We entered into the space, and the music was soft and seductive. It wasn't as loud as I imagined it would have been but it was also a late Sunday night. Miguel and I approached the other artists and they all gave us smiles. This was my staff but I had rarely interacted with them since getting the place up and going. All five of them were sitting around a circular table and there was a bottle of Hennessy and a bottle Dusse open and being poured. There was Mallory, our receptionist, who had orange cornrows this week. In the couple of months since we'd been open, she'd changed her hair color six times. Then there was Brandon, who was tall, muscular and had short dreadlocks but kept his sides shave. The twins Ax and AJ were both two blonde brothers with ice blue eyes that I had recruited from the coast of North Carolina. Last but not least, Rina, who was a petite slip of thing who always wore high heels and a necklace with an R on it for her initial.
Rina was the first to smile when we approached. "Boss lady, you came out tonight!"
"Hey guys," I smiled and Miguel pulled up a seat for me to sit in.
A round of hellos went around and then a bottle girl or maybe a waitress came over to take our drink orders. The black dress that she wore was so short I was scared that if she bent over we'd see everything she owned. I ordered my favorite and Miguel leaned in close.
"I didn't know you drank," his breath almost seemed to tickle my ear.
"I'm full of surprises," I replied and winked.
"Okay so you want an Amaretto Sour? And for you?" She gave Miguel the look and we all knew what she wanted to order.
Shyly, he replied, "Bud light in a glass."
Quickly the waitress was forgotten about when a discussion started up. All eyes turned on me and I became startled.
"What?"
"Boss....you ever drove the boat?" Mallory began to laugh loudly.
"What in the hell is that?"
Another look passed between the group and I suddenly felt like everyone was in on a secret that I didn't even understand. Mallory and Rina stood up and I watched as Brandon handed the bottle of Dusse to Rina. Suddenly it seemed like the music had started to go crazy and more people were filing in. It was like a perfect storm had started up quietly and I hadn't even been aware.
"Okay, boss lady," Mallory smiled. "Stand up."
I looked around at all of them and finally gave in. Rina began chuckling, suddenly she asked me to tip my head back and open my mouth wide.
"Guys, I don't know about this," I said.
I began to feel uneasiness in my stomach. I was starting to tingle all over like I used to when I'd been a thief. Shaking it off, my courage came to the surface and I looked Rina in the eye.
"Let's do this!"
A cheer went up as Rina's small frame climbed into my seat because I was taller than her. The brown liquor seemed to gleam in the glass bottle as it hit the back of my throat with such a speed, it almost caused me to sputter but I fought it.
The moment Rina stopped pouring, I felt a little dizzy. My crazy crew began to cheer me on and I realized that I was connecting with them for the first time. Mallory hugged me and her perfume surrounded me. I laughed giddly and gave a slight bow at my performance.
" I was worried, boss...if I can't drink with you, I can't work with you," Brandon hooted.
"We were starting to think you didn't like us," Ax laughed.
"Honestly," I sat back down and got comfortable. "I've never had a huge crowd of people to hang out with.
"Well, we're gonna be your crowd," Rina smiled and began tipping the Dusse into Mallory's mouth.
For a while things got hazy as we talked about all the work we'd been doing. At some point Ax and AJ hit the dance floor and had a girl sandwiched in between them. My drink arrived and I was starting to feel warm.
"Oh someone is getting Eiffel Tower-ed tonight," Miguel said.
"Oh for sure," Rina grinned.
The thought made me want to vomit. Those two boys had been on a streak since getting into town and nothing shocked me any more. I'd been hearing drops of conversation here and there.
"Wait...have you..." I turned my eyes to Rina.
"Oh hell no," Rina said. "But I'm their roommate and it's nothing for them to share a girl or not. I've walked in on a few situations."
