“Cute enough to get Lori’s attention. But, they’re not in her class.” Marina looked over her shoulder as Lori’s door opened. “Just what she likes.”
“Thirty-seven minutes. Aren’t you proud?” Lori did a model’s twirl for us. The cream halter top dress with flowing skirt hugged her.
“Thoroughly, let’s go.” Marina clearly lacked enthusiasm about tonight.
“Don’t drag us down, Marina. You’ll have Louie all to yourself and maybe Seth’ll be there,” Lori teased.
“I don’t think he’s the type.” Marina led the way into the elevator.
“See, a stuffy slug.” Lori nudged me.
“He’s not stuffy or a slug. Seth just doesn’t strike me as the type who would go to a crowded bar, though he might have friends who drag him out.” Marina turned to me. “Have you called about that job?”
“They said two weeks. That’s almost up. I’ll call Monday. I’m just nervous.”
She nodded as we exited the elevator and piled into Lori’s little Jag. Driving with Lori, the adventurer, was never dull and often more exciting than the club. She cut people off, sped, and gave the finger like the Chicago native she was.
Even in thick traffic, we were valet parked outside the Rattler in fifteen minutes door-to-door. I willed myself not to feel carsick. I was determined to have a good time if it killed me.
The line to get in was fairly long considering the cold weather. Marina spoke to the doorman and we were ushered in around the ropes. I heard the doorman tell Marina he’d let the owner know she was there.
We walked in and Lori snagged us a table near the bar right away. “Perfect spot to get drinks and look at guys, who will hopefully buy us more drinks.” Lori grinned. I’d learned from Lori that barhopping and location had a strategy. She was in stealth mode. No doubt hoping to forget about her man problem. Not a word of Nick had been spoken.
“What do we want? I’ll get the first round.” Marina fished her credit card out of her purse.
“No, no,” a male voice behind her said. “You don’t pay for a thing.”
“Hi, Louie.” Marina smiled and he kissed her on the cheek. Although clearly not overjoyed, she faked it well enough. “These are my friends Lori and Jen.”
He shook hands with us, flirting and smiling. “Our club always has more room for gorgeous women. I hope you don’t mind if I steal Marina for a bit.”
“I’m here to spend time with them, Louie,” Marina protested.
“Just a bit. My sister is here and I know she’ll want to say hello.” He pushed Marina a little away from us and leaned over. “You two order anything you want on the house. I told Mickey. He’s the bartender over there, so no worries. See you later.”
“Thanks.” Lori flashed a killer smile.
“That’s weird,” I shouted in Lori’s ear.
She nodded. “Marina won’t be gone that long, don’t worry. Just reunion time.”
“Did they date?” I asked.
“No, I think he’d like too.” Lori grinned at the cute waiter who approached and took our drink orders. He insisted on throwing in the appetizer sampler. Who were we to argue with a guy who looked that good in tight jeans?
“Why is she so hung up on Seth when she has a man right here who has a business and money?” I asked. “Not that Seth sounds bad. He can’t be that great if he isn’t interested in her.”
“Taste and attraction are very peculiar things. Why did I go after Nick instead of one of those snobs my mother keeps throwing at me?”
I nodded. The drinks arrived and kept me from opening my big mouth and asking what she was waiting for. Marina and Lori were looking for different things in men. Attraction was a funny thing—I had no room to talk. I tried to think of something polite to say. Before I could, Lori’s eyes bugged out of her head.
“What?” I turned to look.
“Don’t turn around.” She kicked me under the table.
“What is it then?” I asked.
“Nick,” she mouthed.
“Where?” I didn’t care what she said, I turned around. I craned my neck to see if I could spot him.
I’d only seen pictures and they were only a few years old, but I managed to pick him out of the crowd. A bit underdressed to be clubbing but cute. He was tall so I had a good view of his face and solid shoulders. Nick looked better in real life.
“I told you not to look,” Lori whined. Whining Lori was not a good sign and she didn’t even have a full drink in her. Whoops, as I looked back at the table, I knew I’d thought too soon. She’d already downed the first drink and had signaled the bartender to send over another. Great, drunk Lori was a handful.
