Sebastian, who was still standing closer than necessary.
“I’ll give you a free life lesson, buster. Don’t come between an angry woman and her wine,” I ground out between clenched teeth.
“You won’t get to drink your wine if you fall off and break your neck,” he replied, raising an eyebrow at me.
“I’ve done this many times before and never fallen off. And if I did, it wouldn’t be your problem. At least then you don’t have to babysit me anymore.”
He stepped closer, invading my space like nobody else’s business. If he thought he could intimidate me, he had another thing coming.
“Seems to me you need someone to keep you out of trouble. Tonight being the best example of your inability to take care of yourself.”
We glared at each other, our noses inches apart.
“Ahem, excuse me,” Stella cut in. “Anyone care to enlighten me with what happened tonight?”
I pulled myself away from Sebastian and took three steps back to look at Stella, who was watching us with rapt attention.
“Nothing,” I said.
“Nora thought it would be a good idea to become a stripper,” Sebastian chimed in at the same time.
I was ready to maim him. How dare he?
“You did what?” Stella whispered, looking at me with an expression of pure shock.
“It doesn’t matter now. Sebastian dragged me off the stage, and I nearly lost my job.”
My voice was reaching high notes, and I took a deep breath to calm myself down. The thought of that possibility gave me heart palpitations and a rash.
“You nearly lost your job?” Stella gaped at me, disbelief heavy in her voice.
“Thanks to this corn nut,” I said, pointing at Sebastian.
“Nora, why did you go up onstage? You hate being the center of attention.”
I deflated, knowing I needed to fess up. She would find out sooner or later anyway. “I need the money.”
Stella came closer and took my hand. “Why didn’t you ask us to lower the rent? Mason won’t mind.”
I pulled back. “No way. I’m already paying way less than what this place is worth. I would never ask that of you.”
“Damn it, Nora, we’re your friends. Of course we would want to help out.”
She sounded hurt, her face drawn tight. I knew she just wanted to help. But my money was gone because I’d been careless. I was the only person who was going to get myself out of this mess.
“It’s my problem, and I’m going to take care of it,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
“But you’re so good with your money. You never buy anything you don’t need. I thought you were doing well.”
I sighed, deciding it was time to fess up. “I was. Until Jim cleaned me out.”
Stella recoiled at my words, her face turning into a mask of fury. “He took your money?” she yelled, and I shushed her.
“Don’t wake the kids. And yes, I’m pretty sure it was him. The money was gone after he’d been at the house. And it’s not like this was the first time he’s taken my money.”
“What a dick,” Stella cursed and put her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug.
“It’s okay. Shit happens,” I said, my voice muffled from being squashed against her shoulder.
She squeezed me tight, and I wheezed out a breath. “Shit like this doesn’t just happen. You know you can be angry about this. Or cry. Whatever you need to deal with
