be a dick.” I released his arm, dropping my hand to my side. “I need you to cancel the stripper.”
“That’s a good one,” Ashton said while checking his phone.
“I’m not kidding,” I told him.
His head snapped up, his sapphire eyes landing on mine. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Of course, I’m serious. Why wouldn’t I be?” I lifted my chin, not backing down.
“Why?”
“Why what?” I scowled. “Just cancel her. Please.”
“And why the hell would I do that? That shit cost me a lot of cake, Gigi. I’m not canceling her.” He went to walk away when I grabbed his arm again.
“How much?” I was desperate and was willing to pay anything.
“Gigi.” He shook me off and took another step away when I rushed in front of him. “What gives, woman? You know Vince gets a stripper for his twenty-first birthday. It’s tradition. We all got one and he’s the last one of us guys to turn twenty-one.”
“Yeah, I know. And he will have a stripper. But not the one you ordered for him.”
Ashton frowned. “I don’t know what you mean. Who’s going to strip for him then if I cancel the stripper?”
“Me.” I crossed my arms under my chest. “I’m going to strip for him.”
Ashton laughed, bending over at the waist, his laughter booming through him the longer time wore on. When he calmed down, he wiped under his eyes. “You can’t be serious.”
“What if I am?” I huffed. “You know I can dance.”
“You do ballet,” he pointed out. “That’s far from stripping, Gigi.”
“No, I did ballet. But now I actually dance everything. And all of these girls who work here? Who do you think taught them to move like they do?” I hadn’t danced ballet since my accident, but no one knew that. Not even my parents. “Please, Ashton. I don’t ask you for much. Do this for me and I’ll owe you.”
“Gigi.” He shook his head. “One, I can’t get over the fact you just told me you teach strippers how to dance and two, Vince will cut off my balls if I make this happen.”
“He won’t know anything. It’ll all be me.” He could punish me all he wanted. My body burned at the idea of him fucking me while he was angry.
“Whatever you two have…” Something flashed in Ashton’s deep blue eyes. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I love you both, but I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can. I don’t want another woman dancing for him.” The mere idea of another female touching Vince made me want to throw up. “It can’t happen.”
Ashton searched my face.
“Please,” I pleaded, needing him to see that I meant what I said.
“I still can’t cancel her.” He paused, scratching the scruff on his jaw. “She cost five hundred. That’s a lot of money wasted if I cancel her. There’s no refunds, babe.”
I reached into my purse and pulled out my wallet. Counting the bills, I grabbed five of them and shoved them against Ashton’s chest. “Five hundred. Take it.” I didn’t normally carry that kind of money around in my purse, but I had just been paid by Candace, so I didn’t mind giving it to Ashton. Especially if it prevented the stripper from getting anywhere near Vince.
“What?” Ashton’s eyes widened. “I can’t take this shit,” he said, trying to hand me back the money.
“Yes.” I swatted his hand away. “You can. Keep the stripper and do whatever you want with her but she’s not dancing for Vince. I am. And I don’t care what you do with the money. But she better not get anywhere near him.”
“What’s in this for you?” Ashton asked, hesitating, but eventually taking the money and shoving it into his pocket.
“Everything.” I spun on my heel and rushed down the hall that led to the large room where the girls got ready.
“Gigi.”
I stopped suddenly, spinning on my heel and found my best friends coming toward me.
“We saw you head this way,” Luna said. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Actually, it’s better now. You girls can help me.” I stopped in front of the dressing room just as the door opened.
Corbin Wane jumped, his chocolate brown eyes moving back and forth. “Gigi, sweetheart. Just making sure the room is good to go for you.”
“Thank you but how did you know I was ready to use it?” I asked him, my heart warming at the thoughtful gesture.
He smiled and tapped his temple. “I know everything that goes on in this club before and after it happens.” He winked. “Don’t ever forget that.”
I