“He doesn’t know who I am,” I reminded her.
Lori’s eyes popped at that remark. “That’s right. He doesn’t.”
“No, whatever it is. The answer is no.” I sipped my drink and kept shaking my head whenever her gaze shifted back from Nick to me.
“Come on.” Lori stomped her heel on the chair.
“No,” I repeated.
“You don’t even know what I want.”
“I can guess enough bad things to say no to whatever it is.” I shook my head to reinforce it.
“Marina would do it for me.” She pouted.
“Then get Marina to do it.” I’d already been party to enough trickery and deception of my own.
“I can’t, she’s already talked to Nick. He knows her.” Lori’s eyes never left him now.
“If he sees you with me then you can’t send me either.” I smiled.
“So don’t go and talk to him.” She swatted at me. “You don’t have to talk to him. Just mingle near him and see if he’s with anyone.”
“Why do I feel like I’m in high school?” I rolled my eyes at her.
“Because the relationships between men and women never truly mature past that stage. Does he like me? All that crap. Look at Marina, she won’t ask a guy out. Her rule, I understand it because one of her sisters made a total fool of herself over a guy. I think you can casually ask a guy out without losing your allure.”
The waiter brought her one additional drink. She downed one in record time and requested to go from mixed drinks to vodka on the rocks. “Go mingle near him.” She literally bounced in her chair with insistence.
“Wait, it looks like he’s with someone.” I watched as a tall woman with large assets whispered something in Nick’s ear. “I think we can see better from here. He hasn’t spotted you yet.”
“That’s because that silicone tower is all over him. I’ll bet nothing in her is real. How dare he?” She grabbed her other drink and tipped it back.
“He’s single. You haven’t staked a claim. Did you brand his butt with Property of Lori before you dumped him?” I shot back.
“No, but that’s a great idea!” Then her eyes got bigger. “Yes, the cavalry has arrived!”
“Who? Silicone city’s boyfriend show up?” I turned to look.
“No, Nick’s sister. She was always on my side.” Lori sat up high to watch. “See, she’s getting him to leave. Damn. He’s leaving.”
“If you want to talk to him, I’m sure I could catch him,” I offered.
“You wouldn’t spy for me, but you’ll sprint through a crowded bar?” she scoffed.
“Yes, because spying in a bar is pointless. Getting him to come back and talk to you is productive. Not to mention you’ve had too many drinks to be running anywhere in those shoes.” I shrugged and pointed to the super high heels.
Her chin dropped in her hand. “He’s gone. Good thing we’re not paying for drinks. I’m going to need more.”
“You’ve got a ton of money. I don’t want to hear you complain.” I finished off my first drink and the waiter brought me another. Apparently, Lori’s reputation rubbed off on me. In this instance, I was glad.
“I know. It’s better when men pay for it. And if that man wants to get in your friend’s pants rather than yours, that’s the best free drink there is.
No pressure.” She nodded.
“Speaking of Marina, I think we should go and find her. She’s been gone too long. Probably in desperate need of rescuing.” I looked at my watch. It’d been nearly half an hour and that was too long for my comfort.
Lori blinked at her watch. “Okay. She’ll be glad we saved her and we have to make sure they didn’t sell her to the gypsies.”
Lori laughed at her own statement and got up from the table carefully. “The gypsies,” she repeated.
“I don’t get it,” I confessed.
“It’s an old saying. Never mind.” Lori grabbed her drink and I remembered to take mine as we headed off in the direction Marina and Louie had disappeared.
~* * *~
After asking the bartender and Lori nearly grabbing his ass, we wandered toward some private rooms in the back where we spotted Marina looking half involved in a conversation with three guys, one of whom was Louie, and two other women. I waved to her and she perked up.
“Excuse me.” I could read her lips. Louie followed her out, of course.
“Why is she drunk?” Marina looked at me after assessing Lori’s condition in half a second.
