“What is?”
“You should never mix personal and business. That’s what did me in.”
I shook my head, not knowing where the story was going again. “How so?” But I couldn’t stop. I had to know more.
“Well, Darlene thought it’d be fun to have me over for a party for her and her boyfriend. They had a couple other friends over, but it was Darlene’s boyfriend's birthday and she wanted to do something real special for him.”
“Seems nice.”
She huffed. “I told her. I said, Darlene. Now listen. This ain’t a good idea. But Darlene, she didn’t listen. Put us two in a room together, turned the music on and, well, Darlene’s boyfriend thought it was a different kind of present. I stripped for him and what not, had me about three beers too many and next thing you know.” She hit the steering wheel. “You guessed it. Cock out, me on my knees snorting coke. Darlene’s neighbors called the police on us and, apparently, Darlene’s boyfriend had locked the door when I wasn’t looking. So they bust in, thinking I was a hooker. I mean, I guess I kind of was, but only the one time.”
“Wow.”
“Yea. Didn’t speak to Darlene for a while after that. She was mad at me and I’s mad at her.”
“That was unfair to you.”
“Heck yeah, it was. I was just trying to do my friend a favor and whammo blammo.”
“Whammo blammo for sure.” Note to self: don’t get locked in a room with Tony and snort coke off his cock.
I stared out of the window, trying to process the twists and turns of that conversation, when we pulled up to the club a few minutes later. I stepped out of the car, but she called me back.
“Listen here. I’ve left that life behind me, but if you need me, you keep my number handy. I’ll come get you. Us ladies of the night have to stick together.” She nodded with a stone cold serious look on her face.
She thought I was a hooker. “Oh. I’m not a hooker.”
“Me either.” She winked.
Pink drinks are dangerous
IwatchedBettytakeoff down the road and was beginning to second guess this whole thing. I looked at Betty’s business card in my hand before I stuffed it in my little purse.
I felt so ridiculous right now. It had been a while since I dressed in anything that one could call sexy and paraded around in front of a bunch of strangers. My confidence was completely shot after my ex, but I kept reminding myself this was for Lizzy. I had to show her I was ok, even if I didn’t fully believe it myself. Fake it, ‘til you make it?
Valentine’s Day was still four days away, but I already felt like it was suffocating me.
I glanced at the long line of people standing against the wall waiting to get in; some dressed in more clothes than me, but most in less. Which was saying a lot.
“Everlee!” I heard yelled from my left.
Lizzy was standing behind a rather large bouncer, waving at me. I looked to my right and saw the long line of people and then back to her.
“Come over here!” She yelled, bouncing up and down.
I walked over to her, and the bouncer looked me up and down, then moved the rope out of the way. I ignored the moans and groans from people still bouncing impatiently outside, no doubt cold from the winter air.
“What took you so long?”
“I had to get dressed and catch a ride. Not everyone lives down the street from the hot new club.”
She batted her hand, ignoring me, and started untying the knot on my jacket.
“Well, if I knew you felt this way about me.” I teased, shrugging the jacket off.
“Girl, you know I’d fuck you. I just didn’t think you’d go for it.”
I blew a breath from my nose and caught her smile, before she turned and handed my jacket to the attendant at the front desk, grabbing a ticket from them.
