Page 355 of Valentino

Holy fucking shit….

I stumble to the bar and wait in line with a goofy smile on my face. I look around at all the people acting normal, wondering if they can tell what just happened to me in the darkened hall around the corner.

Who even am I?

* * *

I get our drinks and make my way back to the group and pass them out, “Thank you.” I take a sip.

“We’re going to have this drink and go to another club?” Allegra says.

“What?” I frown, “No, no, I want to stay here.”

She leans in so the others can’t hear me, “The girls said they know a better place and want to introduce us to their friends.”

“I just met a guy over there and he said he’s going to come look for me.”

“These are the first girls we’ve met that we’ve liked, we wanted to make friends and this is our chance.”

“I know but….” I crane my neck to see if I can see Bruno, none of his friends are standing in the VIP section anymore.

Did they leave?

“Okay, but just for an hour and then can we come back here?”

“Fine.” She leans in and whispers again, “But if we’re having fun with them we’re staying. Who cares about a stupid guy?”

“It’s the one we saw outside, Bruno. The hot one they warned us about.”

Her eyes widen. “Are you crazy?”

“Probably, he kissed me in the hallway.”

“What the fuck?” Her eyes dart over to the VIP section, “Where is he now?”

“I don’t know but he said he was coming looking for me.”

“Okay, we’ll come back but only if you set me up with his friend.”

“Which one?”

“They were all freaking gorgeous.”

I giggle and clink my glass with hers, “Deal.”

* * *

Stupid plans have a tendency to turn into stupid outcomes.

We went to the other club and it was boring and then the new and exciting friends we met wanted to go home after half an hour. Allegra and I came back to Exotico and the line to get in is so long its now closed and they aren’t letting anyone else in.

“Oh my god.” I whine, “The one night something exciting happens and I screw it up.”

“He’ll be here next week, don’t worry.”

“Will he though?” I huff as we walk toward the cab line, “I’ve never seen him here before.”

“If he’s interested he’ll come back to look for you.”