Iwalk into the strip club already regretting showing up late. I see the girls gathered around two tables across the room. Glasses in their hands, I know I’ve got some major catching up to do. Good, maybe it’ll help my mood. After the day I’ve had I need it, maybe the week for that matter. I’m so ready for Monday, a fresh start.
The first thing to kick start my bad mood, the dress I ordered online - specifically for tonight - is sitting discarded on a chair at home. It only arrived this afternoon and after trying it on, I came to the saddening conclusion that it was at least two sizes too small. I don’t mind wearing something fitted but not something so tight that it’s suffocating.
So, after spending over an hour trying on every other dress I owned, I finally settled on a black strapless dress paired with my cardigan. I then rushed out the door when my cab driver started honking obnoxiously, completely forgetting to put on mascara, and not one hundred percent sure that I switched off my curling iron.
I then spent half an hour in awkward silence with my cabbie as we sat amongst traffic along the busy inner-city streets.
I only get the chance to say a quick ‘hello’ to everyone before the lights start to dim. Gabby is decked out in her veil and tiara, a massive pink sash across her chest. With her new haircut and sassy red dress, she looks amazing - and I’ve never seen anyone so happy.
I’ve met everyone before except for two of them - long brown hair, similar facial features - they’ve got to be related. There’s Amanda and Christy from college, Gabby’s cousin, a girl I’m pretty sure Gabby knew from high school? And then, of course, Natasha and Ellie.
Veronica had been invited but had to decline despite how much she’d wanted to come. She’s decided that she only wants to stay a short time, I’m not sure what brought that on, I was hoping to have more time to spend with her. But, she’s been determined to make the most of her trip. Shopping, visiting with her mom - and mine, meeting up with old friends, getting drunk and making new friends. You name it, she’s been doing it. I just laugh at her crazy antics, you’d think she was on holiday in the Bahamas the way she carries on.
I grab a seat as a curly-haired waitress approaches, I quickly order a G&T not wanting to disturb anyone once the show starts. There’s a minute of hush before the music softly starts playing. I use that moment to take in the club. La More is swanky - nicer than I thought it would be. Immediately when I think strip club, I picture a seedy gentlemen’s club with topless women swinging around on poles.
Not this place though, it just looks like a normal bar except with sexier lighting and comfier seats. The majority of the crowd is female but the place is packed. I wonder if it’s like this every night. Other bars and clubs in the area must be losing a pretty penny in profits if this is where all their local female clientele hang out.
Oh, good bloody lord.A shirtless man appears on stage, moving in time to the music. Fuck, he’s hot. Tanned, oiled up, with thick chiselled muscles. Everyone cheers at him and I join in.
By the third performance, I feel like I need some air. My cheeks are flushed and my palms are sweaty. When I walked through the front door I wasn’t prepared for this, a local version of magic mike dance routines. I see a few of the other girls in our group fanning themselves as well. Thank god for the few minutes’ break in between each sexy hunk that greets us on stage.
I’m already on my second drink when the curtain parts and next act lights up the stage. One look and I choke on my drink, opening my mouth and letting the liquid spray out in front of me. My friends turn their eyes to me. Not all of them understand what’s happening but Ellie is already in an uncontrollable fit of laughter, Tash is biting her lip and trying to look anywhere else to keep from joining Ellie’s in a fit of giggles. Thankfully Gabby, the mature soon-to-be-married one, just cracks a smile and rolls her eyes at the other two.
The stage is set up like a mechanics shop.
Well, of course, Ellie and Tash are whispering and giggling the whole way through. They can’t know, or even imagine, what’s gone on in Evan’s workshop - but I guess they have always been suspicious.If only they knew!
I try to avoid looking at the stage too long or too hard, afraid that someone will notice the way my cheeks glow at the insinuations. The dancer, ripped and sexy as all hell, moving his hips wildly has me thinking way too hard for a bachelorette party. I flag down the waitress to order another drink - a double.
The song ends, the curtains close and the waitress comes by with my drink. “Would anyone else like anything?”
The lights are turned upand there’s some ‘Aww’s’. The waitress quickly clarifies with a smile, “It’s just a small interval, they’ll be back on soon enough.”
“Are we getting food?”
“We were thinking about going to Denny’s afterwards but is anybody wanting food now?” Tash says, reminding me that she is Gabby’s maid of honor - meaning she booked this place. Aww, that’s gonna be a fun one to bring back up in front of the guys later on.
“I’m hungry now. I can’t wait.” Gabby states. There’s a few ‘me toos’. We place our order with the waitress, mainly burgers and fries - something guaranteed to soak up some of the alcohol we’re quickly putting away. I really regret skipping lunch now.
“Is that a kid?” I exclaim suddenly, taking a closer look towards the bar stool in the corner at the bar. Yes, it indeed was a small child sat beside a middle-aged woman, wearing a low-cut leopard print blouse. “What the fuck is she doing bringing a kid here?”
The girls gasp and cringe before going back to their conversations. But my mind is blown.
It’s a fucking male strip joint. I would like to think that, like me, everyone else wouldn’t think to bring a small child to a strip club. But there you go humanity at its highest. I’ve had a few, almost enough liquid courage to go over there and say something. But what good could possibly come out of that? So I decide I’ve had enough to drink and switch to diet coke instead.
Everyone plays a little game of musical chairs before the food arrives. I switch to be over the other end of the long table to be next to Ellie, I’m feeling bad that I turned up late and haven’t really been able to talk to her and Tash. Not that I’d have anything specific to tell them. They didn’t exactly know about Evan and me, not anything official anyway, just the odd sexual tension comment or suggestive raise of a brow.
