10. Liam

10

LIAM

W hen I very casually asked Tyler if he thought Val would be back in the club soon, he told me Val had gone to New York on business. I acted like I thought that was great. It should be. I wouldn’t have to worry about him slipping in and watching over me for the next few days.

I took on all the private clients I had time for while he was gone, but I still looked for him in the audience, even though I was sure I’d feel his eyes on me if he’d returned.

One night when I got home from work, an eviction notice was on my door. I had until noon the next day to get out, and I had nowhere to go.

I actually considered messaging Val. He’d given me his direct number in case I had trouble at Pound, though I wasn’t sure why he didn’t just tell me to talk to Trevor about any issues.

What would I say to him? That I needed to pay my rent before I could make that week’s payment to him?

No way was I going to suggest that.

Homeless was better than dead or in the hospital racking up even more bills.

Would Val really hurt you?

I wasn’t sure enough to gamble on it. I could tell him I needed a place to stay. But he’d made it clear I wasn’t going to stay with him, and while his family probably owned a number of buildings, I didn’t think he was going to give me an apartment rent free.

He bought you clothes.

Yes, but that was about image.

A dancer being on the streets doesn’t help the club’s image.

I picked up my phone and stared at it, but asking for more from the man I already owed was too much. Maybe I did have some pride left.

I logged into my bank account and checked my options, knowing they were slim to none. I stared at all the things I’d simply have to abandon, then I had an idea.