“Nick’s here!” Lori lifted her glass quickly. If it hadn’t been empty, she’d have showered us all with raspberry vodka on the rocks.
“He’s here?” Marina asked.
“He was. He and his sister left a few minutes ago,” I filled in. I nodded toward Lori. “I could really use your help.”
Marina nodded. “I’ve got to get back to my friends, Louie. Nice seeing everyone.” She waved at the room and then grabbed Lori’s arm.
“Wait,” Louie insisted. “I know you need to look after your friend, just give me your number. I’ll invite you to the next private party.”
Marina smiled and pulled a business card from her purse. “Thanks, Louie.” Before he could press for her home number, she turned and headed Lori for the table. “How many vodka’s has she had?”
“Three. She started with Vodka and cranberry juice. Then she saw Nick and switched to straights.”
Marina nodded. “She drinks that when she wants to get drunk.”
“Nick looked so good, Mar.” Lori didn’t fight too much as Marina shifted her into the chair.
“I’m glad. Why didn’t you talk to him?” Marina asked.
The waiter appeared and Lori was totally distracted. He’d brought her another drink.
“No, that’s for me.” Marina’s reflexes had Lori’s eyes spinning. “A coffee for her, please.”
“I don’t want coffee,” Lori whispered.
“You’re not passing out on me. You get coffee.” Marina nodded to the waiter with a stare that let him know she meant business.
“You’re mean.” Lori pouted.
“Why didn’t you go and talk to Nick?” Marina asked.
“What for? So he can yell at me and walk away? Humiliate me in public? No, thank you.” Lori shook her head hard and rubbed her forehead; she must’ve developed a headache. “I’m drunk.”
“No shit.” Marina sipped the vodka brought for Lori. “That man is going to make you an alcoholic.”
“Same difference.” Lori shrugged.
“What does that mean?” Marina asked. “Different from what?”
“When I was dating him, he made me a nymphomaniac and when I’m not dating him, I’m an alcoholic. So I went from being an ‘aniac to an ‘olic. It’s okay.” Lori smiled and giggled at her own philosophy.
Marina for the first time cracked a genuine smile at Lori’s analysis. “True enough.” Then I saw Marina’s eyes go on the defense. Whatever was going on clearly was happening behind me. Maybe it was Nick? I hoped not considering Lori’s condition.
I turned and it wasn’t. It was a guy. Not a bad looking guy either. No one I knew.
I turned back around and gave Marina an inquisitive look. She shrugged.
“Good evening,” he said.
“Hi.” Lori leaned in and Marina pulled her back. Lori’s top was too low-cut to be leaning like that.
“Hello,” Marina replied.
I just smiled and nodded. His eyes were on me. It couldn’t be.
“Would you like to dance?” he asked.
I looked at Marina like she was my mother or chaperone or something. Lori had had too much to drink to be a good judge. She threw me a look that told me to be an adult and do what I wanted to do. Poor Marina had Lori to look after, she was right I needed to make the call.
“Sure,” I said too quickly. Not that I didn’t get hit on. I was never the first. This time, except of course for Marina and the owner, I was the first. Why did it have to happen when I had a man I was interested and already semi-intimate with?
As I got on the dance floor, I decided I didn’t care. It was a dance not a one-night stand or anything. He mentioned his name…Bill, I think. I mumbled mine with the music blared over any attempt at conversation.
The beat was fast and it felt good to move. Sitting with drunk Lori was funny and definitely not cathartic. I danced, not really caring how I looked. Bill, or was it Bob, anyway, he was cute and kept up with me. Two more fast songs later and there was a slow song.
He pulled me close to dance and I didn’t object. It wasn’t Lucas. Bill’s cologne was different and he was too tall, but it felt nice. Halfway through the song, I felt his hands slide down my back and cup my ass. I tensed and tried not to overreact. Lori once told me that I was forever overreacting to things. I wasn’t going to do that here.
I kept dancing, waiting for the end of the song so I could return to my friends. Before then, his hands went from cupping to squeezing, and I shoved him. His hold was too good so I brought my knee up in a swift, sharp motion.
