3. Know Your Boundaries

Stassi

“ S o?” Ariel asked. “How was the photoshoot?” Ariel sipped her beer and looked at Stassi with wandering eyes.

“Great! They asked me back for another gig in two weeks, which should last a month or so. Getting work but loving what I do.” Stassi took a sip and looked around the club. “It’s busy for a Wednesday.”

“Yeah, there’s a local band that’s debuting tonight. When I got here, the waitress mentioned it. They’re supposed to be good, though. At least that’s what I hear.” Ariel laughed.

Stassi gave a slight nod. “When are they starting? Might not be here to hear them. It’s been a long day.”

“Is my old friend getting tuckered out?” Ariel teased.

Stassi rolled her eyes, then laughed. “A morning jog, day of shopping, modeling gig that lasted four hours longer than it was supposed to, and now winding down with a cold brew, it can do that to a person.” Stassi gave Ariel a wink. “You can’t complain because you had the day off after shopping. How’d your day go?”

“Went to the spa for a mani and pedi.” Ariel held out her hand. “What do you think?” Her fingernails were painted midnight blue with gold stars shimmering on them.

Stassi laughed. “A mani and pedi, how exhausting.” Ariel’s jaw dropped, then she giggled. “Fingers look great, though. I’m jealous.” Stassi took another drink. One reason they might not have worked in a relationship was they were both high-maintenance models and seemed to clash heads when it came to who needed more attention. “This weekend, I have a massage scheduled. You should join me.”

“Helping my brother move,” Ariel scowled. “He offered to pay me.” She laughed and shrugged. “I guess that’s something. After all, I don’t have a dad to fluff my bank account.” She offered Stassi a wink.

Stassi shook her head. She wasn’t sure why Ariel went on a shopping spree, then got a mani and pedi right before helping her brother move, but she supposed she would do the same thing. It would be something to take her mind off of not working.

Stassi smirked as she took a drink. She couldn’t help that her father was rich. A constant investor and the CEO of several local hospitals in the area, she could get assistance when her modeling jobs weren’t enough to pay for the necessities. Or what Stassi felt was necessary. She was lucky in that aspect of her life, often taking her plush lifestyle for granted but appreciating that she didn’t need to suffer.

“Ladies and Gentlemen.” A woman’s voice came on the speaker, and Stassi reached into her pocket and pulled out her card. “We are pleased to announce a debut group. They are from here in LA and looking for everyone to have a great time. Are you ready to party?” The crowd cheered.

“I’m going to head out of here. I’ll cover the tab for tonight.” She waved for the waitress to come to their table. Stassi raised her voice over the cheering crowd, and the band started stringing their chords on the stage. “Put the beers and fried pickles on my card, please.”

“Are you sure?” Ariel asked, raising her voice louder as the band rocked on the stage.

“Yeah, it’s my treat. You got lunch today.”

Ariel rolled her eyes. “I meant, do you have to leave? Just stay for a few songs.” Stassi turned to the stage. It was true that the crowd loved them, and the music had a nice beat. She nodded and started clapping in tune with the melody. The waitress came back with her receipt, and she checked it over. It was more expensive than she thought, and with the shopping earlier in the day, the funds on her card were most likely running low. She signed her name, then grabbed her phone, still nodding to the music.

Stassi

Please transfer some funds to the bank. Love you!

She pocketed her phone and turned back to the stage. “They’re really good!” Stassi yelled over to Ariel. Ariel grinned, then looked past Stassi. She leaned in and nodded her head toward where she had looked.

“You have an admirer over there. She hasn’t stopped staring.”

Stassi turned her head and looked. This woman winked, then nodded in her direction. Stassi turned away and met Ariel’s gaze. “I’m not the least bit interested,” she casually stated. She clapped her hands in the air in rhythm to the music and tried to ignore Ariel’s laughter. The woman could look all she wanted. Stassi was used to female and male admirers and quickly rolled her eyes at them. She didn’t have time to get preoccupied with things like dating. She kept dancing to the music and played oblivious to the attention. When one song ended, another began. After a while, the admiration of the woman was completely forgotten by Stassi. When the second song ended; however, they were no longer alone.

“Excuse me,” the woman stated, approaching their table. “Don’t I know you?” She tilted her head, and Stassi heaved a sigh. It was the same line that people liked to approach her with. It was a great opener, but Stassi wouldn’t fall for it.

“You probably saw her in a magazine,” Ariel blurted up. Stassi tossed a look in her direction. She couldn’t believe how sometimes Ariel could be so gullible. It wasn’t anyone’s business, especially this strange woman.

“That’s probably it. You modeled for Cirque, didn’t you?”

Stassi gave a sheepish nod. “Wow! I feel like I’m in the presence of a real-life celebrity.” Stassi wanted to roll her eyes, but that would be blatantly rude. Another song played up front, and she considered turning to it, but not without first getting this woman to leave the table. “I love your work,” she said.

“I don’t mean to be rude,” Stassi began. “But I really was just getting ready to leave. Busy day tomorrow and all.” She checked her pocket for her phone and wallet, then turned to the woman. “Sorry,” she said again.

The woman frowned. “I see. I was hoping I could get just one dance.” She tilted her head. “It can be a quick one.”

Stassi glanced in Ariel’s direction, but Ariel looked down at her phone like she wasn’t really gawking at them moments earlier. Stassi turned back to the woman. “Can’t hardly dance with you when I don’t know your name.”

“Talia,” the woman said, sticking her hand out in Stassi’s direction. Stassi shook it and nodded her head. “And yours?”

“Stassi,” Stassi mumbled before following Talia onto the floor. The up-tempo song played just a few feet away from them. They danced, and Stassi was careful not to look in the woman’s direction. She was beautiful, curves, and all-natural. But Stassi didn’t want this kind of distraction. When the song ended, she nodded. “Thanks for the dance.” As she attempted to leave, Talia grabbed her arm and pulled her to her.

Stassi protested, “You said a quick one.”

The woman shrugged. “One more won’t hurt anything.” Stassi turned to her table, and Ariel had a grin on her lips. Stassi shook her head, then smiled and nodded, falling into the slow dance with the stranger.

She didn’t make eye contact as they danced. Talia didn’t seem to mind as she cozied closer to Stassi, getting into her personal space. When the dance ended, Stassi was ready to exit the dance floor.

“Thank you for the dance, but tomorrow will be busy, and frankly, I’m beat.”

Talia hurried after her. “Can I at least get your number?” she asked.

Stassi turned and gave a slight smile. “It was nice and all, but the truth is, I’m kind of seeing someone, and they wouldn’t appreciate me giving out my number.”

Talia frowned. “Fair enough. It was fun anyhow.” She shrugged and walked away. Stassi turned on her heel and saw Ariel with an arched eyebrow.

“Why’d you lie to her?”

Stassi shrugged. “Maybe because I’m not interested. Besides, you know I don’t mix business with pleasure. She was only interested because I’m a model. That’s all.”

Ariel snickered. “You two could make a hot couple.”

Stassi rolled her eyes. She knew what she wanted, and a one-night stand wasn’t that. It might work if someone were interested because of who she was on the inside, but she was just fine on her own. They left the club and headed to their cars. Stassi pulled out her phone to see if her dad had ever responded. When there was no message, she pocketed her phone and reached for her car door. In time he would get her that money. He was probably just in the middle of something and couldn’t respond. She would try him again later.