Page 5 of Stroke of Luck

“Let’s invite our guest to dinner, shall we? I think we need to get to know her better.”

Fuming that they’ve locked me in this room, I peek out the window, trying to determine if I can climb out to freedom, but it’s far too high and there’s nothing to hold on to. There’s also an alarm sensor on the sill, so chances are they’ll know what I’m up to before I get far…not to mention they haven’t given me back my clothes.

Furious, I flop onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling and trying like hell to figure out how I ended up here. Everything seems so hazy, and the more I try to remember, the worse my headache gets, which pisses me off even more.

The sun is starting to set, and the gloom of Chicago in late winter is heavy, just like my mood. Rolling onto my stomach, I reach for the nightstand and pull open the drawer, trying to find something to draw with. Art always makes things easier. I can think when I draw or paint—it gives me something to focus my mind on so it isn’t so jumbled. But what I find in the drawer has me sitting up, far more intrigued than I ever would have guessed.

“Damn, and here I was looking for a pen and paper,” I murmur as I pick up the glass butt plug that’s a beautiful swirl of colors. There’s also a bottle of lube, nipple clips, and anal beads.

Seeing that there are two more drawers to look through, I slip off the bed and kneel in front of the nightstand. Slowly, I pull open the second drawer, and in this one find the typical stuff—condoms, Kleenex, along with the pen and paper I’d been looking for. Bummed, I shut the drawer and move to the last and largest of the drawers, which has me gasping and clapping my hands in excitement.

“This dude is a kinky fucker, and I’m here for it!” I smile as I pull out a dildo that looks like a tentacle but is brightly colored in shades of teal and pink. “It’s so pretty! Why have I never seen something like this before? Actually… Maybe I have…?”

“Well, firefly, that would be impossible because I had it custom made. The things you can find on Etsy are astounding,” Paolo answers, causing me to drop the dildo and spin to face him. “Did you find anything else in there you liked? I’m very good at sharing. If you want to try something out, I’d even be more than happy to assist.”

“Enough. Give her the clothes so she can get ready for dinner,” another voice says.

My brow creases as a flicker of recognition passes through my mind, but it isn’t until he steps into the room and I meet his bright blue eyes that I realize who he is. His hair is longer, his curls giving him a shaggy appearance that contrasts the dress pants, button-down, and vest he’s wearing. The last time I saw him was in high school. He was a senior when I was a freshman, but he’d become one of my best friends before he fell off the face of the earth. I’d tried to reach out to him many times after that day, but he never responded.

“Enzie?!” I cry, jumping to my feet. “Holy shit, Enzie!” I run at the man and leap into his arms, wrapping around him like a koala and laughing as I hug him. “I can’t believe it’s you! God, what has it been, like, three years? Wait!”

Remembering how angry I am at him, I yank myself off of him before he can stop me, waving a finger in his face. “No, I’m pissed at you! What kind of asshole have you been turned into that you never returned my calls, letters, or emails? I even went to your house and found it empty, like you got put in witness protection or something! What the hell happened?”

“If I knew who you were, I still wouldn’t answer your invasive questions. It’s quite rude to hug someone in such a manner when you are strangers,” Enzo states, looking at me as if he has no idea who I am.

After everything I’ve gone through since I woke up, this is the last straw.

“You know what? Fuck you, Enzo. If you want to act like you and I weren’t best friends in high school before you graduated, fine. Just know that I remember being the one to save your ass on countless occasions from that bitch-tits principal. Karma will come your way eventually, and when you reach out, I’ll be the one to forget who you are.”

“Yes, Enzie, what did happen to you?” Paolo asks. He’s sitting on the bed, eyes bright with interest, looking for all the world like he’s watching the best movie of his life. “Inquiring minds would love to know.”

Enzo’s scowl deepens as he turns his attention to Paolo. “Do you need a session, dearest? Your brat is showing.”

“No, my king, you cannot distract me from this with the threat of a good time.” Paolo grins as his gaze falls on me. “Now, firefly, do share how you know my brooding lover.”

Spotting the pile of clothes on the bed, I snatch them up and head for the attached bathroom. “This conversation needs underwear. I’ll be back in a sec… Maybe he’ll find his lost marbles by that time.”

I slam the clothes on the counter, gasping as I look at myself in the mirror for the first time. No longer am I the punked-out teen with emo hair and a bad attitude. Looking back at me is a woman who knows who she is and wears it on the surface, loud and proud. My hair is bleach-blonde in well maintained dreadlocks with little charms and beads scattered throughout. As I noticed before, my right arm is covered in tattoos, and I have more that I can’t see along my back and shoulder. Leaning forward, I examine the simple silver hoop on the left side of my nose and my ears gauged with lime-green tunnels.

“What the hell happened to you last night? How do you not remember doing any of this?” I plead with my reflection.

Turning away from the mirror, I examine the clothes they gave me, a simple white bodycon-style dress that would fall to my knees. It’s hideous. There is no fucking way that either version of myself would be okay wearing something so boring and restrictive.

I pull on the white lace underwear that truly covers nothing, along with the matching bra, but instead of the dress I pull the shirt back on and head out of the bathroom.

“I’m sorry, I thought you were going to change? Do I need new glasses, or is she in the same shirt, babe?” Paolo asks, standing from the bed to get a closer look at me. “No, that is definitely the same shirt.”

I can’t help but smile at Paolo and his sassy attitude that resonates with my own nature. “Sorry, but there is no way I’m going to wear something my mother would. It’s been a life goal to never turn into that woman.”

“Oh firefly, this is going to be so much fun,” Paolo announces as he tucks his arm into mine and leads me out of the room. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten this sordid tale between you and Enzo—we just can’t be late for dinner. Othello is a stickler for punctuality.”

“Why the sudden invitation? I thought I was to be locked away until your lord and master buried me with the fishes,” I inquire as we head down the hall to the stairs.

“Firefly, no one says that,” Paolo chides. “Besides, we aren’t the type to kill such an enticing lady as yourself.”

“Paolo, now is not the time to stir the pot and see what happens,” Enzo snaps from behind. “As for why you are having dinner with us, I will leave that to Othello to explain, Miss Leto.”

Turning to look over my shoulder at my mysterious ex-best friend, I give him a look of disgust. “Don’t ever call me that again. It’s so wrong coming out of your mouth. I helped you get duck tape off your ass, for Christ’s sake.”