Accepting the call, I hold the phone to my ear, a smile already spreading across my face. “Hey Sunny, what’s up?” I’ve had this nickname for Mel since we were in middle school. She’s always so cheerful and full of life that Sunny was perfect for her. She also somehow manages to bring me to life too.
My smile quickly drops when sounds of crying come through the speaker. Panic instantly fills my chest at the sound of her sobbing. “Melissa, are you ok?” My tone takes on a more serious note at the sound of her distress. There’s only been a handful of times I’ve heard Mel like this and my blood grows cold.
Hiccupping sobs continue to reach my ear before she can manage a heart-breaking sentence that threatens to rip the air from my lungs.
“I don’t know what to do, Bear.” Her nickname for me settles warm in my chest before I process what she said.
“Melissa, what’s going on? Sunny, tell me what’s wrong,” I plead not able to stand the sounds of her crying.
“He-he broke up with me. K-Kyle b-broke u-up with m-me.” Her words are choppy and broken as she cries, unable to control the hiccups in her voice. “H-he s-said that I-I’m to-oo much.”
Rage flows through me at her words as I step out onto the front porch and take a seat on the porch swing. “That dick. Where are you?” I’m worried she’s still somewhere in the city and I don’t want her driving like this, especially at night. I’ve only had two beers, I’m sober enough to be able to drive into the city if she needs me.
She sniffles, trying to get her sobs under control. “I’m at h-home. In bed.” I let out a sigh of relief knowing she’s safely at home. My free hand kneads my forehead at the stress that has flooded through my system with this phone call. “I just d-don’t know w-what to do,” she says again and I’m not quite sure what she’s talking about.
“Don’t know what to do about what, Sunny?” I ask, my tone gentle.
She heaves a sigh, starting to calm down from her wracking sobs. “Valentine’s D-day." Valentine’s Day?What in the world is she talking about?“W-we had plans for V-valentines. I m-made reservations and e-everything. But now K-kyle won’t be there.”
That asshole broke up with her a week before Valentine’s Day.
Clenching my fist I want to punch the fucker who did this to her. Nothing makes me more protective than someone hurting a person I love. Fucking knew this Kyle was bad news ever since she started talking about him back in September. Especially when it appeared like he was never there for her when she needed him.
I don’t even think before answering her. “I’ll go with you. We can go to the reservation together and you can still get all gorgeous and dressed up. We can be together for Valentine’s Day this year. Does that sound okay to you?” My offer lingers in the air while she thinks about it.
Her hiccups calm down, her voice clearer as she asks, “Are you s-sure, Bear? Don’t you have p-plans for Valentine’s Day?”
She knows damn well that I don’t have plans. I’ve only had one serious girlfriend right out of high school before she broke my heart. Only casually dating ever since with no one sticking around for long.
“I’m positive, Sunny,” I reassured her. “Don’t worry about anything. What time are your reservations?” She rattles off a time and the restaurant. “I’ll pick you up next Friday at 6:30, okay?”
We stay on the phone for a while longer as she begins to calm herself down. When we finally hang up, I can’t help but feel this sense of anxiousness about what’s going to happen next week.
Chapter 3
Melissa
Melissa:I’m almost at the dance studio. Where you at?
Christy:Coming bitch. Right around the corner. U bring shoes?
Melissa:Yep. My sexiest pair.;)
The pole dancing class we’re heading to has long been an idea of ours. Christy’s a good friend that I’ve worked with for years. She’s always up for whatever crazy scheme I scrounge up—this pole dancing class is one of them. We’ve been talking for a while about actually going to a lesson and Christy made the argument that now’s the perfect time.
I’d tried to get Everly to join us, to drive up after work as a third grade teacher, but Holden’s coming into town tonight for Valentine’s Day so she won’t be able to make it.
Stiletto Movement Studio is located in the Fulton River District not far from where we work, so it’s just a quick ride to the studio.
Before I left the house this morning, I made sure my bag was packed with clothing that showed lots of skin. Their website mentions that showing some skin is necessary when pole dancing because it's used to grip the pole or something like that. We were also told to wear high heels. So, my bag consists of skin tight athletic shorts and a black sports bra that may or may not show too much cleavage. Not to mention my fire-engine red strappy heels that I bought to wear to my Valentine’s dinner weeks ago. It’s like my own form of revenge to wear them while learning to pole dance.
My very own ‘Fuck you, Kyle.’
Walking into the studio I see several customers have already changed into their outfits for class. The gorgeous hostess shows me back to the changing rooms and by the time I’m ready, Christy is already here sitting on the wood floor securing her heels with the buckle on her ankle.
“How did you get changed so fast?” I ask, amazed at her speed. It took me several minutes and she’s been here for a shorter amount of time than I have.
She waves her hand at me. “I was wearing this under my dress today. Thought I’d come prepared.” She makes sure both heels are secure and holds her manicured hands up for me to help her pull herself up off the floor.
