by Joan Rylen
They gathered their purses, Wendy grabbed a wrap, and off they went.
The hotel’s front entrance was blocked off, so they walked to the concierge.
“What the heck’s going on?” Kate asked.
“There’s been an accident out front. You’ll need to exit through the rear, I can show you if you like.”
As they walked, Lucy asked for dinner recommendations. He suggested Moose Crossing, modern American cuisine with Colorado flair, within walking distance and happy hour for the next 45 minutes. Sold!
They passed Club Bighorn on the way, and Kate pointed out the flyer in the window announcing service industry night. “This is where Viv’ll be committing SIN later tonight. I can’t wait to watch this!”
This got a round of woo-hoos.
A black cat darted across the street in front of them. Vivian hoped Kate wouldn’t notice.
She did.
“We have to turn around and go the other way around the block.”
“What? Why?”
“The black cat crossing is bad luck. We can’t continue on our current path.”
“Doesn’t that rule only apply if you’re in a car?” Lucy asked.
“Don’t encourage her,” Wendy said.
“This goes back to way before cars were invented,” Kate defended. “Remember what happened after you broke that mirror in Mexico?”
“Fine, we can work up even more of an appetite,” Vivian said. “Let’s do it, make her happy.”
They took the long route around the block, window shopping along the way.
When Lucy pulled the door open to Moose Crossing, the girls entered a timber wonderland of wooden chairs, tables, walls, lamps. The only things not made of wood were the taxidermy animals perched here and there, looking ready to attack.
The girls were seated next to the large stone fireplace complete with mounted moose head.
“I hear y’all have happy hour,” Lucy said to the waitress.
“We do. Moosehead Lager pints are on special. It’s from Canada. I like it because it’s not too heavy.”
“I dunno, I’m a Dos Equis girl,” Vivian said.
“Let’s just get a bottle of wine,” Wendy said.
The waitress gave her a wine list, and she chose a Sequoia Grove cabernet. “One of my favorites.”
“They serve weird animals here,” Vivian said, looking over the menu. “Elk, venison, buffalo, rabbit. Poor little Thumper and Bambi.”
“It’s not weird, Viv, it’s exotic,” Kate said. “Branch out.”
“I’m having a salad.”
“Let’s get a few different things and share. Viv, you have to at least try it. Expand your taste buds.”
The waitress appeared with the wine and poured Wendy a taste. She approved so the waitress poured each of them a glass, except Kate who had water.
Lucy ordered the Rocky Mountain elk loin, Wendy the rabbit-rattlesnake sausage (Vivian made a gagging sound), Kate the wild boar ribs and Vivian a Caesar salad.
As the waitress left to turn in the order, Kate offered a toast. “To our second girls’ trip and expanding our taste in food and wine.”
“And men,” Vivian threw in.
“Cheers!”
Clink.
“So how are you handling single mom-dom?” Kate asked.
Vivian picked up her glass and took a long drink. “It’s not been easy. I’ve tried to make everything as seamless as possible for the kids, but it’s so hard. Working full time, keeping Audrey and Lauren in dance classes, and my god, the laundry. It’s never-ending. And now…” Her voice broke.
They all were quiet. Wendy got out a packet of tissues and gave Vivian one.
“With them married, she shows up to everything. It feels so forced. She never looks like she’s having a good time. Or even cares about the kids. It’s like it’s all for show.”
“I just don’t see why he decided to marry her,” Lucy said. “Do you think it was to save face? Like, to say to the world, ‘Yes, I left my wife and four kids, but look, I married the other woman so I did it for a good reason?’ ”
Vivian took another tissue. “I don’t know. He keeps making bad decision after bad decision. Every time I talk to him he sounds about ready to jump off a bridge.”
“Let’s hope if he does he makes it look like an accident so you can collect the insurance,” Wendy said, half joking.
Kate reached for the bottle and refilled Vivian’s glass, emptying the wine bottle. “He is officially the world’s biggest cow turd.”
“First-class douche bag,” Wendy added.
“A dipshit of mega magnitude,” Lucy said.
