Page 57 of Iron Will
“Yes.” Bethany’s tone turns stronger. “I haven’t told him that yet, exactly. But it’s over. He thought he could come back after he hurt Paisley. And I almost let him.” Her jaw juts out a little as she continues. “But I realized, he’s part of the reason I can’t ever seem to get back on my feet, you know? Like, he hasn’t had a job in forever. And I don’t even know what he does all day. All I know is, he takes my money, and whenever I ask him to go buy groceries or something, he says he will but then he doesn’t.”
“You deserve better than that,” I murmur.
“Yeah. And another thing,” she continues, sounding defiant. “I don’t wanna work as a dancer at Jimmy Mazur’s place anymore. It’s where I met Mickey, anyway, and I don’t wanna be part of that. Jimmy wanted me to move into… other stuff.” She trails off for a second, looking embarrassed. But then she speaks up again. “Like, customers aren’t supposed to touch the dancers, right? But Jimmy started saying I could make more money if I let them do stuff sometimes…” Her nostrils flare. “I thought Mickey would kick his ass when I told him that, but you know what? He said he’d be fine with it if I could bring more money in! Can you believe that?”
“No, I can’t,” I say, disgusted. This is gross, even for Mickey.
“I want away from the whole thing,” Bethany declares. “Yoda says he’ll let us stay at his place for a little bit. Get on my feet. I said no, we can go back to the motel…” Her words slow now, as she grows hesitant. “But, I don’t know how I’m gonna pay for things. I haven’t been able to save up any money because of Mickey. And I haven’t been working as much since Paisley’s been in the hospital…”
I take a deep breath. “Bethany, we’ll figure this out. For now, just take the time to relax a little bit, be glad your daughter’s out of the hospital, and that you’re both safe. You’ve got people around you now who can help.”
Bailey, who’s been sipping on a glass of water, announces she’s going to get herself a beer. “Can I get you two anything?”
I’ve finished with my Coke. “I’ll take another one of these,” I say, lifting my glass. “With some rum in it this time, if they have it.”
Bethany, after hesitating a second, asks for the same.
“You sure you can get all three drinks?” I ask Bailey. “I can help you if you’d like.”
“I’ve got it,” Bailey says, getting up. “No worries.”
Bethany and I sit in comfortable silence, watching the kids play, until Bailey comes back, juggling three glasses. We take our drinks from her, and she sits back down in her spot. Bailey lifts up her beer. “To new beginnings,” she announces.
“To new beginnings,” I say, smiling at Bethany.
“So, Laney,” Bailey continues after she’s taken a sip. The corners of her mouth turn up. “Now that we’ve asked Bethany about her and Yoda… what’s the deal with you and Rourke?”
“Um…” Now it’s my turn to blush. “I plead the fifth?”
Bailey bursts out laughing. “Oh, no, you don’t. You don’t know me that well yet, but I am not someone who takes no for an answer.” She points at my rum and Coke, smirking. “What do you think that’s for? I’ll ply you with liquor until you tell me!”
“It’s only fair, really,” Bethany pipes up with a wink. “After all, you just asked me about Yoda. And I guarantee you, things with Yoda and me haven’t gone as far as whatever is going on between you and Rourke!”
The two women stare at me pointedly.
“You are not both ganging up on me right now,” I protest.
They look at each other, then back at me. “Yup, I think we are,” Bethany answers proudly.
“Dammit…” I glance at the little girls, but they’re wrapped up in their game and aren’t listening. “Sorry. Um, there’s nothing going on, really…”
Bethany snorts. “Yeah, right. I’ve seen the two of you together. And you’re here, aren’t you?” She waves her arms around the clubhouse. “You can’t tell me Rourke brought you here just to check up on Paisley and me.”
“Well, he kind of did…” I begin, but then I remember the sound of Rourke’s deep voice and the feel of his lips against my skin.
I want a replay of last night. That okay with you?
“Oh, come on. That man looks at you like you’re something to eat,” Bailey declares. “Don’t even try to pretend there’s nothing going on.”
“I mean…” I start to stammer. Bailey hoots.
“I knew it!” she crows. “Okay, we’ve established that thereisin fact something going on with Rourke. So. Spill!”
“He’s just, um… I mean, we’re just spending some time together.” I lift a shoulder. “I don’t think it means anything…”
The way Bailey arches her brow at me tells me she’s not having it. “Laney, let me tell you something,” she says. “I haven’t known Rourke all that long. But I have known him long enough to know one thing: if he is spending time with you, it means something. Let me ask you a question.” She leans forward. “How did you get to the clubhouse tonight?”
I tilt my head. “On Rourke’s bike.”