by Bryce Oakley
She definitely hadn’t noticed how Domino’s smile came out crooked, and how the cupid’s bow in her top lip disappeared when she laughed.
The only thing she had noticed was how much of a dang disaster the woman’s house was. Seriously, she had dishes in the sink, her linen closet exploded when Sabrina opened it, and her shoe rack didn’t know when to say enough was enough –– it was literally bending under the weight of stacks on stacks of shoes.
“So, what you’re saying is, you bagged a huge new client today,” Isla reiterated.
Sabrina nodded, grinning.
“Well, I think that calls for a celebration. Let’s go out tonight,” Isla said excitedly.
“Tonight? I don’t know. My hip…” Sabrina looked down at her skinned palms.
“I won’t hear no for an answer,” Isla said.
“I don’t…” Sabrina trailed off, trying to think of a good excuse not to. She was exhausted from the emotionally and physically taxing day, and going out with Isla was always a bit of a mess. Isla was a social butterfly who talked to everyone and anyone, and Sabrina was much more shy when it came to talking to new people.
Isla grabbed Sabrina by the shoulders. “Go pregame with a nap, I’ll make us something to carb-load for dinner so that you don’t get white girl wasted off two drinks, and then put on your dancing shoes, because we’re doing the damn thing,” she said with a squeal.
How could Sabrina say no to such an offer?
* * *
Sabrina shivered in the cool night air as they stood outside in the line to get in. She hadn’t worn seasonally-appropriate clothing, since she knew the second she got in anywhere, she’d be peeling off layers.
Instead, she was in Isla’s very thin slip dress with sequins. It showed a lot of skin.
Isla had persuaded her to try out a new lesbian club that just opened, R Bar. A little cheesy, but Sabrina appreciated a good pun.
By the look of the line, everyone else had roughly the same idea.
They were about six people away from the bouncers, so she was staying hopeful, but at the same time, they had been in line for thirty minutes already.
A sports car pulled up to the front of the club and the driver’s side door swung open, revealing none other than Domino Rush.
Sabrina’s jaw dropped as she saw that Domino had styled her hair messy and was wearing a tank top cut to show off her athletic shoulders. Her jeans looked painted on. She looked both carefree and perfectly styled.
Then, a woman got out of the passenger’s side door. The woman was wearing an even smaller dress than Sabrina, but on her waif-like figure, it looked as though it would fall off at any moment. She was surely a model or something along those lines.
Sabrina tried not to glare.
Isla peered over the crowd to see what everyone was staring at and murmuring about.
“Oh hey, it’s your new best friend,” Isla said.
Domino walked around the edge of the car but didn’t take the other woman’s hand or even link arms. Instead, she just paused as the woman straightened out her purse strap so that they could walk in.
“Domino!” Isla cried out.
Somewhere in the distance, a record came to a scratching halt. Silence overcame the crowd. Sabrina could have heard a single hoop earring drop to the ground.
She tried her best to melt into the sidewalk as Domino glanced towards the sound of her name with a curious head tilt.
“Domino,” Isla said again with a wave, grabbing Sabrina out of where she had tried to hide behind a very large man.
The moment she stepped out of the crowd, she saw the recognition dawn on Domino's face. She wasn't exactly sure why that made her heart thump a bit harder, but it did. Domino didn't smile, exactly, but it was clear to Sabrina that she recognized her.
After all, how could she not?
Sabrina gave a small wave, and Domino gave a small, casual wave that struck Sabrina as more of a tiny flick of the wrist.
Then, Domino passed the bouncers, handed someone her keys, and walked into the club.
"What the frog just happened?" Sabrina asked, turning back to Isla. She was mortified. Domino clearly didn't want to talk to her or even be seen knowing who she was.
"That bitch," Isla growled.
"Easy, tiger," Sabrina said, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder. "We can't all be rock star royalty, no matter how adjacent we may find––"
"Excuse me, Miss?" Someone was standing beside them.