“Y’all are making me feel better,” Vivian said, cracking a smile.
Wendy ordered a second bottle of wine that arrived with their dinner. Kate made Vivian a plate that had mostly salad but also some of everything.
“Expand your horizons, Viv.”
Vivian did and, once finished, offered an opinion. “Not bad. The elk loin is pretty good, but the wild boar ribs don’t taste like any pig I’ve ever had. The rabbit-rattlesnake sausage just tastes like sausage. That I can handle.”
“You’re crackin’ me up,” Lucy said. “You and your critique.”
“I’m forced to watch Food Network while I get my pedicure.”
The waitress cleared the table and came back with a dessert tray. “Can I interest you in a dessert tonight?” She went through her spiel, and the girls decided on the molten lava cake with drunken berries and a banana pudding.
Lucy poured the remainder of the wine into each of their glasses.
“Oh my god, is that George Clooney over there?” Kate asked.
“No…is it?” Vivian craned her neck.
“It does kinda look like him from the side,” Wendy said.
Lucy picked up both of the wine bottles and stuck the openings to her eyes.* “Where? Where’s George? I don’t see him.”
“Oh god, she’s doin’ the wine goggles,” Vivian said. “What’s next?”
“If you could meet any celebrity, who would it be?” Lucy asked, setting down the bottles. “Mine would be Beyoncé.” She did the “Single Ladies” hand wave.
“You’re not single,” Vivian pointed out.
Lucy shrugged and resumed seeing the world through her wine goggles.
“It’s a good song and good choice,” Kate said. “But I’d love to meet Ron Paul. He’s the only one playing for a different team.”
Vivian slapped the table. “Matthew McConaughey. He’s sexy.”
“Yes, but he’s married now,” Kate pointed out.
“The question was meet, not marry.”
“I love the way Matthew talks, he has the best drawl.” Wendy took a sip of wine before continuing. “I’d love to meet Ellen DeGeneres. I watch her show every day and she cracks me up.”
“She does a lot of good for a lot of people,” Vivian said. “I like that about her and I’d like to meet her, too.”
The waitress placed the lava cake and banana pudding in the center of the table, then added four forks and spoons next to them.
Lucy tilted her wine goggles up to the waitress. “Is that George Clooney over there?”
The waitress laughed and said, “No, but it does look a lot like him.”
“Damn, he’s hot. I was ready to get looney for Clooney.”
The girls laughed at her and with her, then dug in on dessert.
Wendy took a bite of the cake, scooping up a raspberry. “I think Lucy’s as drunk as this berry.”
“I’m on vaca and I’m not drivin’,” Lucy said.
They clinked wine glasses to that, then slowly finished off the desserts.
“About time to head over to Club Bighorn,” Kate said, scooting her chair and rubbing her tummy. “Can someone carry me?”
“I’ll carry you now if you carry me later,” Vivian said.
“I think Eric’s gonna carry you later,” Wendy smirked.
“You gonna find out i
f he hazza big horn tonight?” Lucy slurred.
Vivian tilted her wine glass up and finished off the last bit. “Big horns do make me happy.”
12
THE girls paid their tab and made their way out of the restaurant. Lucy secretly posed behind “George” while Vivian snapped her picture. George was none the wiser, and the girls cracked up about on their way to SIN.
Club Bighorn wasn’t what Vivian expected. She figured another dead animal type of place, but instead it was trendy modern. Across the lounge spanned a cantilevered polished concrete bar and oversized chairs and couches with ottomans shaped like marshmallows. In the club, a large disco ball veiled in a chandelier glittered above the dance floor, and the ceiling was punched with a thousand pinpoint LED lights that randomly changed colors in a mesmerizing rhythm. Occasional laser lights shot around the dance floor and a DJ played tunes from a booth in a corner.
“Anyone see Eric?” Kate asked.
Vivian looked around the 20 or so people in the club. “Not yet. He’s probably wrapping things up at Tree Bark. He’ll be here.”
“Time for shots!” Lucy said, heading to the bar in the lounge.
