“I think we have. You seem too familiar…” Vida knew the instant he recognized her, amusement and admiration lit his face.
“Trouble?” He laughed and hit his hand against Colton’s back. “I have died and gone to Heaven.” Holding his arms out, he gave her a devilish grin. “Come to daddy.”
Blood rushed up her from her chest to land with bright flags of shame on her cheeks as Seth stopped coding to stare at her as if he had never seen her before. His mouth dropped open.
“You work in King’s club?” Before Vida could reply, Max barged into their conversation.
“She sure does. You have the pleasure of sitting next to one of King’s gloriously divine exotic dancers, Trouble.”
Seth looked at her with horrified eyes, as if the computer he had in front of him was about to be stolen. Vida’s emotions closed down. It was a look she was very familiar with, she had seen it dozens of times when she was a child, whenever someone found out her mother was a stripper.
Seth closed his computer, gathered his papers and shoved them unceremoniously into his backpack.
“I better be going. I’ll talk to you later, Vida.” Seth jumped from his chair, taking off from the shop as if the hounds of hell were after him. Vida swallowed down the hurt; she had thought they were friends. Seth hadn’t made any sexual overtures towards her and it had made her relax in his easygoing company.
“I take it the kid didn’t know.” Vida could see remorse in Max’s eyes.
Vida shrugged, refusing to let them see she was hurting. “It was my fault; I had plenty of time to tell him.”
“Who gives a fuck, if something like that runs off the little pussy. You’re better off without him,” Max stated.
Vida shrugged again, Seth had surprised her by his abrupt departure. It wasn’t Max’s fault he had inadvertently let it out that she was stripping, it was her own for entangling herself in the mess her life had become. Not for the first time, Vida questioned whether she was doing the right thing, wishing she had other options where Sawyer was concerned. Maybe she should go to the police again?
Vida ran her hand along the computer, feeling the cold metal against her fingertips. She gathered back her control.
King was her only hope of getting Sawyer back; she knew that in her heart. She had taken the only road open to her, so now she had to tough out the repercussions. When Sawyer was back, she could leave and move somewhere where people had never heard of her mother and wouldn’t have to be constantly on guard about being recognized as a stripper. She just had to hang on to her tattered pride until then.
Pasting a fake smile on her lips that she was unaware didn’t reach her eyes, she forestalled any other comments. “You’re right. I was only doing him a favor anyway, helping him with his video game. Are you wanting to get a tattoo?” she asked Max, trying to change the subject.
“Only if Colton has an opening. I don’t want that bitch of a wife anywhere near me with those needles of hers.” Max shuddered, giving her a wink.
“Colton’s free; you can go on back with him.” Vida smiled at the man’s antics.
“Thanks, I am sorry, sometimes my mouth spouts out shit before I think.” Max moved closer to the counter.
“It’s really okay.” This time Vida’s smile was much warmer. “But I’m still not going to give you a private dance,” she teased. She could tell he was upset with himself for being responsible for Seth leaving.
His heartbreak lasted three seconds. “I guess I’ll survive. Any chance you’ll give me the redhead’s number that comes on the stage after you?”
Vida studied Colton’s friend, he seemed like a really nice guy. “I’ll give her a call. If she says it cool, I’ll give it to you. I will warn you, though, she does have a boyfriend.”
“Trouble, you just made my day. I’ll make sure we name our firstborn after you.” Vida couldn’t hold back her laughter at his silly response.
“I’ll hold you to that,” she mock threatened.
“Go on back to my room, I’ll be there in a minute,” Colton told Max, staring intently at Vida.
Colton waited until Max had left the room before questioning Vida.
“You sure you’re okay?” His eyes searched hers.
“I’m fine. It was only a matter of time before Seth found out. The semester is almost over and when Sawyer comes home, I’ll be leaving. So it’s really not a big deal.”
“Leaving? Where will you be going?” His sharp voice surprised Vida. Just minutes ago he had been trying to get rid of her.
“I want to travel. Just get in a car and drive until I come to a place I want to stay,” Vida answered.