CHAPTER 36DENISE
CHAPTER 36
DENISE
My heels were clicking against the lobby floor as we walked. The second Cleo saw the sneakers on my feet, she wouldn’t let me leave until I’d changed back. It was way easier for her. She was wearing oxfords and not Ferragamo stilettos with the biggest and cutest bow you’ve ever seen, but she at least walked slowly so I didn’t fall on my face on the way to the hotel.
“So, do we check in at that desk?” I asked, glancing around the hotel and seeing the line near a roped-off area.
“Umm, so, we technically didn’t pre-register,” she whispered, as she waved and flashed a smile to the woman at the desk.
I smacked my lips, “Cleo, you drag—”
“Smile and chill, bitch. We’ll get in.” She grabbed my wrist and dragged me forward.
“I told you I can walk in heels, not gallop. Slow the hell down.” I hissed, praying that I wouldn’t fall on my damn face in front of all these people.
The line moved fast as we waited. I found myself observing the mix of men that had turned out. It was a nice mix, both tall and short. They all looked to be in their thirties so that had to have been the aim of the organizers.
When we finally got to the front, we both pasted on smiles. I let her do all the talking, that was her specialty. She made small talk for a second about the host’s lapel pin before leaning forward and half-whispering.
“I’m so sorry. You’re not going to find us on your list. It’s my fault, I mixed up the days. I promised Denise a fun night. If there is any way that you can make space for us, we’d really appreciate it.”
The woman at the desk checked a few things on her tablet. “If you only have one spot, Cleo can go on without me,” I said sweetly. Cleo pinched my arm.
“Ow.”
“She’s just nervous, aren’t you, Denise?”
My name came out of her mouth as a hiss, and I fought not to roll my eyes. Dramatic ass.
“That’s okay. We can try and accommodate you both. There are a few cancellations.”
We spelled out our names, and she wrote them down.
“I just need to get everyone checked in, give me a few minutes.” She gave us a smile and pointed to the side of her table.
We stepped to the side and watched as everyone else got checked in. I was ready to go home and get fucked, but I stood watching Cleo eye the entrance of the hotel like she was waiting on someone to arrive. After a few more minutes, I swiped my credit card and placed a lanyard around my neck as we walked past the ropes. Naturally, the first thing that we did was go right towards the bar.
She looked past the three men standing off side-eyeing her like she was a medium-rare steak. Leaning forward and smiling right at the bartender, “Hey there, how’s your night going?”
Now, I rolled my eyes. The girl treated strangers like friends she hadn’t met yet, and I didn’t need her dragging me into her conversation.
“Great, thanks. What can I get you, gorgeous?”
Cleo laughed and drew the attention of a few more piranhas.
“Get me two doubles of Don Julio?”
“Cleo!” I hissed, smacking her arm.
“Sure thing, Cleo .” The bartender said, speaking right to her boobs before he turned around.
“It’s just a shot. It’ll chill you out,” she said.
“I’m not staying out with you all night.” I should’ve made sure she knew that before, but it had all moved way too fast.
“Ugh. Why, buzzkill?” she scoffed and grabbed the shots from the bartender, handing me one.
I downed my shot like a pro and leaned toward her and whispered, “I’m wearing a long-distance vibrator, and I’ve been on the verge of coming all day.”
Cleo choked on her shot and started coughing, leaning forward.
I smiled and winked at the bartender. “Some people can’t hold their liquor. Thank you.” The bartender laughed and moved to take the next order.
“Are you trying to kill me? Your best friend. The person that would take a bullet for you?” her eyes were watery as she wiped her mouth and placed the empty glass on the bar.
“Nah, never that,” I said, laughing and looking at my badge. It said table fourteen, and Cleo’s said table fifteen.
When we finally took a seat, my stomach was warming up, and I was ready for another drink. Not a real, real drink. Maybe a tequila sunrise? But just the one, and then I would head back to get the Sonic rings knocked out of me.
“Welcome! The rules are simple. You get five minutes with the person in front of you. The people with a table number will stay seated, and those with a letter will rotate.” Cleo smacked my arm, and I smacked her back. “To choose that partner, simply scratch off that number or letter on your ID. If it’s a match, we’ll pass along contact information. Good luck!”
A small man who was clearly very nervous sat across from me, and I smiled at him. That seemed to only make him far more unsettled.
“Denise, I’m Harold. Hi. I, um, I don’t really know how I’m supposed to—umm, hi.” He knocked the half-full water he’d brought with him, and it almost fell over.
“Hey, Harold. How about—just, tell me about something you like to do when you’re not working,” I offered, taking pity on the poor man.
“Umm, well, I really like building models,” he said after a moment.
“Yes. Perfect. Tell me about them,” I watched as he visibly relaxed a little and started telling me about the model train he’d been painstakingly building and painting for the last five years.
When the bell rang, he startled, and it didn’t look like he wanted to get up, but he begrudgingly headed over to the next table.
The next date was tall and wide. It seemed like he spent more time in the gym than anywhere else. I put out my hand to introduce myself as the buzzing started back up in my pussy and ass. My hand tightened harder than it needed to, and I felt my fist hit the table as I tried to breathe against the low buzzing.
Hugh was going to make me orgasm in a room full of strangers.