“Hey, there, y’all got any specials?” Wendy asked the bartender.
He smiled, showing off the dimple in his left cheek. “Bighorn bombers, my specialty.”
“Let’s have ’em!”
He flipped bottles, shook up the concoction in a tin, and poured out five shots. He handed them to the girls and held one up himself. “Bombs away!”
“Bombs away!” they cheered.
Lucy plopped down across an ottoman and hung her head off the edge. “Take my picture!”
“Look at you, being sexy showing off your cleavage,” Kate said as she snapped the camera. “You need to send this to Steve. He’ll like that.”
“One would think,” Lucy replied.
“Let’s go dance,” Wendy said. “I gotta burn off some of that lava cake.”
“Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson played, and Lucy moonwalked her way to the middle of the dance floor. She spun around, doing her best MJ impersonation. Wendy did the knee, foot-shake thing, and Kate went “Wooo,” rising onto her toes, and grabbed her crotch. Vivian laughed and pulled out the snap move.
The DJ played great song after great song. “When Doves Cry,” “Groove is in the Heart,” “Can’t Touch This.” The girls danced and danced until Eric came up behind Vivian and put his hands around her waist.
She turned around and smiled at him. “Hey, you.”
“Mmm, you look good,” he said and moved his hands lower down her back, just above her ass. “I like the way you dance, too.”
Vivian shook her hips with a little more enthusiasm. “I used to take belly dancing.”
“Damn, that’s sexy. Did you wear one of those veil things?”
“Nah, but I do have a sexy little bangled scarf that makes fun noises. But I only break it out for special occasions, and since I wasn’t anticipating any special occasions, I didn’t bring it.”
“That’s unfortunate. Tonight will be classified as a special occasion.”
Vivian giggled. Yeah, baby!
They danced to the end of the song, then Eric asked if anyone wanted anything to drink. Time for more cocktails. The group ambled to the bar, and Eric shook hands with the bartender. “Hey, Lorenzo. How ’bout a round of bombers?”
The bartender got right to it, tossing the bottles with flair.
“And how about a round of waters, too?” Wendy, the walking pharmacy, ordered.
Shots were served, and Eric offered a toast. “To special girls and special occasions.” He flashed a sexy smile at Vivian and drank his shot.
Vivian hummed with anticipation and smiled her sexiest smile back. Flirting was definitely coming easier these days.
A couple of guys with long-sleeved white shirts and black slacks walked in. One of them clapped Eric on the back. “Hey, bro, how’s it going? What the hell happened at The Aspen tonight?”
“Man, some guy did a header off the 6th floor. It was crazy. Police everywhere.”
“Alcohol’s a depressant, dude. You gotta quit over-serving your guests.”
“Yeah, yeah. Here, let me introduce you to some lovely ladies.” He made the introductions, saying the guys worked at the tapas bar a few blocks over. They talked shop until three girls walked in wearing similar uniforms. The bar started to fill up and Eric said hello to almost everyone, never taking his hand off Vivian’s waist and occasionally brushing it across her butt.
Wendy, Kate and Lucy headed back to the dance floor, which was now packed. Eric and Vivian joined them for a song, then headed back to the bar and had another shot. As they were served, Vivian ran her hand down Eric’s chest. “When does the special occasion of this evening begin?”
Eric leaned down and kissed her. Tongue was involved.
“That was just a sneak peak.”
Damn skippy! Vivian thought but said, “Looking forward to the full feature.”
They moved to a cocktail table near the dance floor, and the other girls joined them just as “Pour Some Sugar on Me” blared through the club.
“Who sings this song?” Vivian asked.
“Def Leppard,” Lucy yelled. “You know, with the one-armed drummer.” She took a sip of her vodka cranberry and glanced to her right. A one-armed guy had just walked onto the dance floor and stared right at her. Lucy spewed her drink, laser lights shining through the spittle particles floating in the air around them.
Eric, Vivian, Kate and Wendy couldn’t hold back laughter as Lucy tried to recover.
Vivian turned to Eric. “Might be time to go.”
