Exposed (The Alpha Stranger) Book 2 by C.T. Sloan Read Free Book Online

kindred spirit with these folks. While the rest of the world is working in offices, we pursue our passion in hopes that these passions will put food on our table. Well, they have Venice Beach and I have the Arrow Bar.
     
    I get to the bar at around 9:00 p.m. The bartender waves over to me and says, “Half these people are asking if you are going to play tonight.” Wow. I actually have fans?! The bartender tells me that I can have anything I want from the bar. So I ask for a glass of Rum and Coke. Might as well go for some strong stuff before I hit the piano.
     
    At 9:15, I walk up to the stage to some scattered applause. That completely catches me off guard. As I look out into the audience, I see some familiar faces from last night. I sit down at the piano and tell the audience, “It’s great to be back tonight.” Then I begin to play. I start to play some of my older songs. There are about six tables of people right up in front of the piano. Their attention is fixated on me. I see a couple of girls around my age who are really into my music. I can’t even begin to tell you how that affects me because I know how they feel. When I first heard Fiona Apple’s music at ten years old, it changed my world. When I first saw her at the Coachella Music Festival, I cried. I don’t know if I will have that exact effect on my fans but it feels good to have people listen to my music.
     
    After I finish my first song, several people come up to the piano and leave tips. There must be about twenty bucks in the tip jar. Nice! I just earned back my gas money. I play a few more songs before I launch into my new signature piece. “I just recorded this song this afternoon thanks to my new producer Jonathan Ellis. I hope you like it. It’s called, ‘Lover With No Name.’” Before I can even finish the title to the song, I hear people clap. Damn, that feels good!
     
    I close my eyes and play my song. Again, the bar begins to fall quiet as I pour out my most intimate lyrics. When I open my eyes, I notice the entire bar just looking at me. My heart swells with pride as I continue to play this ode to my anonymous lover. When I am finished, I am treated to a huge wave of applause. The outpouring is so great that I give a little bow to the audience. Several people leave me cash in the tip jar. This time, the tippers are almost exclusively all men. They leave tens and twenties. Damn, this is stripper cash! One pudgy, balding middle-aged guy leaves me a hundred-dollar bill with his phone number written on it. It looks like I have gotten my first stalker!
     
    I finish my set at 11:00. My tip jar overflows with cash. I grab the money and start to count it as I make my way to the bar. Fuck! I just made $337! My eyes open wide as I stuff the cash into my purse.
    
“Can’t you stay for another hour?! Business is hopping and the tips are great!” the bartender pleads.
    I reach into my purse and hand the bartender $50. “I have to be somewhere at midnight. But I promise to do some longer sets in the future.”
     
    The bartender happily takes my tip and says, “You are welcome back here anytime!”
     
    I skip out of the bar overwhelmed with a sense of pride that I have never felt in my life. I get to my car and head over to Hollywood and Highland. As I drive over to Hollywood, I begin to wonder why my anonymous lover would want to meet me in such a random place. Not that I mind. I would meet the handsome stranger in the middle of a junkyard if he demanded it. As I drive towards Hollywood, I am treated to a freak show of crazy homeless people, scary looking drug dealers, street walkers and other weirdos. I park my car at the Hollywood and Highland Center. Then I refer to the map to find out exactly where my anonymous lover wants me.
     
    As I walk down the street, I notice that I am walking right on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I see some familiar names on the sidewalk. When I get to the exact corner marked on the map sent to me, I see a