Sabrina looked up to find one of the large, bald bouncers looking at them with his hands clasped. He looked very severe, as though he had never smiled one day in his life. "Can you come with me?" He asked.
Sabrina's stomach sank. Great. Just great. Now they were getting kicked out of the line for yelling at Domino. Had she said something to him? Had she gotten them kicked out of line?
"Uh, yes, uh officer," Sabrina murmured. She awkwardly ducked under the rope lining, straightening her dress. What little dignity she had left, she used it to stand up straight and smooth out the front of her tiny dress.
"I'm coming, too," Isla said, swinging her leg over the rope after Sabrina.
The bouncer's eyes flicked to Isla, but he didn't protest. "Right this way," he said, walking back towards the entrance.
Sabrina glanced back towards the line of people who were silently watching with curious stares. Was she about to be arrested? Was she going to jail? Her mouth went dry with the thought. She was too soft for jail. Maybe she could trade her organizing skills to the commissary for protection against Piper Chapman's gang.
She turned to Isla to make a quick blood pact, but she saw that her friend didn't look bothered at all. Sure, Isla was the fun and adventurous one of the pair, but surely, even she understood the gravity of the situation.
They walked slowly to the front of the club, and then the bouncer unhooked the rope and gestured them towards the door. "Have a fun night, ladies," he said, still not smiling.
Sabrina paused, looking between him and the door to the club. "Really? We can go in?"
The bouncer looked confused, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Isla. She shrugged and high-fived him. "Thanks," Isla said, and put an arm around Sabrina to drag her inside.
"I thought we were getting kicked out," Isla said with a laugh.
"I thought we were going to jail," Sabrina said, swallowing the lump in her throat.
Isla paused, furrowing her brow. "You're so weird," she said, and then they stepped into the club.
It was dark, but colored lights set up around the room illuminated the bar and dance floor. Sections of couches lined two of the walls. Upstairs, people stood at the railing, watching the dancing below.
"Do you think Domino got us in?" Isla said into Sabrina's ear.
Sabrina shrugged, looking around for any sign of Domino. She wasn't on the couches, and she didn't appear to be at the bar.
They walked up to the bar and Isla ordered a vodka cranberry. Sabrina panicked about making the bartender wait on her order when it was so busy, and quickly ordered a rum and coke. She didn't even like rum.
Isla gave her a strange look. "You are really off your game tonight," she said.
As the bartender set down the drinks, Sabrina handed him her card, but he waved her hand away. "The woman at the end of the bar already paid for them," he said, pointing.
Sabrina leaned forward, straining her neck.
"Is Domino down there? Do I have a fairy godmother or what?" She yelled over her shoulder to Isla.
Isla cleared her throat, tugging the back of Sabrina's dress.
Sabrina turned to find that Domino was standing directly behind her with a small smirk on her face. "Fairy godmother, at your service," she said.
They were all standing very close to try to hear one another over the music.
"Wow, cool, hey, uh, thanks," Sabrina said, trying to sound cool and casual.
Domino looked sideways at Isla. "Hey, I'm Domino," she said, holding out her han
d.
How was she so effortless? Even at introducing herself, she looked completely relaxed.
Isla shook Domino's hand, introducing herself. "Thanks for getting us in here. That line was horrible," she said.
"It's the least I could do. You know, to avoid getting sued and all that," Domino said with a mischievous smile.
Sabrina took a large swig of her drink and cringed at the taste, coughing as she swallowed.
Isla quickly replaced the drink in Sabrina's hands with the vodka cranberry she had ordered.
Domino watched the exchange with a curious glint in her eye but didn't comment on it.
"Where's your pretty friend?" Sabrina asked, attempting to look as casual as possible as she chased the straw around her glass with her mouth.
Isla elbowed her.
"Oh, she's upstairs, I think," Domino said, glancing up.
An awkward silence stretched between them.
"Well, thanks again for the drinks and for getting us in," Sabrina said, trying to make it seem as though Domino didn't have to hang out with them if she didn't want to.
Domino's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, as though she was surprised. "Have a good night, then," she said quickly.
