Page 4 of Ghost (Iron Thunder MC 4)
The idea wouldn’t have occurred to me if my friend Nancy hadn’t introduced me to it. She knew about my grandmother’s illness, and that I was struggling to go to school and also make ends meet.
I took up part-time jobs, whatever I could find, but I didn’t make enough to pay the medical bills. My grandmother was quickly running out of the last batch of medication I’d managed to buy, and I needed a solution soon.
Between school, the jobs I was trying to juggle and looking after grandma, I barely ever had time to meet with friends. Nancy had been calling and texting me for weeks till she just showed up at the gas station one night. I was on a late-night shift. I didn’t even realize she knew where I worked.
“You need to slow down. Look at yourself, hon, you look like you haven’t slept or eaten in days.”
And she was right, too.
We were sitting outside the gas station with cans of soda. I was able to take a fifteen-minute break and was already watching the clock. The last thing I needed was for my paycheck to be docked.
“Yeah, I’m stressed, don’t worry. I’m eating and sleeping just fine,” I lied.
“You look far from just fine, Mercy!” Nancy scolded and I shook my head.
“Things are a bit complicated right now but I’ll figure something out.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “It’s not that complicated. You need money for your grandma and the bills. These petty jobs aren’t going to cut it. You need to find work that will pay enough. What’s complicated about that?”
“I get that. I’m not qualified yet. I’m working toward it though.”
“What if I said you could make that kinda money now?”
“Doing what? These are the only jobs I could find on my hours. I can’t get a regular job and also go to school and look after Grandma.”
“The hours will suit you fine.”
“Where would I be working?” I asked and she bit down on her lip. I saw the guilty expression on her face.
“Teasers. It’s a strip club.”
“Are you kidding me?” I quaked, jumping up.
Nancy remained calm.
“Before you lash out, just think about it. You know how to move your body, and you’re fuckin’ gorgeous. You’ll be really good at it. Think about all the tips you’ll make. And besides, it’s fun. You know you love to dance.”
I was shaking my head. With rage? Embarrassment? Confusion?
“You’re saying you think I should strip?”
“Wow. Get off your high fuckin’ horse, babe, lots of us do it. And like I said, it’s just dancing.”
“With no clothes on!”
“Yeah, and so what? I enjoy it,” she said. “And I’m sure you would too.”
“You do it?” I asked, aghast. I had no idea.
She shrugged. “On and off. When I need the cash. I’m not a regular. But you could be. It’s literally a win-win for you.”
I sat back down beside her, rubbing a hand over my forehead. She made it sound so casual. So obvious. Like, why hadn’t I thought about this before? Was it really that common for girls to do this for money? Was it really not as sleazy as I thought?
“And…and what would it entail?” I asked in a whisper, like I didn’t want anyone overhearing the conversation even though there was nobody around.
Nancy looked at me like she was trying to suppress a smile.
“Oh, hon, have you never been to a strip club before?”
I said nothing. That was answer enough.
“Okay, come on, get up. I’ll take you,” she exclaimed, jumping up.
“Nancy, I can’t go. I’m supposed to be on a fifteen-minute break. I have a job!”
She grabbed my hand and was now pulling me up forcibly.
“So, quit.”
“Have you not been listening? My grandmother’s life literally depends on this. On me being able to put two cents together.”
She stopped in her tracks and turned around to stare me down.
“Exactly. You’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do, right? I’m giving you the best idea of your life. You should be thanking me for this. Trust me, Mercy, what I’m about to do is because I care.”
“I can’t just quit…”
“Yes, you can. You will sign on as a stripper at Teasers tonight. You can start working tomorrow. The amount of cash you’ll make in four hours at that place is what you make slogging your ass off here for two weeks.”
I couldn’t believe it and had to see this for myself. It sounded too good to be true, but something told me to follow Nancy’s lead. She had always been a reliable friend to me and was trying to be one right now too.
So, with her by my side, I marched back into the gas station and quit my job. My hands shook as we rushed out together. She was going to take me to Teasers and my life would change forever. I sure hoped she was right, otherwise, where would I get the money for Grandma’s medication?
