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“Come on Gunn. I’ve followed the rules.”
I jutted out my chin so he could see I was blindfolded.
“You can take it off now, sweetthing,” he said.
Taking it down, I saw the biker in a little guard house who leaned out the window. The young guy with a slight beard in typical biker attire winked at me. “Nice to meet you Sky.”
“Likewise.” I waved since I couldn’t reach him, to shake his hand. If there’s one thing I’ve learned since I got here, everyone in Tennessee was so polite. Even an asshole like Ralph said his please and thank yous.
The biker’s attention turned to my friend. “Did you clear this with Opry?”
“I think so. But he didn’t say when I should bring her,” Leo said. I didn’t know if she was lying about that or not.
“Never on a Friday.”
“I didn’t know.” Leo pouted. “Look, she really needs away from Ralph.”
As I rolled my eyes, the man seemed to give in. “I’ll need her I.D. and her purse,” he told Leo.
I handed both over, thinking they’d get checked and given back to me, but he didn’t hand them back. He waved us through.
Leonora just drove on explaining that the same had happened to her when she auditioned. I’d get my stuff back when I left. “You’re not on the list. You’re lucky Gunn isn’t escorting you inside straight to Opry like he’s supposed to. I assume he didn’t because there’s a line of cars behind us.”
“Yeah, this place is packed.”
“This is just a normal Friday night, Sky. I’m telling you this job is fire.”
“Fuck.” When we parked, I realized my phone was still in my purse because I’d been blindfolded on the drive. I explained as much to Leo as we left the car.
“I’d give you my phone, but I have to check it with the shift leader, whoever that is tonight. I hope to God it’s not Memphis.”
We made it to the back door.
“Trouble in paradise?” I asked her.
“No. Here’s the tea. Memphis is a hardass. Acts like she owns the place because she’s sleeping with the boss… So, you can’t call me anyway. Take these.” Leo handed me her car keys. “In case you need to get out of here and can’t find me.”
“I don’t have any money.”
She laughed. “You have two tits and a smile. That’s all you need. All your drinks will be on the house.”
Leo punched in a code, and we entered through the back. The music hit me first, old nineties’ hip-hop played and I breathed a sigh of relief. There were plenty of places in Nashville that didn’t steer away from the country and western theme. Leo explained the layout as we passed the dressing rooms that led to the stage. “On the left, there’s a bar and restaurant with pool tables and such. On the other side, you find the games tables and slots. The stages are all the way on the right, and we use girls use either one or both depending on whether there’s a live band.” She said the stages were surrounded by a dance floor and round couches. Booths were in every corner and there were long benches otherwise. She took me down a hall past what she said was a conference room that led out front. The door opened to a space filled to the brim with people. In the dark, neon lights twinkled like any typical honkytonk around Nashville, but this place seemed upscale with its design and décor. Not at all like a dingy biker hangout.
Strobe lights threatened to give me a seizure. A Rob Zombie song started playing. Two strippers swung on a pole in unison in nothing but UV responsive psychedelic body paint.
Leo explained, “Royal Road caters to the high class and well-connected. Not to say there aren’t plenty of low lives around here. I guess you could say this is where Garth Brooks’ would meet those friends in low places. If you know what I mean.”
“I don’t. Who’s Garth Brooks?” I knew, but it drove Leo crazy when I didn’t know all about Nashville and country music.”
“I forget you think a Goo Goo bar is a band.” That was Leo’s way of saying I wasn’t from Tennessee. “Well, let’s just say, the wealthy want to have a good time but need privacy and protection. That’s what goes on here most the time. Other times, it’s just for members, them biker daddies. Tonight’s a normal night, a mix of both.”
I felt her keys in my pocket. “If I were to leave, what would you do?”
“There are rooms upstairs for us if we can’t drive home. I told you it’s a great place to work.”
“Right, that’s what the rooms are for,” I said under my breath.
Leo heard me. “You’re right. Some girls find themselves spending the night with a biker or two, or a client. But unlike at Shakey’s, no one’s making you. And the men don’t pay you. But if you take someone upstairs, you tell the shift leader, and they make sure you get a bonus.”