"You, too," Isla said, smiling. "Nice meeting you."
"You, too," Domino said.
“Yeah, you, too," Sabrina said quickly, then paused, realizing that was the wrong thing to say.
Domino chuckled, and gave a small nod and then turned, disappearing into the throng of people surrounding them. Some were watching Domino, but some were giving Isla and Sabrina interested looks, as well, as if to say, "Why would Domino be talking to those two?"
“Welp, that was sufficiently awkward," Isla said, blinking. “You're a spaz."
Sabrina slammed back the rest of the drink in her hand, feeling slightly humiliated. "I don't know why my brain won't work right now," she said. She couldn't stop replaying every dumb thing she had done in front of Domino in the past few minutes. The rum and coke? The straw?
"Aw, does someone have a little crush?" Isla teased her, poking her in the sides.
"I'm just going to drink enough to block that all out," Sabrina said, turning back to the bar.
A few drinks later, she was on the dance floor, shaking her ass to Lizzo and Carly Rae Jepsen.
"I really like these," she said to Isla, pointing to her fourth –– or was it her fifth –– vodka cranberry.
"Yeah, every girl does," Isla said, laughing. "Slow down, though, or you'll be hurting tomorrow."
"Yeah, sure. I will. Right after I go get one more," Sabrina said, downing the rest of her glass. Her cheeks were pleasantly warm.
Isla had already turned away, dancing with a very cute, very tall woman.
Sabrina pushed through the crowded dance floor, realizing too late that she had come out on the side with the couches, not the bar.
Her feet hurt from her heels. Who danced in heels? Women with superhuman ankles, that was for sure.
She sat on the edge of the couch, then realized that it was leather, and cool to the touch. It felt good against her warm skin. She sank back into the cushions, resting her eyelids for a moment.
"Out past your bedtime?" A voice said near her.
She opened her eyes to find Domino standing above her.
Yes. "Nope," Sabrina said.
"Did you drink a bit much?" Domino asked, sitting down beside her.
Yes. "Nope," Sabrina repeated.
"I'm going to go get you some water," Domino said, laughing.
Water sounded wonderful. "I don't need it," Sabrina called after her.
Domino glanced over her shoulder with a grin. "Sure," she called back.
Sabrina watched her go, following her messy hair. Goodness gracious, that woman was gorgeous. It was as though she shone just a little brighter than everyone around her.
A couple sat down next to Sabrina, bumping into her as the one woman straddled the lap of the other. They launched into a sloppy makeout.
Sabrina drew back, cringing. "I'm right here," she said.
No response from Makeoutsville.
"There's like six feet of sofa that way," she said, pointing.
Nothing.
Domino returned with two glasses of water. "A little respect," Domino said to the couple, tapping one on the shoulder.
They murmured apologies and moved down the couch.
"Not fair at all," Sabrina said, taking the glass of water from her. She tipped it up to her mouth, dribbling a bit onto her chest.
"You're a hot mess, Meloy. Although, to be honest, I’m surprised to see you here,” Domino said, draping an arm across the back of the couch.
“Why?” Sabrina asked, tilting her head to the side.
“Although I am pleasantly surprised that my extortionist organizer is queer,” Domino said with a smirk. “But where’s your girlfriend?"
Sabrina blinked, not understanding. "Sorry, who?" She asked.
Domino laughed. "The pretty, tall woman you were with," she explained. "Isla? I think her name was Isla."
Sabrina burst out laughing. "That's my roommate. Not my girlfriend," she said.
Domino frowned, shrugging. "Easy mistake," she said.
"Where's your girlfriend?" Sabrina said, taking another sip from her water glass and melting back into the couch. "The pretty waif you came in with."
Domino grinned. "Julia is just a friend," she said.
Sabrina nodded slowly. "Sure, I bet you have a lot of friends," she said.
"I have some friends," Domino said with a smirk.
"I'm kind of your friend," Sabrina said, her eyes wide with the realization.
Domino looked as though she was stifling a grin. "Sure, you're my friend," she said.
