by S C Jones
Suddenly the volume on the radio got louder when the first few words of 'Shake it Out,' by Florence and the Machine began to play. She turned and found K.C standing with her hand on the volume before walking over and pulling on her arm. “Come on let’s dance.” Lane looked at her quizzically. KC sighed. “Tomorrow’s my mom’s funeral and I’m going to have to go into that church and stand with my sisters, who’s going to be all crying with mascara running down their cheeks and I am going to have to be strong because quite frankly I’m all cried out, and I just want this whole thing to be over. I love my mom…and now she’s dead and I want to forget it. Maybe the reason you can’t remember those two days is because it’s better if you didn’t. Maybe it was so life altering that your brain hid it away so you wouldn’t have to relive it over and over again. So, take my hand and dance with me, and stop trying to conjure up forgotten memories because trust me…some are better left forgotten,” she said woefully through a smile. Lane watched her out stretched hand and sighed. She was so caught up in her own shitty thoughts that she completely forgot what K.C was going through, and hadn’t yet gone through. K.C looked sad, but tried to stay optimistic and Lane understood why, because losing a parent was very hard to move on from.
Standing with her as the beat intensified, they start bouncing around Lane’s living room like a couple of drunk teenagers at their first party. When the song changed, K.C got up on the couch and started doing some seventies style dance moves to 'Dancing Queen' by Abba. Soon enough, they were both laughing, so high on the adrenaline and drunk on the music that nothing else mattered. K.C soon took center stage doing the hustle before quickly running next door and grabbing her entire Abba CD, so they could keep the whole seventies vibe going.
Somewhere around the bump, and the running man Lane laughed herself to the bathroom, happy that she took K.C’s advice.
The next morning before she left for work Lane stopped by K.C’s apartment to see how she was doing for the funeral that day. When she walked in, she found K.C sitting on the couch in a fitted black dress staring out the window with a blank look on her face. Sitting next to her she touched her hand bringing her focus to Lane. “Are you okay,” Lane asked concerned.
“Hmmm… oh, yeah I’m fine. You off to work?”
“Yeah, are you sure you’re okay. I can call in sick, granted he might not like it, but I will if you need me.”
“No, no, no don’t… do that I’m fine you go ahead. I’ll just sit here till it’s time to go. I might have to look for my sunglasses though can’t seem to find my favorite pair anywhere, but you go I’ll be fine,” she said trying to reassure her, but her brittle tone and lifeless smile wasn’t convincing.
“You sure?”
“Positive, I’ll see you later. Oh, and before I forget to tell you. I’ll be leaving for Mexico tomorrow. Have a client that called and needs me to shop for his new wife, so,” she said looking the least bit excited about her new adventure.
“Oh, okay that’s great. Something to get your mind back in order, I guess. When will you be back?”
“As soon as I have too. Mexico is... not really my ideal place to visit. Only reason I’m even going is because he’s paying double my price, and I need a distraction.”
“That’s fantastic.” Lane patted her hand. “Try to have fun, okay… I gotta go.” She stood, reluctantly heading for the door. “I’ll check you later?”
Without lifting her head K.C mumbled, “yeah, later.”
***
At work Cortney came by Lane’s floor during lunch. “Hey, Lane thought you might want this since I didn’t see you downstairs.” She leaned against her desk placing a sandwich out in front of her.
“Thanks, completely forgot about lunch. I’ve been so busy with the new clients and shipments, and Mr. Taylor's annoying habits.” Yes, she had been swamped all morning with numerous calls and emails. Mr. Taylor seem occupied by something, so he hadn't said much apart from the word coffee, or get Tracy on the phone. He'd finally given up and left a few minutes before lunch.
Cortney laughed. “Been there done that.” She glanced around. “Anyway, the other reason I came here was to let you know that Chrissy was back for a day at least and the whole gang is going to The Cove Lounge tonight for some fun. You in?” The Cove was a very expensive high-class Lounge south of Felicity beach. Lane’s always wanted to see the inside, since it seemed so rich, but not anyone could walk in off the street. You had to have membership or needed someone with a membership to get in.
