****
Angel stretched her sore muscles. She loved nothing better than a really good workout. Okay, maybe something could be better, but that hadn’t happened yet. So this would have to suffice, leading the top five things she enjoyed the most, next to dancing, of course!
The music pumping through the surround sound fluctuated from Pitbull’s “Fun,” which reminded her of home, to The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face,” and everything in between. Basically, if it had a beat, she’d dance to it.
She walked over to grab a towel and wipe the nonexistent sweat from her face, smiling at the outrage her best friend Gia would feel if she were there now. The only part of her body that seemed to sweat was her boobs, which just irked the hell out of Gia, too. Not that her best friend did anything to make herself sweat, but, when they hit the clubs, she always whined about her makeup running off.
Thinking of her best friend, she picked up her iPhone. It surprised her to see several missed calls from none other than Gia herself. Listening to the first voicemail, she smiled at the sweet tone in the message.
“Hiya, chica, why you no answer the phone? Call me as soon as you get this. Love ya.”
The next one was funnier, and Angel could just picture Gia snapping her gum.
“Okay, now I’m officially offended. Two calls and two voicemails I have left, with no response. Did we break up, and I didn’t know it? Call me.”
By the third one, Angelina didn’t have to listen to know her BF was getting irritated.
“That’s it. If you do not call me back within the next hour, we are over. Finito! Done! Do you hear me, beotch?” Each word was separated with the sound of a bubble popping and lips smacking.
The last call had been almost an hour ago. Angel dialed Gia’s number, smiling at her friend’s ring back tone. She picked up the remote to the sound system, powered it off, and began walking. Preparing to leave a message, she stopped in her tracks at the screech on the other end.
“You’d better have a good excuse for not answering my calls or you’re dead to me. Do you hear me?”
“I think even the dead could hear you.” She smiled as she thought of Gia’s eyes narrowing.
“Don’t get mouthy with me, girl, or I’ll bitch slap you. You know I can do it, so out with it. Why’ve you avoided my calls?” Gia’s infectious laugh ruined the threat.
Angel stifled a snort. “Bitch slap me, will ya? Oh bring it, girlfriend, and I’ll wipe the floor with your skanky ass.”
“Oh it has already been broughten. Just wait till I see you,” Gia said in what Angel dubbed her valley girl voice.
“Shut up, stupid, and tell me what the heck you need. I’ve gotta shower the stink off my ass.”
“I need a dancer,” she blurted.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she wondered if she could pull off the stripper routine. “Um, Gia? You do know I’m not a stripper, and I don’t give lap dances?” She laughed. “Okay, I do give the occasional one, but not for money.”
“That’s because you’re a hussy.”
“I’m gonna hang up on you if you keep calling me names.” Angel pouted.
“You started it, but I’ll be nice, since I need you.” The sound of glasses being clinked around punctuated the silence.
“Yes, back to you needing me.” She blew out a breath. Anytime Gia and she had gotten together in the last several years, Angel had made sure Lorenzo was either away on business, or that they didn’t go anywhere he might’ve been. The few times she had seen him had devastated her, bringing back the humiliating memory of watching him get sucked off by another woman, especially Candis, who everyone knew wanted a rich husband. Not that she wouldn’t be getting the total package with Lorenzo. She’d heard about the role Candis had played in trying to break up Ando and his fiancé as well. Angel didn’t understand why the woman didn’t just find her own man, someone not in the Delgado family.
Gia’s voice turned pleading. “So you know I’m filling in for Ando, right? Well, I just got a call from one of the stage dancers. Her kid’s got a fever, and she can’t work.”
“What does that have to do with me? Don’t you have like a list of other girls who can’t wait to shake their booty at your brothers club?”
“Of course I do, but I haven’t seen my Angel. And since I’m stuck working here for the next couple weeks, I thought I could kill two birds with one stone.”
“If I’m dancing up on one of the platforms and you’re acting manager, how does that constitute us hanging out?” Rolling her eyes at the obvious ploy Gia was using, Angel waited.
“Well, because I can hop up there and dance with you. Ya know. Two hot girls grinding all over each other are great for business.” Gia laughed.