"Mother" of the Year

“Alright, everyone! Tonight is going to be a busy one. Many customers are wanting to get their last show and feel before the holidays. Since neither Jordon nor Dimitri is here, I am in charge, and I’m laying down a few ground rules: if a customer requests you, you are not to refuse. This is our job. You know what you signed up for. If a customer complains for a good reason, then your pay will be docked. If a customer is unruly and tries to force you to do something you were not ordered to do, report him to me and I’ll be sure that he gets escorted out after a thorough ass-whoopin’. Do I make myself clear?”

Everyone in the dressing room nodded as Kyra finished her announcement.

“Alright. Kevin, Sarah, Andi, and Micah: y’all are on pole duty tonight. Everyone else is free game. Time to take your places!”

Everyone left except Kyra, who placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I still don’t know why Christmas Eve has such an effect on you, Aaron. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try to give you an easy night.”
“Thank you…”

She gave me a small smile before leading me out of the room.

♪ I’mma turn up. We can turn up. We can take it higher.
We can burn up. We can burn up. Set this place on fire… ♪

Kevin’s routine was starting, which means that it was time to work.

I did my best to move towards the bar while many of the men, who had already entered, were distracted by Kevin’s hips.

Why am I here?
Why am I working tonight?

I know exactly why.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

Hopefully the twins are asleep.
But who knows how Jayce is holding up right now?

The guilt started to sink in and my nerves were on edge.

I need something. Something to hold me for the night.

I decided to sit down at the bar, waiting for Hyun-Ki to walk by.
Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long.

“Why are you sitting here? You know employees aren’t allowed to drink, Aaron…”
“Please…! I need something…! Just for tonight…”

He stared at me in silence until he finally let out a sigh.

“Are you a lightweight?”
I shook my head.

He pulled out a bottle and placed a glass onto the counter before pouring a brown liquid into it and pushing it towards me.

“Jack Daniels whiskey. One glass is all I can do for you.”

I thanked him before quickly bringing the glass to my lips.
It was empty within seconds.

“What’s got you on edge tonight?”
“I’d rather not talk about it…”

I stood up from the bar and headed towards the balcony.

“Aaron!”

Fuck.

I stopped walking and turned towards Kyra.

“I know I said I would try, but everyone else is busy and this man is paying for the Sweetheart Package – for a friend. I know this may be asking a lot for you tonight, but—”
“I’ll do it.”

Her mouth fell open a little.

“I just need to take my mind off of it. That’s all.”
I gave her a half-assed smile before making my way into one of the private rooms.

Push down the guilt.
Push down all of my emotions.

They don’t matter right now.

“Have fun, dude!”

I heard someone outside, knowing it was time to be ready.
I turned my back to the curtain as I turned on the CD player.

“I’ve never really been to a place like this…Nor do I know what is going to happen…but…um…”

I froze, eyes wide at the sound of the familiar voice.

“…I don’t even know what my friend signed me up for…”
I dared to glance at him, instantly recognizing him as he scratched the back of his head with a nervous smile.

Fuck!

I swallowed thickly before pulling him into the room and closing the curtain.

I could only hope that the room is dark enough.

“Uh…Is there anything that I need to do…?”
“On the bed,” I demanded as quietly as possible.

He sat on the edge, staring up at me innocently.
The music came on and I didn’t hesitate to sway my hips to the beat, sliding my hands towards them.

A couple of sways. A rotation of the hips.
The music continued as he stared at me, speechless for a moment.

I straddled his lap as I gently tugged on his tie.

“I-It’s been a while since I—”
I crashed my lips against his so he would shut up.

I tried to ignore the fact that my heart was racing as my cheeks heated up.
But it became more prominent as I continued.

It’s just the alcohol.

He gently kisses down my neck as he slides his hands down to my hips.
My eyes slipped shut and I couldn’t stop the moans from leaving my mouth.

It’s just the alcohol.

He stops and rests his forehead against my chest.

“I don’t know if I can go through with this…Aren’t the guys that usually come here are labeled ‘Sleazy’ or something like that…? Is it not wrong to enjoy this…?”

My heart is racing. My mind is slightly cloudy.
The guilt. The emotions. They’re forcing their way back.

It’s not the alcohol anymore.

“Please…”
He looks up at me, confused.

“Please, let me do this. I just need something to forget…to forget about what today is…!”
“…Aaron?”

I froze.
My mind. My body. My breathing.
Everything froze as he said my name.

His hands move to my shoulders as he stares at me in shock.

“What are you doing here?! Why are you…Is this your job?”

I couldn’t answer.
And soon, the tears fell.

I moved off of him and was about to run out, but he caught me by the arm before I could leave.

“Aaron…?”
I shook my head.

“Aaron. Please, talk to me…What’s going on?”
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.

Even with the situation I’m in, my body still relaxed a little.

Why am I like this?

“Can I trust you…?”
Another tear fell.

Why am I so weak with him?

“Can I trust you…? Can I trust you not tell anyone…?”
A small moment of silence.

“You can trust me.”

We sat on the bed, and I told him everything.

The hit and run that killed my husband two years ago.
The twins, who don’t know that their father is dead.

The living arrangement with my best friend because I couldn’t pay for the house that my family used to live in.
And that the reason why I sell my body almost every night is to financially support the twins.

I told him everything, and he listened without saying a single word.
And hearing every word from my mouth only caused me to grow irritable.

“I…”
I ran my hands through my hair, feeling the alcohol wear off.

“I still have to do my job…You have about an hour left, right?”
“N-No, you don’t have to…Honestly. I…”

“Good, cause I don’t think I can stand being near you right now…”
“Understood.”

He stood up and was about to leave, but stopped.

“Um…”
He pulled out a pen from his pocket before walking back towards me.
He lifted my hand and wrote on the palm.

“If you ever need to talk…”
He pressed a kiss to my forehead before moving away.

“…I’ll see you around?”
That same, hopeful smile on his face.

“…Sure.”

And he was gone.

I looked down at my palm, barely making out a neatly-written phone number on it.
My heart raced again, but I didn’t hesitate to glare at the number.

“…Fuck you, Alec.”