5. Meghan #2
It takes longer than I would care to admit putting my contacts in. Unsurprisingly, I’m not that keen on sticking my finger in my eye and so I rarely wear them. Once they’re in and I can see clearly, I spray on some perfume and grab my calf-length brown faux fur coat.
To complete my outfit, I slip on the five-inch heels that match my dress and I kind of love how they accentuate my legs, but walking in them is another story.
This should be fun.
Placing my ID, credit card, and some cash in the matching handbag, along with the lip gloss and my keys, I turn to Alex before shaking out my hands in an effort to shake off my nerves.
“Megs.” God, I hate that nickname. She only uses it when we’re going out to party. “We are going to have an amazing night, and I’m going to make sure you get laid and break this dry spell you’re in.”
“I don’t need your help getting laid,” I chuckle.
She loops her arm through mine as we head toward the front door.
“Believe me, you do. It’s been something like a year, right?” she asks, quirking an eyebrow and I’m suddenly curious as to how she knows that. Last time I checked, I hadn’t divulged that piece of information.
“How did you know? I didn’t tell you when I last had sex…” I furrow my brow and look up at her.
“You didn’t need to. I put two and two together and you just confirmed it. So we are going to find a sexy man for you to go home with,” she affirms as we make our way onto the street to grab a cab.
As we step out of the semi-warmth of our building, I huddle into my coat as the cold air hits me. Unusual for New York this time of year, we haven’t had any snow, but the air is bitterly cold–like chill you to the bones and have you puffing out white clouds with every breath type of cold.
Huffing out a breath but not bothering to argue with Alex because she’s right, I glance at my watch as she hails a cab. It’s just after seven-thirty, depending on traffic it should take us around forty-five minutes to get to Passion.
The cab pulls up outside of Passion and I can hear Christmas music playing inside as I step onto the sidewalk. Pulling my coat tighter around my body, I wait for Alex as she pays the driver. I take the opportunity to take in the neighborhood.
I’ve never been to this club before—aside from checking out the venue and setting up the party. During the day, the block was practically dead, but tonight it’s thriving with what I’m guessing are successful people.
The building itself is inconspicuous, but the two restaurants with valet parking and expensive cars lining the street tell me the club would typically be out of my price range.
Thank God for an open bar tonight.
One bouncer covers the door and since we have the club booked until eleven, there’s no queue on the sidewalk when we arrive. Alex, sensing my worry, gave me a pep talk on the ride over and pulled out a small flask of tequila.
With her words ringing in my mind, and the alcohol flowing through my veins, I’m ready to strut my way into the club and have a good time.
We head over to the bouncer and give him our names and that of the firm. Alex flashes him a smile. He throws her a wink, and she responds by running her hand down his arm and squeezing his bulging bicep, before walking inside, an extra sway in her hips.
Not a single word is exchanged between them and I’m left to mutter an awkward thank you, as I follow Alex, stumbling in my heels to catch up with her.
Once inside, we hand over our coats and tuck away our collection tabs before we make our way to the door that leads to the party. I inhale a deep breath before blowing it out harshly. My palms feel damp with sweat and I rub them on my exposed thighs in an effort to remove some of the wetness.
The music and chatter of people having a good time dims to a muted sound as it hits me that I’m about to walk into a room full of people I work with, wearing the sexiest outfit I’ve ever worn. I’m now feeling more self conscious and awkward than confident and sexy.
Maybe I can go back and grab my coat… it can’t get that hot in a club, surely? Or, even better, I can just go home, put on my PJ’s, and pretend it’s any other night.
Sensing my internal panic, Alex comes up behind me and puts her arm around my waist, pulling me into her side. Taking comfort in her gesture, I close my eyes and lean further into her, allowing her to ease some of my worry.
“Remember Megs, no looking at the floor. Go in there and own the room. We’ll go to the bar and get you a huge drink, do the rounds, and then find a seat,” she whispers in my ear.
I nod in response. “As annoying as you can be sometimes, I do love you, Alex. You’re like the sister I never had but desperately wanted. Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone... I think.”
“Love you too, Megs. Now let’s go,” she commands, removing her arm from my waist and grabbing my hand, pulling me through the doors into the main area of the club.
Even though I set up the space this afternoon, I take in the room as if for the first time. We’ve decorated fairy lights around to add a Christmas twinkle and a small tree sits next to the DJ booth—it’ll be removed when the doors open to the public.
There are booth tables on either side of the room, with the bar stretching the length of the back wall. A pool of standing tables are well spaced in the area in front of the bar and there’s a dance floor taking over a little more than half of the room.
The DJ booth is at the opposite end of the room, next to the stairs that lead to the VIP area, and there’s a corridor directly across from us that leads to the restrooms.
My gaze skims the room and, although I see a couple of people lift their eyes to look at us as we enter, it’s nothing more than I would expect. Alex leads me toward the bar and as I follow behind her, my eyes find Mr. Jackson, as if they’ve been searching for him this entire time.
He’s talking to the owner, but when his crystal blue eyes find mine, he stops and just stares at me.
The look in his eyes is hot… almost lustful, like he wants to strip me of all my clothes and devour me.
After a beat, I drop my gaze to th e floor, unable to withstand the effect he has on me and walk in these sky high heels.
My body feels like it’s on fire .
Alex nudges her shoulder against mine, pulling me from my thoughts and leans down to whisper to me, “What did I say, Megs? No looking at the floor.”
Lifting my gaze to her, I nod, not wanting to get into the real reason for my eyes dropping. Following Alex toward the bar, my head held high, my shoulders pulled back, and my spine straight, I vow to put him out of my mind and have a fun night.