“Isn’t that place a member’s only sort of thing?”
“Don’t worry about that, I’m a member and could invite anyone I like. So, are you in?”
“Definitely. What time?”
“Ten. You can meet us inside by the bar, just tell the guy at the door you're with Chamberlin and you're golden.”
“Great, I’ll be there. Now I really should get back to this report, apparently he’s been asking for it since yesterday.”
Cortney laughed on her way to the elevator. “Been there too. You should make a template, since most of the reports are the same, makes it a lot easier to copy and paste.”
“Noted, see you at ten.
Walking into the Cove that night Lane was unprepared for how amazing the place actually was. After she gave the name to the large man at the door, she walked in looking up at the high rise ceiling, with large white beams running vertically and horizontally in a large box pattern, that held large chandeliers with blue mood lighting. There were floor to ceiling tinted blue windows that overlooked the white sandy beach, and the booths were white leather and circular in shape with a blue glass table in the middle.
The place was already packed, most of the tables filled to capacity, and as she walked past what was known as the blue dining room, and into the soft yellow glow of the overhead bar on a platform in the back, she found that she was no longer nervous about being here without K.C.
She felt bad for leaving her alone, especially on her last day here after her mother’s funeral, but K.C wanted to be alone, and insisted Lane went. K.C even picked the outfit she was currently wearing even though she was against it from the moment she pulled it from her closet. Her back felt naked and cold from the lack of material on her backless white silk cocktail dress, that she didn’t even knew she owned. It wasn’t all that long, stopping a few inches under her butt, and it was very much revealing since she couldn’t wear a bra or her usual comfortable underwear. The G-string thong currently causing a wedgie between her ass wasn’t much of a help either. She did however get to wear the lacy black heels she had ordered from JustFab a few weeks ago.
Once she was up the final step to the bar, she spotted Cortney who also spotted her, and started waving her over. The rest of the group turned with all smiles spreading across their faces as she continued in their direction. “Lane, you made it, and you look amazing.” This from Rory.
“Thanks, thought I’d dress up for the occasion. Hope I didn’t have you guys waiting too long.”
“Nah, those two just got here as well,” said Elliot pointing to Cortney and Tiffany. His eyes roamed her almost naked body from top to bottom like he wanted to devour every inch. It was quick, but Lane noticed, her cheeks turning pink before she quickly looked away.
“And we are still waiting for Chrissy,” Tiffany said taking a sip of her cocktail.
“What are you having beautiful?” The bartender’s voice bellowed across the bar when he placed something pink in two martini glasses in front of Cortney and Rory. All heads turned.
Prior to Lane’s arrival the girls all swooned at bartender Ryan’s smoldering eyes, and his toned tattooed muscular arms peeking out from under his black shirt rolled up at the elbows. Ryan who was no stranger to beautiful women giving him the eyes, loved every minute of watching Lane's face turn red from the word, ‘beautiful,’ as it rolled off his tongue. He looked at her, crazy that here she was again, the same girl he couldn’t quite get out of his head since the night at
the club.
“Umm, I…guess. I’ll have an orange vodka martini thanks.”
“Coming right up,” he said with a wink heading toward the other side of the bar.
“Come, you can have my seat, we’ll head over to the booth when you get your drink,” Elliot offered standing next to her.
“What about Chrissy? Aren’t we waiting for her?” she asked.
“Oh, she called and said she’d be a little late to go ahead without her,” Rory said.
“You’ll learn that she’s always the last to arrive anywhere we go,” Cortney said. “Remember, she was even the last to arrive to her own wedding. Insisted she must drive herself, but ran out of gas halfway to the church.”
“How’d she make it?” Lane asked taking her seat facing them.
