Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Eva
One drink … maybe two - max! A couple of dances and then I promise I am pulling Gwen away from this place as fast as I can.
Staring out the window as our driver nears Gatsby’s, I watch the trees’ silhouettes as they dance in the moonlight.
Glancing up, the stars barely shine through the clouds overhead.
The air is crisp enough outside to cause goosebumps on my skin even though there is no window open.
Gwen rounds the car and links her arm in mine quickly. Squealing like a schoolgirl, she looks up at the big neon sign flashing across the top of the building. Two bouncers flank each side of the doors, and a line of about seventy-five people wait in the cold to my left.
“Hells yes, let’s do this,” Gwen exclaims as we walk towards the front.
The bouncer, Troy, another one of my brother’s longtime friends, walks forward to greet us. Even though he is not as close to my brother as Rex, he’s always been around, and they were sort of like the Three Musketeers when we were all in high school.
“Hey, Ev,” he says in a thick southern drawl that reminds me of Noah’s. “Gwen, it’s been a while. How long are you visiting?”
Ever the flirt, Gwen jumps at any chance to warm up to Troy, and give him a big hug.
I can’t say I blame her. If he wasn’t such good friends with my brother, I’d be doing the same.
Troy stands at almost six-six, with short blonde hair, and blue eyes.
The time he spent in the service as a Navy SEAL enhances all of the rest of his best assets.
“As long as you want me to be, handsome,” she flirts. “Missed you, big guy. Glad to see you aren’t off on another tour.”
He kisses the top of her head in a brotherly way before saying, “Nope, not yet. I’m sure it won’t be long before I am called upon again, but for now, I get to look at you gorgeous creatures come and go all night.”
“Very funny,” I say, swatting him playfully as he steps back to open the doors for us. Annoyed patrons groan behind us because we don’t have to wait in line like the rest of them. “Is my brother here yet?” I ask.
“Haven’t seen him. Although, he could be behind the bar,” Troy says as he grabs one door handle and the other bouncer, a new guy I haven’t met yet, grabs the other.
“You ladies have fun,” Troy says with a wink. Gwen blows him a kiss. As the doors open, all sounds around us quiet to the deafening beat of the music that begins to fill the night air. Taking a few short steps inside, I decide to at least try and have a good time tonight.
The air is thick, and the smell of alcohol and expensive perfume hangs in it like a fog.
Steps cascade in front of us down to a dance floor already bursting at the seams with people.
The largest of three bars sits in the back of the lower level.
I can see at least five bartenders hurriedly making drinks for a line that’s three people deep and extends down the whole massive bar top.
A DJ spins music directly across from us, above the bar, on the second floor, in one of the most elaborate booths I’ve ever seen.
The second floor wraps around the building, creating a balcony to look down at the first. Behind us are stairs on both sides leading up to a third floor held mostly for VIP events.
The third floor is lush with expensive couches and decor, while the second floor has cozy little sitting spots tucked away throughout. The bottom floor is where most of the people hang out. It remains standing and dancing room only.
A remix to Justin Timberlake’s song “Lovestoned” blares through my ears, loud enough that if I didn’t already know the words, I wouldn’t be able to make them out.
I descend the steps slowly as Gwen turns them into a scene from a music video, dancing her way down each one with almost too much energy.
Laughing, I try to shake off my annoyance and ease into the atmosphere.
Maybe a night out is just what I need to clear my head.
“Drinks first,” she yells out. “Let’s go!”
Grabbing my hand, she pulls me out onto the dance floor and pushes our way through the crowd.
Not caring and oblivious to the annoyed looks of strangers, she continues through hastily as I apologize to everyone we bump into.
Making it to the other side of the dance floor, we stop for a moment and take in the line for drinks.
“Well this sucks,” Gwen says. “Maybe we should order two or three at one time so we don’t have to come back.”
No sooner has the comment left her lips than a hand slips around both of our waists. Gwen obviously feels it too because we both jump and look towards one another as Rex’s face emerges between us.
