42

ALISSA AND I WAIT TEN minutes in the car before following the path already laid by Mick and Colin. We don’t want anyone inside to know we’re together, thinking one of us might get lucky if we find a lonely soul inside just waiting for someone to unload all their unhappy work feelings on. There may also be some reticence on their part over the whole issue of walking in the front doors of a strip club next to an obviously pregnant girl. She didn’t look any more excited about it than they did.

“Maybe you should wait in the car,” I offer, feeling a little bit sorry for her. “Heck no. I’m not going to sit out here with all the creeps and perverts

while you’re in there getting all the glory.”

“Glory? Are you kidding me?” All my pity disappears. Poof. Gone.

She shakes her head, chagrined “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I just … I want to help. And I can’t help by steaming up the inside of Mick’s windows.”

I don’t like the way that sounds, so I take her by the hand and pull her along with me