“Oh, she left her car stalled in the middle of the road and hopped a cab. Derick was so scared she wasn’t going to show, he was sweating through his tux by the time she did show up,” Tiffany laughed along with everyone else.
Ryan soon returned with Lane’s drink setting it down in front of her with a heated smile on his lips. Rory who saw the look in his eyes, leaned into Lane's ear and whispered, "he's handsome in a way that makes you want to look at him all night, and then some more as he climbed on top of you and rode you into the wee hours of the morning." She grinned while Lane coughed with a wide stare.
Ryan was still gazing at her, before Lane politely smiled at him, placing the glass to her lips, which made him smile even brighter. “Is it to your liking?” he asked.
“Very, thanks,” she said placing the glass down with a sweet smile. The girls gathered their purses and drinks before heading down to a booth in the middle of the floor. Lane sat between Elliot and Cortney, while Rory and Tiffany were on the opposite side.
“Lane did you see how that bartender was eye fucking you just now. He was pretty cute, why didn’t you flirt a little?” Tiffany asked with a devious smirk on her face.
It was then that it occurs to Lane, that she had Scott. But what was Scott? “He was very cute, but… I doubt he was even looking at me. He probably does that with all his customers.”
“Ahh, he didn’t act that way when he saw me—” said Cortney.
“Or me,” added Tiffany.
“Or even me for some God damn reason,” said Rory sounding a little more sad than playful like the others.
“And you know he’s not gay,” said Elliot.
“Right…. I’m not interested.”
“Seriously?” Tiffany said.
“Yes seriously. I’m not saying he’s not hot, he’s just not my type. I like them a little more clean cut and less biker bad boy, and besides I’m seeing someone.”
“You are? Since when?” Cortney inquired curiously leaning forward greedy for the details.
Lane rolled her eyes bashfully. “It’s fairly new and he lives very far, and I hardly get to see him. It’s almost like he doesn’t really exist half the time, but it’s there,” she said trying to sound convincing. Who she was trying to convince was more of the question.
Tiffany nodded slowly. “Ahh huh, that sounds—”
“It really doesn’t sound like a relationship,” Cortney said faintly finishing Tiffany’s statement.
Lane took a sip of her drink before trying to make it all seem okay. “It might not be, but it is to me.”
“But he lives far way, how often do you see each other?” asked Rory.
“Ahh…once maybe twice a week.” There were gasps all round, well except for Elliot who was busy looking like someone had smashed his computer into a million pieces. He kept his head down as they continued their questioning.
“That is not a relationship,” said Rory with a horrified look while fingering the rim of her glass.
“Definitely not,” said Courtney who shook her head in disapproval.
“It is… we make it work.” Oh, how she wished what she were saying was true, but unfortunately dreams were meant for sleeping, and if this wasn’t enough of a wakeup call, what would be.
“Hey, guys, sorry I’m late.” They all looked up at a beautiful blonde with an oblong shape face and blue green eyes under a pair of very stylish square framed glasses. Her fitted black and white strapless dress showed off her toned arms and slim figure. She slid in next to Rory who turned, and hugged her as everyone else extended their excited greetings.
“Chrissy, it’s about time you got here. Oh my God you look great,” said Tiffany rearing back from her hug.
“Well being in a country where you don’t understand shit only really leaves you with your hotel room and the gym.”
“Well it definitely paid off. Wish I could get paid to go on vacation and spend most of my time at the gym,” Tiffany said while Chrissy snorted a laugh.
“Oh, please I hardly call Hong Kong a vacation getaway. I barely got any time to myself with the amount of meetings and dealerships we had to visit.”
“Oh, how is Mr. hot and sexy anyway?” Rory asked downing the last of her drink.
“If you’re talking about Castell, he should be settling into his hotel room as we speak. He only came back because he didn’t want me traveling all those miles alone.”
“That was sweet of him,” Cortney swooned.
“Well he is a sweet man, that one.”
“Compared to his father,” Lane filtered unaware that she’d said it out loud.