Eric looked pleased. “Let me tab out.”
Though tipsy themselves, Wendy and Kate gathered up Lucy and headed to the door. Eric and Vivian met them outside, and he walked them back to the hotel. The heel taps on Wendy’s boots had fallen off from all her dancing, and the walk back was clanky and loud.
At the door to the hotel, the girls started to go in but Eric said, “Sorry, ladies, I can’t. Once I’m off for the night, it’s not allowed.”
Vivian looked disappointed.
He pulled her toward him. “But you’re welcome to go back to my place.”
Vivian blushed and felt giddy. She glanced at the girls. “I’ll be in later. I have my key.”
“But what about the buddy system?” Kate asked.
“Buddy system?” Eric asked, raising his eyebrows. “That sounds intriguing.”
“Not that kind of buddy system!” Vivian laughed and gave him a push. She turned toward the girls. “It’s fine. We’re not in Mexico anymore and we know where he works.”
She linked arms with Eric and said over her shoulder, “Don’t wait up.”
13
ERIC opened the door to his apartment and moved aside so Vivian could enter. The efficiency was dark, except for the Christmas lights that ran around a wall-length mirror on the other side of the room. They lit up the bed.
This is gonna be awesome, she thought.
He closed the door behind her. “Let me get a light on,” he said and scooted past, grazing her gently as he did. It sent tingles down her spine, slowing in all the right places.
Her eyes had begun to adjust to the darkness when he clicked on a small desk lamp across the room.
“Mind if I borrow your bathroom?” she asked.
“Of course not,” he said, then leaned down and kissed her passionately, moving his hands in a massaging motion along her waist. After a moment he pulled back. “Right through there.” He pointed down a short hallway. “You want something to drink?”
“Maybe just some water. Thanks.”
She walked through the small kitchen and saw the sink filled with dishes. Ick. Only a few steps beyond was the bathroom. She flipped on the light and heard him in the kitchen, getting her a glass of water. She smiled.
At first glance, the bathroom wasn’t too bad. A blue towel
served as a rug and another hung over the plaid shower curtain, which was pulled to. Vivian was tempted to look into the tub, but after the kitchen sink, she decided against it.
She freshened up a bit, including taking a dab of toothpaste and rubbing it over her teeth. She flipped upside down, fluffing her hair and shaking it out. It was still sweaty from dancing, and the curls closest to her neck had kinked up. She leaned in close to the medicine cabinet mirror. She noticed mascara smudged underneath her eyes and looked around the cluttered sink for cotton balls, then laughed. Who am I kidding? She tore off some toilet paper and wiped it away.
Her phone buzzed with a text message from Lucy.
Hey trashy! Wendy said to wrap that rascal you naughty girl!
She couldn’t help but smirk. She dug in her purse and pulled out one of the condoms she had made rubber eyes with last night at dinner, and checked the expiration date. It was good for another year, good to go. She clicked her purse closed, keeping the condom packet in hand, glanced at herself one last time and opened the door.
She hadn’t had a one-night stand in more than 10 years, and even then she’d only had a couple. She was A-okay with it, and had one expectation: sexceptionally fun sex. No holds barred, get crazy, grab this bull by the horns! Her previous sexcapades had all been just that, and she hoped this night would be no different. He lived in Colorado, she in Texas. They both knew what this was.
Eric had turned on soft music and changed into jersey knit shorts. Nothing else. It was still dark in the room, but Vivian could see the shadow of his lean, muscular frame. Images raced through her mind. She laid her purse on the back of the couch but kept the condom.
“Hope you don’t mind. I had to get out of those clothes.”
“Uhh, no, I don’t mind.” She traced her fingernails up his arm and took a deep breath. He smelled good. A mix of cologne and manliness.
He ran his fingers down the front of her blouse, grazing her breast. “Maybe you should do the same.” He ran his finger back up her breast and placed his fingers under her chin, kissing her gently. His other hand slipped up the back of her shirt. He pulled her close and swayed a little to the music. His shorts didn’t leave much to the imagination, and she could feel his excitement. Not bad.