25. EVERLEE – CLUBBING
EVERLEE – CLUBBING
With a quick flick of my wrist, I check the time. It’s almost midnight and I’m about ready to pass out, but I won’t. Not tonight.
“Drinks!” Lizzy says, laughing and dancing in the middle of the crowd with her paper napkin headband crown thing that Betty made her. Since we didn’t get a sash for Lizzy, Betty made her a napkin crown she could wear around. About an hour ago, Betty persuaded the DJ to let her on stage. Betty climbed up, seized the microphone, and announced to the entire club that it’s Lizzy's last night of freedom before she ties the knot. The club cheered, and the DJ played a remix of Let’s Get Married by Jagged Edge, which then sent the entire room into a frenzy.
“On it!” I walk over to the bar and wait patiently. At this point in the night, the bartender knows me because I’ve been ordering all the drinks for our party.
When a hand slides onto my shoulder, I stiffen and turn around, ready to knee whichever jackass thinks they can touch me, until I see it’s Low.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“Getting some drinks, you?”
“Are you getting ones with alcohol in them this time?” She cuts her eyes at me.
I’ve been caught.
“How far along are you?” She smiles.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She laughs. “You forget a couple of things. I’m a bartender, so I know a weak drink when I taste it. Orange juice and grenadine? And the guys have been talking non-stop about putting a baby in you since December, and then all the sudden silence for the last several weeks.”
“Don’t say anything. I want tonight and tomorrow all about Lizzy. I will tell her after.”
“You don’t think she knows?”
“She hasn’t said anything.”
Low laughs. “That chick knows everything about you. She’s been watching you like a hawk tonight.”
“No.”
Low cuts her eyes at me and twists her lips.
My eyes search the dance floor and find Lizzy in the middle of her friends, eyes on me with a worried brow.
“Shit.”
Low laughs. “If I didn’t know she was utterly in love with Tony, and you had your harem of men, I’d think you two were lovers. The way you’re connected. It’s kind of sweet and kind of creepy.”
A chuckle escapes.
The bartender walks over. “What can I get you?”
Low orders, while my eyes watch Lizzy from across the room. She smiles and waves, then keeps dancing.
I’ve been worried this entire night about her finding out, only to find out she likely already knows, because really… why wouldn’t she? She knows when I have sex. Surely she could sense when I’m with child.
Low taps my shoulder. “Carry your shot.”
“What is it?”
“Lemon drop,” she winks at me, then carries the tray of other shots through the club like a pro, with a tray balanced on her hand, way above her head.
When we get to the crowd, she brings the tray down and all the women grab a shot.
“To the last shot of the night before we take little miss home so she can get some rest before her big day!” Low's voice carries a unique blend of affection and authority.
Lizzy snarls playfully before cheersing the air with the shot glass, then tossing it back.
“Timer is set, Lizzy Loo. Twenty minutes,” Low says.
“Come on, Mom.” Lizzy’s eyes sparkle. She’s truly radiant.
“You made me be this person, Lizzy. You said I was the only one bitchy enough to get you to leave.”
“That doesn’t sound like something I would say.” She laughs, reaching for my hand, so I give it to her and she pulls me in.
“It does,” she whispers. “I totally said it.”
“I know. I was there.”
She throws her head back, laughing. “You were. This last shot was more potent than the others.”
“Low got lemon drops.”
“And you were getting?”
“Sex on the beach.”
She nods and I think she’s going to say something about the drinks or me being pregnant, but one of her favorite songs starts playing and she screams and jumps around. Although at this point in the night, they all seem to be her favorite.
“How are you doing?” A light singsong voice chirps from beside me.
Keeley.
“I’m good. How are you doing?”
“Fine. I was hoping to find a man here tonight to help take my mind off dickface.”
“I had a dickface once. Went to a club with Lizzy and now I’m married to four guys. So be careful what you wish for.”
Keeley laughs. “I keep hoping. I mean, not four, or even long term. But something to distract or take the pain away would be nice.”
“Who knows? Maybe you’ll find someone at the wedding tomorrow.”
“A girl can dream.”
Grabbing Keeley’s hand, I drag her over to the middle of the group and we dance. We dance hard for the next nineteen minutes. It takes Low three extra minutes to get Lizzy out of the club, which ended with Low throwing Lizzy over her shoulder and walking out. A few people were concerned at first until they saw Lizzy laughing.
On the way home, we stop a local late-night breakfast diner and grab all the eggs, bacon and pancakes we can stuff in our mouth.
When I tell you it’s the best bacon I’ve ever tasted… I nearly orgasmed.