Chrissy’s eyes met hers as a knowing smile spread across her lips. “You must be Lane. I heard they hired someone to assist that man. I am so sorry by the way,” she said genuinely.
“What are you sorry for?”
“Well, I’ve met that man on numerous occasions and in under five minutes he got under my skin. Castell’s too. Every time that man would call, this vein on the side of his neck would instantly pop out.”
“Then why did he asked him to take over in his absence?” asked Tiffany.
“I don’t have the slightest idea. All he said was he had no other options, but if you ask me, he had choices considering Allister is the next in command,” she said shaking her head before perking up again. “What do you guys say we get a round of drinks, yes?”
“Finally, where the hell did that waitress get to anyway,” Cortney said while Elliot spotted her on the other side of the room making her way to their table. After their orders were placed and the waitress gone, Chrissy surprised her by asking.
“Have you met Sylas yet?”
“The gorilla of a man, yes. That guy gives me the creeps on every level, and I think somehow he knows he’s creeping me out and it’s somewhat of a thrill for him because he doesn’t let up.”
She laughed. “Ah, I know what you mean. First time I met him I thought he wanted to peel off my skin and wear it. He kept commenting on how beautiful my eyes were.”
“He does that with my hair,” Lane said as they both laughed.
“You really do have unusual red hair, Lane. I’ve been meaning to ask what dye do you use?” Rory asked.
“I don’t dye it. Ever since I could remember my hairs been this color. Tried dying it once, color never took.”
“What do you mean?” Tiffany asked.
“I wanted to go blonde on my eighteenth birthday for some strange reason, so I bought a packet of dye and dyed it myself. But when I went to wash it out, all of it went down the drain. Was pretty strange actually, I’ve never seen that happen before.”
“Maybe you're albino?” Tiffany said.
“Do I look like an albino?” She responded with a cocked eyebrow.
“No, but it would explain why your hair can’t dye.”
“If only.” After that whole incident Lane tried dying it again with only the same result. She researched reasons why hair won’t take dye, most said it was either a chemical you had in your hair that was preventing it or you dyed your hair too much which made it immune to it. She didn’t think either was her case, since she’d never dyed her hair, and hardly ever used hair products beyond shampoo and condi
tioner.
The waitress returned with their drinks, while they placed orders for appetizers. The soft beat of Drake’s 'One Dance' played through the speakers while the conversation around the table took on a life of its own, now that everyone was involved. Even Elliot.
By the fifth round Lane found herself laughing so hard that the bathroom had a stall with her name on it. “Oh my god I have not seen his penis, Tiff,” a slack-jawed Chrissy said while everyone laughed.
“Not even once? You have worked for him for eight years, spent countless of nights at his house, and has been out of the country with him twelve times. You can’t possibly tell me you have never seen. Him. Naked?” A roguishly curious Cortney asked wiggling her brows.
“I have never seen him naked. That was never our relationship. He’s like a brother to me, for crying out loud he was at my wedding. Granted the man does look good in some running shorts, but I have a great piece of ass at home, and I am very happy with it.”
“Oh, please I have seen Derick’s ass and it’s not that nice,” Cortney said giggling at the surprised look Chrissy gave her before it turned into a sneer.
“You agreed never to bring that up again.”
“Sorry, blame it on the alcohol.” More laughs reignited when they both high fived each other. Chrissy soon explained that late one night, Cortney walked in on her and Derick having sex in the office bathroom which was how her daughter came to be. Cortney said she stood there a full minute gawking at Derick’s bare ass before they noticed she was there.
“And… still. They continued going at it,” she choked out between laughs and tears.
As the night wore on, more drinks, laughter, storytelling, laughter, and more drinks later, Lane finally stood with her bladder screaming for a release. Chrissy offered to go with her while the others ordered another round.
In the empty bathroom she quickly found a stall and relieved herself. “We must seem like a bunch of crazies to you, don’t we?” Chrissy said from the stall next to hers.