“Can I take your coat?” Standing beside us is a man with a thick accent that I can’t place since the music is so loud.
“Yes, thank you so much,” I say, giving him my long purple peacoat, and my friends do the same.
We rush inside, gasping as we lean on the rails to take it all in. No one is saying anything. We’re transfixed as the lights strobefrom white, to blue, to green, to red; then everything goes black for just a few seconds before the bass drops and the lights start again. In the air, there are oversized cages that remind me of birdcages. Half-naked women dance inside them, their long hair whipping back and forth while they grip the bars for leverage.
The dance floor is packed. Bodies move together like waves, in sync, crashing together to create one big, beautiful ocean. People lose themselves in the drift, swaying, feeling, allowing their mind to shut off the outside world.
Huge chandeliers hang from the ceiling, the lights beaming off the crystals. The music is so loud, I can’t hear myself think.
“This is going to be the best night!” Amber takes my hand, dragging me down the steps, and I snag Victoria’s wrist to pull her behind me.
“Happy birthday!” A drunk girl stumbles up the steps, her drink spilling over the rim. “Wooo! Birthday!”
“Wooo!” I cheer with her. “Thank you!”
“Happy birthday!” a tall, handsome guy says next, flashing his brilliant smile at me. “Let me buy you a birthday drink.”
“She has an app you can send money to.” Victoria is quick, spinning her phone around so he can scan the QR code. “It’s girls’ night. I hope you understand.” She bats her eyelashes.
He smirks, scanning the code, and a few seconds later my cell chimes with a notification from the app. It’s fifty bucks from him and he included his number.
“Well, I hope the birthday girl has an amazing night and calls me tomorrow,” he shouts into my ear.
I glance up at him, not used to someone flirting with me so strongly, but you know what, it’s my damn birthday. I’m allowed to do whatever I want. It’s my hall pass—to be a little wild and reckless.
“Maybe I will,” I try to flirt back, and I know I’m bad at it.
“Great. I can’t wait. Have a good night—maybe save a dance for me.”
“Maybe I will,” I tease again, repeating myself and dragging my finger up his chest. It’s a bold move, but I am so ready to let go tonight.
Amber grabs Victoria, who is currently having people scan the QR code to send me money for drinks—even though everything is already paid for. Giving the man a cute finger wave, I turn around and head toward the VIP section. I’ve never been at this level before and I’m going to fucking enjoy it!
Glancing over my shoulder, I laugh when I see Amber still fighting with Victoria, trying to drag her away before she convinces the entire club to send me money. I don’t know how Victoria does it. She’s a natural saleswoman. She could convince anyone to do anything, and they would thank her for it.
“Oh my god, leave the people alone, Vic!” Amber yells at her, finally catching up to me.
“Are you kidding?” Victoria says. “These people are paying for our whole night. We already have close to one thousand dollars, and we’ve only been here ten minutes, maybe?”
“A thousand?” I figured we would get a couple hundred bucks, but a thousand? In so little time?
“This is where the rich people are, Liv. I say you let me make my rounds.” Victoria is the first to climb up the VIP steps.
I follow behind, careful with my high heels that I don’t wear often enough. I don’t want to make a fool of myself by falling down five steps.
I would totally do that.
Even the miniature staircase is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The steps glow a midnight blue so you can see where you’re going. When we get to the top, each couch is roped off for privacy, and one of the waiters greets me with a bright smile.
Is being very good-looking a requirement to work here? Sheesh.
“Ms. McDowell?” he says. “Happy birthday. Please, follow me.”
How do they know my name already?
He shows us to a long black velvet couch. A bottle of champagne is in an electric chiller, ready for us to pop the cork and celebrate.
“I could kiss your boss!” Vic shouts, grabbing the neck of the champagne bottle. “He’s the best.”