That made him let go. He grimaced and swore at me. I slipped out his grasp as Marina and Lori appeared. I was surprised Marina didn’t have her pepper spray out and at the ready.
“You okay?” Marina asked.
“Fine, let’s go.” I lead the way and helped steady Lori. Marina brought up the rear and I heard her give some specific directions to the bouncer on what she wanted done with that creep.
“Nice shot by the way.” Marina poured Lori into the back seat before she got behind the wheel.
“Thanks.” I was rather proud. I joined her in the front seat and stopped. I’d never noticed before because I’d always ended up in the back. “It’s a stick.”
“So? Didn’t your dad make you learn on a stick?” Marina started the car, worth fifty grand if it was worth a dime, and eased the car into traffic.
“No. Glad you’re here or we’d be taking a cab home and coming back for the car later.” I looked back to check on Lori, who, thankfully, had fallen asleep.
“She okay?” Marina asked.
“Sleeping.” I nodded. “Sorry tonight sucked.”
Marina shrugged. “Nothing special. Lori could’ve been a lot worse.”
“Who were all those people in that back room?” I didn’t want to talk about groper guy or Nick and Lori for a change. Anything except that, and we definitely weren’t talking about Lucas.
“More friends from high school. I guess it’s their regular spot because Louie comps them on almost everything. He thinks he’s the king of the high school crowd. I wanted to tell him we’re not in high school anymore. I think his ego needs to still feel that way.” Marina had clearly driven Lori’s car before. She fiddled with the radio while changing lanes, kicking up the heat, and changing gears, and didn’t look for a thing.
“They sound sad,” I replied.
“They are sad. I made a huge splash at my reunion because it said doctor before my name. Louie thinks we’re the two big success stories from our graduating class. He wanted to hook up then.”
“Why didn’t you? I mean he’s not ugly or poor.” I shrugged.
“I was dating Lucas at the time. Brokers impressed them too. Better than a guy who runs a perpetual party for a living.”
“Think he’ll call?”
She laughed. “He’ll call. I’ll find an excuse to get out of it. Then Lori will want another party night or he’ll invite us to some free hard to get into thing at the club and we’ll go. I just hope I have a man by then to fend him off. Louie’s a nice guy. He’s just too…”
“Too…?” I repeated.
“Like my sister’s husbands. Stuck in the neighborhood and the family. Don’t get me wrong. I love my family. I see them all the time. I didn’t want to end up a housewife or a baker for my mom or a hair stylist. There’s nothing wrong with those jobs. It’s just that I had the brains to do what I wanted.” Her one hand gestured as she made intermittent eye contact with the road and then me as she rattled, driving with the other hand. Amazingly, I was following her story.
“I know my parents wanted me to be a nurse. I can’t stand blood.” I shuddered.
“You’re a chef. You cut up dead animals and serve them to people every day.” Marina looked at me like I was crazy.
“Not that same thing at all. The meat comes prepackaged. These animals are supposed to be dead. I don’t want a job where I could potentially kill someone if I have a bad day,” I explained.
“I always order everything well-done, right?” Marina asked.
“Yeah, why?” I shrugged.
“Just checking.” She waved it off. “See, you get it. Louie doesn’t get it. He thinks I want to spend every night hanging out with him and the gang at the Rattler. Do you even know what the Rattler is?”
“Like a snake?” I guessed.
“Yeah, it was the name of his band in high school. Sort of cool back then. They aren’t anymore. Not for me.” She pulled the car into the parking garage and set everything back the way it was.
We carefully extracted the half-sleeping Lori from the backseat. Ass first. Marina insisted on that and I didn’t ask why. As we were about to ease her head from car so she didn’t whack it on the roof, she puked.
That was why. Marina didn’t want her shoes ruined.
I grabbed the box of tissues from the front seat propped Lori up facing away from me. Marina shut the door and locked the car as I did a quick clean up of Lori’s chin. Guess I might have made it as a nurse after all.
Best in Bed Page 15