“Yeah, I know. I saw him in the dark, and I knew that he was gorgeous.”
“Fine, paid, and a big dick. You won this weekend, girl.” She put her hand up for a high five.
At that moment, I swear me and him caught eyes. He wasn’t even that close to me, but I could still feel his gaze locked right onto mine, steady and intentional, like he could see past the noise, past the movement, straight into me. My chest tightened, a slow burn spreading through my body, the kind that made my skin feel too sensitive, like every nerve had suddenly woken up. I had to find a way to leave that intrigue for him where it was. Last night is supposed to be left in the past and that’s what I plan to do.
I forced myself back into the moment, back into the music, back into my girls to ignore him. I couldn’t act on any feelings I had tonight. We started enjoying ourselves, drinks flowing, our bodies moving, hips rolling to the bass. I let the rhythm take over, let the music drown out my thoughts. Tonight wasn’t about temptation or what-ifs. Tonight was about fun. About celebrating my friend and the marriage she’s preparing for.
While we were dancing, laughing, caught up in our own little world, the tall older guard who was the reason we were here walked into the section like he owned the club and went straight up to Ari.
He leaned in close and whispered something in her ear, and whatever he said made her smile so wide she looked like she was glowing.
She shrugged her shoulders, then stood up from her seat and walked over to me and Tania.
“Do y’all want to go up there?”
“Up where?” Tania asked.
“In the suite?” she said, pointing towards the very spot Nina’s man was seen standing.
“Where that fine-ass nigga was?”
“Yeah. Proctor told me that this section is about to be given to someone else, but we’re more than welcome to party in the President’s Box.”
“The President’s Box?” I asked.
“Yeah, and why do you look so scared?” Ari leaned in closer.
“That’s the dude she fucked the other night. That’s why.” Tania told her without hesitation. I knew she would.
“For real? Why didn’t you tell me?” Ari playfully shoved me in my shoulder.
“Because I technically wasn’t supposed to say who he was, but I had to stop hot ass from going over there.” I tilted my head towards Tania.
“And you guys, I was literally paid not to speak to him again. If his girlfriend sees me over there, she’s guaranteed to try to sue me and take all the money she gave me and some. I signed a contract.”
“Well, I don’t see her over there with him, and just because you were invited to the section with him doesn’t mean you’re trying to fuck him again. He looks like he’s in his own world anyway. How can she sue you when Vegas is small, and we were invited up there by someone completely different?”
“That’s true,” Ari added.
“Seriously, Cyn, we are not going to leave you over here by yourself, and you heard that we have to get out of this section anyway. Just come on. We can hang back.”
I exhaled deeply because I really didn’t know what to do. A part of me was interested in going, but the biggest part of me knew I couldn’t risk it.
“Look, y’all go have fun, and I’ll just go to the bar or something. I signed a contract to stay away from him.”
“Whatever you say. Ari, you ready to go?”
Ari looked at me with a pouted lip.
“Friend, you know that I love you to death, but the President’s Box does sound fun, and I’m here to experience life to the fullest. I’m going to go back over there for a little bit, and then I’ll come back out to the bar with you.”
“Okay, have fun. I don’t mind sitting by myself. I’m used to it anyway.” I shrugged my shoulders and then gave them both a side hug before I walked away.
I went over to the bar and grabbed a seat next to a couple who were kissing like they were in a hotel room. The bartender wasn’t paying me any attention at first, so I held my finger up for at least three minutes before he finally came over.
“What can I get you?”
“I’ll just have a lemon drop, I guess.”
