Page 16 of For Your Eyes Only
“Maybe you should incorporate eating oysters and drinking coffee into your act.”
“Maybe I will.” I jerk my chin, and he points at me.
“That’s good. I like seeing you embrace your inner strength. I think this dancing thing is going to break you out of that cocoon after all.”
Chewing my lip, I remember my earlier thoughts on this subject. “I think you might be right. I’m learning some things about myself—even if my job is sinful.”
“Who said your job is sinful?”
“Everybody. Name one person who doesn’t say stripping is dirty.” I slide another perfectly grilled oyster into my mouth and shudder at how good it is. “We have to come here again.”
“You listen to me, Giana Isabela, the bible is full of sex. Have you ever read the Song of Solomon? Or how about the descriptions of Bathsheba? Don’t even get me started on David and Jonathan and that not-so-ambiguously gay romance.”
I glance around again to see who might be listening. “Lower your voice, Misha.”
“I’m done with being quiet. God made us and said we’re good. It’s us who fuck everything up and weigh each other down with our own shame and guilt. You and I are going to be loud and proud of who we are, starting today.”
“I think I’ll keep it down for now, if that’s okay.” I finish my oysters, but a feeling is stirring in my chest.
It tingles like a laugh caught behind my ribs, like a song wanting to burst free. I’m not sure why or when, but my wings are growing stronger, getting ready to unfurl.
* * *
“You sure theydon’t allow drag queens to live here?” Michele and I stand at the entrance of the high-rise where I live, looking up at the massive building. “I'm very neat and a lot of fun.”
“Girls only,” I tease, stepping forward to kiss his cheek. “But I can’t wait to catch your show next week.”
“I can’t wait to catch yours.”
“Oh, no.” I hesitate, swallowing my embarrassment. “Not yet.”
“Sweet Gia, you are a work in progress.” He pulls me close. “I’ll be ready when you are.”
Bianca meets me at the door when I arrive at the condo. “What took so long? You’re not going to believe what just happened.”
“I was only gone an hour.”
She pulls me into the room and shuts the door. “Franco texted me. William Alexander, the big boss, saw your show last night, and he wants to meet you. Isn’t that amazing? The big boss wants to meet you!”
Lightning shoots through my chest, and I pull up so fast, I almost bump into Shula. “He saw me dance? He knows it was me? Nobody is supposed to know…”
“He doesn’t know it was you.” Shula slips an arm around my shoulders. “He only knows you make his dick hard.”
“I don’t like that.” I step out of her embrace to follow my bestie into the kitchen. “Franco said he wouldn’t tell anyone my identity. That was the deal. No one can know.”
Bianca stands in front of the blender, dropping frozen fruit into the glass carafe. “Franco didn’t tell him anything. He texted me. You can still say no.” Her full lips twist. “If you want.”
“If I start telling people who I am, it won’t be long before everyone finds out, and then…”
“Your aunt isn’t going to find out!” Bianca hits the button, and the loud grinding sound of ice in the blender rattles through the room.
I cover my ears with my hands and shout over the noise. “Tell him no. I’m not meeting anyone.”
She gives the machine a few more pulses then pours her smoothie into a plastic cup. “What if you meet him first, without him knowing who you are, then decide.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because he’s the big boss. If he’s into you, that could be a really good thing for you.”