"I'm a very, very good friend. Very loyal. I always carry hand sanitizer," Sabrina said, nodding her head in emphasis.
"I don't doubt that one bit," Domino said, playing with the condensation on her glass.
Sabrina watched Domino's hand clutch the cold glass, and took a deep breath, willing her imagination to calm down. She did not need to be wondering what those hands would feel like on her own skin.
"Isla is dancing with someone, I think," Sabrina pointed towards the dance floor.
"I don't doubt that, either," Domino said, watching Sabrina.
The tension sizzled through the air. Was she imagining things or was Domino looking at her with a bit of interest in her eyes?
Jiminy Crickets, how drunk was she to think that Domino was interested in her?
"I'm going to call a rideshare," Sabrina said, pulling her phone out of her purse.
"That's probably a good idea," Domino said, nodding. She straightened her posture and cleared her throat.
She clicked the lock button on the side, but her phone was unresponsive. It must have been dead. She stared down at her phone as if willing it to work, cursing the fact that her Face ID wouldn't breathe just a tiny bit of battery back into it.
"Here, let me help," Domino said, pulling out her own phone. "What's your address?"
Sabrina stared at her for a long time, trying to remember. Was it 1661 or 1190? "I don't know," she admitted. "It's on Forest Ave –– no, Forest St. And it has this kind of slopey roof, like a swish." She mimicked the slant of the roof. “Swish. Like that. And there’s a gate."
Domino shook her head. "Okay, normally I'd just go get Isla and get your address, but I'm worried about you in an Uber right now," she said.
“Oh, have I not got my wits about me, guvna?” Sabrina asked in what she deemed an incredible British accent à la The Artful Dodger.
Her eyelids felt so heavy. Could she sleep on the couch at the club for the night? Maybe if she slipped them an extra $20 they'd just let her curl up right there. $15 could get her a nice, soft throw blanket, maybe? "I'm gonna sleep here."
Domino laughed again. "Is that so? Kinda loud to get a good night's rest."
"They'll all go home soon anyway," Sabrina sai
d.
"I can't argue with you there," Domino said. "I'm going to go find Isla. Stay put."
Sabrina nodded sleepily, snuggling back into the corner of the couch. Would $20 get her an even softer throw blanket?
"Hey, what's your name?" Someone said beside her.
Sabrina opened her eyes and blinked, staring at a stranger who had set down beside her. "Monica," she lied.
"Monica. That's a very pretty name," the woman said. She was dressed in a tank top with messy hair, as though she was an off-brand Domino. Definitely not as appealing as Domino Rush. It was like buying the generic La Croix. Not worth it.
"I'm Erica," the woman said, unprovoked. Was she scooting closer?
"Congratulations," Sabrina said, inching away. "I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to win." She added, looking straight at Erica, but she found it difficult to concentrate on her face so close up. She leaned back, squinting.
“So, Monica,” Erica said, inching even closer to her.
“Can I help you?” Domino said as she walked up to the pair, her voice pitched low.
The woman beside her was giving her the creeps and relief washed over her upon seeing Domino return. "We're not friends," Sabrina insisted to Domino. She didn't want Domino to think she was friend-cheating on her. She was so sleepy. She reached toward Domino and took her hand to reassure her that they weren't friends. It felt extremely necessary to convince her at that moment.
“Oh, is she with you?” Erica asked, standing quickly.
“She’s sure as hell not with you,” Domino said, giving Sabrina's hand a squeeze.
“I sure as heck am not,” Sabrina said with what she hoped was a very intimidating scowl. “I’m with Domino because she ran me over with her bicycle, and I’m not going to sue her for it.”
She heard Domino chuckle and looked up to see Domino shaking her head.
“Okay, let’s get you home,” Domino said, tugging on Sabrina’s hand to get her to stand.
She wobbled on her heels, but with Domino’s arm around her waist, she teetered out of the club. "Can I take off my shoes?" Sabrina asked, but Domino shook her head.
"I don't think the floor is very clean, babe," Domino explained as Sabrina began to frown.