Stage Fright by Pender Mackie Read Free Book Online Page A

to go now.”
There were some protests but not many. He hadn’t been making much of an effort. Brad stepped in, taking up the slack.
     
“Jesse’s still growing. He needs his sleep,” Chaz said.
    One of the women giggled, but Jesse ignored her. He stared at Chaz uncertainly. It wasn’t like the man to help another dancer out. Chaz was more likely to chew someone out.
“What do you say, ladies? How ’bout we take this party somewhere private?”
    Chaz sounded relaxed enough, but Jesse remembered what Mike had said. Maybe Chaz watched and reported back to someone, or maybe he had his own reasons for spying. Chaz was the oldest, most experienced dancer and the dance captain and leader of their band of merry men. But he was no Robin Hood.
    Jesse had seen him pull dancers aside and go postal on them out for screwing up a routine or being late to rehearsal. When Brad had come in with a hangover, Chaz had been furious. He’d told Brad—loudly—that his lack of professional attitude made them all look bad.
    He’d had a point, but Chaz had left the rest of them getting ready and taken Brad out into the hall. When they came back to the dressing room, Brad wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes. Maybe he’d just been hungover, but he’d left right after the show, skipping the meet and greet.
    Jesse had done everything Chaz asked of him, and so far he’d stayed out of trouble. But the thoughtful look Chaz gave him as Jesse said his good-byes made him think he could expect a summons.
* * * *
It came the next day, after rehearsal.
     
“Jesse, come here a second.”
    They were in the dressing room. The others, with the exception of Brad, were still in the showers.
“What’s up?” Jesse played it cool. No point in giving Chaz a helping hand.
Chaz dried off, then squeezed into his jeans. Jesse stood gripping his towel around his waist. Being almost naked put him at a psychological disadvantage, but he didn’t want to drop his towel to get dressed, and at least this way Chaz couldn’t try to take him somewhere else to talk. Chaz was probably less likely to tear him a new one in the middle of the communal dressing room.
Chaz applied pit stick and tugged on his shirt. He stared at Jesse, looking him over from head to toe as if Jesse were a used car and Chaz wanted to kick his tires. Jesse waited. He wished Chaz would just say what he had to say so Jesse could get dressed.
“I don’t care if you like to suck dick or take it up the ass. I don’t give a shit.”
    Jesse managed to stay standing only because his knees were locked. He tried to keep his face expressionless as his heart lurched sickeningly. It banged around in his chest like a Vegas drunk.
    Chaz took a couple of steps closer, got right up into Jesse’s personal space. Jesse held his ground. He forced himself to meet that dark-eyed stare. He’d never noticed until now just how reptilian Chaz’s eyes looked.
    “Listen up, Jesse. These women are buying a fantasy. They look at us up onstage, they want to think that you’re turned on, that they can seduce you, get you to fuck them.”
Jesse’s gaze flicked over to Brad, busy blow-drying his hair.
    “They don’t want to know you’ll happily bend over for other men.” “Chaz, I don’t—” Chaz reached out and poked Jesse in the chest. Jesse jumped and hated himself for
    it. The corner of Chaz’s mouth lifted. The asshole was enjoying this. “Even if you can’t get it up for pussy, you need to make them believe. Can you do that?” He smiled slyly. “I’d hate to have to tell anyone you’ve got a problem with the ladies.”
    Chaz couldn’t fire him. But there were lots of subtle ways he could make Jesse’s life miserable, even if he didn’t out him to the other dancers. And he could get Val in trouble too if he knew they were dating.
    “I can do that.” His voice came out sounding reedy.
“Good.” Chaz’s lips split into a grin. His glossy black hair and too-white teeth reminded Jesse of the time