She had to give Dante credit, though. The best way to hide an underground casino is to put a legal casino on top of it.
It wasn’t as bad as she thought it was going to be when she had started her first table. Most of the men were concerned about winning or her various co-workers who weren’t as shy as her.
As a matter of fact, the only guy who really creeped her out throughout the night was the red-headed one. Thankfully, he didn’t try to touch her, but she figured it would take a big man with a huge set of balls to try with the security around there. There were suits lined up against the walls everywhere. It’s like the Great Wall of China.
She had seen a few drunken men try to cop a feel, but the suits always managed to escort them out. Like Sadie had said, touching cost extra. The rest of the men must have been too scared to try, seeing they all had to leave if they did. Apparently, they didn’t want to risk going home to their wives and children.
Lake was happy when the red-headed man asked to pay his tab. Going to the bar, she grabbed his card and receipt then headed back to his table.
The man quickly jotted a few things down on his receipt. “When’s the next time you work?”
“I haven’t been added to the schedule, but it will probably be all week.” Lake managed another smile.
“I can’t wait,” he said slimily, handing over the black book which held the receipt and pen.
She didn’t know what it was about him, but he seriously rubbed her the wrong way. Most of the men traveled a bit to other sections and games; however, that man strictly stayed in her work area, constantly eyeing her.
Taking the book, she hoped it was the last smile he would get. “Thank you.”
Lake didn’t linger, quickly going back to the bar. She only hoped that, by looking at his wedding band all night, he wouldn’t be able to make it out the rest of the week. Although, something about the “I can’t wait” told her otherwise.
Her feet screamed in pain from the pumps and walking back and forth. She was going to have to go to the store to buy Band-Aids for all the blisters she was sure to have.
Looking at the clock, she realized she had finally reached the end of her shift. Quickly she counted her tips, seeing she had made quite a bit of money. Certainly more than she would have expected a cocktail waitress to have made. Her largest tip had been from the slime ball, and even though the amount was big, she felt dirty taking it.
Sadie came up behind her and gave her another slap on her butt. “I told you everyone would love you. I’ve received many compliments on you. They just can’t get enough of the new girl. Besides your feet hurting like a bitch, how bad was it?”
All in all, Lake had to admit it hadn’t been that bad. Only one customer had affected her night, and truthfully, she was used to all the waiting around. John treated her much worse than all the men there combined.
“Okay, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” she admitted. “But I am so ready to get the hell out of here and crash.” It had been a hard day for her with all the emotional ups and downs. She was practically dreaming of her pillow and mattress and blanket…
“You didn’t forget your wax, did you? Trust me, you are going to shit a brick when you see all the nooks and crannies which stash hair like a squirrel during hibernation.”
Lake turned ghostly white. “So … I have to get that … today?”
Sadie tried to coax her. “Oh, honey, don’t worry; I’ll hold you down.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
We’ll Be Too Outnumbered
Lake woke up the next day with the pillow plastered to her face. She had cried herself to sleep the previous night from the shame and horror of her trying day.
Reaching for her phone on the scuffed-up wooden chair, she looked at the time and was surprised to see missed calls from Adalyn. Quickly, she dialed her number.
Adalyn answered the phone immediately. “Why haven’t you answered my calls?”
Lake yawned. “Because I was sleeping.”
“Yeah, but you wake up at the crack of dawn. Did you do something yesterday?”
You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.
She had decided she would take the waitressing in an underground casino at the age of eighteen to her grave. “Nope, now what is so important?”
“Get up, wash that beautiful face of yours and be at my house in thirty minutes. Okay, thanks. Bye. I love you!” Adalyn spoke as quickly as she could before she hung up on her.
There’s no telling what mess she’s going to get me into today.
Getting out of bed, she took one step. “Son of a bitch!” She immediately remembered where half of the tears had come from—the waxing. Literally the whole thing had been torture. She had no clue how in the world she was supposed to get them on a regular basis. Trying to walk to the bathroom was more of a hobble as she grabbed her crotch area and walked like a penguin.
It didn’t take her very long to get ready; she just washed her tear-stained face after she brushed her teeth. She decided to put her hair up in a messy bun, considering it was still full of curl and hairspray, worried Adalyn would question why her hair looked like that. It was a shame to put it up because second-day curls were actually amazing, but then again, her bun looked pretty stylish.
Going to her closet, she could feel the warmth from outside. Probably because we can’t afford to turn the AC on. She decided to grab a loose, white tank top and light-colored blue jean shorts. The shorts were way too short, but it didn’t really matter because she was only going over to Adalyn’s.