“Don’t touch me with those hands,” Gwen yells, swatting him away. “I don’t know what whore they were on last.”
He laughs, grabbing her hand and pulling her back to him affectionately. “You know, if you want my hands all over you, you don’t have to beg in front of company, sweetheart,” he winks suggestively at her. She rolls her eyes, and looks back at me for help, unable to form an immediate comeback.
“When are you going to stop hanging out with this loser?” she finally says. “His pickup lines get worse and worse every time I have the unfortunate pleasure of seeing him.”
“Behave yourself, sweetheart. I’m all you need to quench your thirst tonight,” he says, his eyes gaze down her body, lingering a little too long on her breasts. He licks his lips. “Come on.”
He grabs both our hands and starts pulling us towards the bar.
The music changes, and Pharrell and Jay-Z’s “Frontin’” remix fills the room as we follow Rex. He lifts the side counter of the bar and ushers us behind it with him. He leaves his hand a little too long on Gwen’s back, and she shoots him an evil glare, which makes him laugh.
Pushing his way into the mix, the workers behind the bar clear for him. The power of being an owner is unmistakable as he grabs two tall glasses and turns back to face us.
“What’s your pleasure?” he asks us both, but only locks eyes with Gwen.
“Not that I will ever let you be the cause of my pleasure, but make mine an old-fashioned,” she says.
I laugh at the way Gwen acts like a child, knowing full well that Rex is eating it up like candy. He loves this type of behavior in a sick, twisted way. Smiling, he glances my way.
Knowing I better stick to what I was drinking before we left, I say, “Red wine, thanks.”
He mixes Gwen’s drink, making it a little stronger than he should, then pours me a more than decent size glass of Cabernet. Glancing up, he starts flirting with a brunette across the bar. Gwen shifts on her feet next to me, clearly annoyed.
“Are you finished yet,” she snaps at him.
Pausing a moment, he slowly picks up the drinks and turns towards us. Gwen snatches hers and turns to walk away.
“Didn’t know you preferred it fast and quick, sweetheart. I’ll remember that for next time,” he taunts.
“Behave,” I laugh as I hug him, grab my drink, and follow after her.
As I take a sip, the warmness of the alcohol mixes with the bass coming from the music.
Tension leaves my shoulders as we make our way to a corner not far from the bar.
Gwen locks eyes with a stranger and I watch as she flashes him her “I’m available if you want me” smile.
Rolling my eyes, my phone vibrates in my clutch.
I pull it out to see I have a new text from Noah.
I wasn’t kidding when I said you know how to drive a man crazy, but we never did get to discuss why I stopped by in the first place. Have dinner with me Friday?
Doing my best juggling act, I try and balance my drink in my arm so I can type a reply.
Are you sure dinner with me is the answer to your madness?
I smile when I notice he reads it right away and can see that he is typing a response. Taking another sip of my drink, I look up as Gwen’s stranger makes his way over to us. I smile at him as he starts to talk to her, and focus my attention back on my phone.
Darlin’, at this point I don’t care if they lock me away for eternity, as long as I get my next fix of you before they throw away the key.
I giggle a little too loud, which gets Gwen’s attention. She rolls her eyes and goes back to her conversation. Switching gears, butterflies rise in my belly as I type my response.
Friday sounds perfect. I get off work at 5.
I’ll pick you up at 6. Dress casual.
Can’t wait.
Likewise. See you then, beautiful.
Putting away my phone, Gwen suddenly takes a few steps back from the guy she had been chatting up.
She’s clearly annoyed. Quick to notice when to step in, I grab her hand and say, “I love this song. Let’s dance.
Sorry, buddy,” I yell as I pull her onto the dance floor.
We make sure to push our way further into the middle and away from the guy who’s quickly approaching creeper status.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
Turning around to face her, I smile. We finish off our drinks so as not to spill them, and hold the empty glasses while we laugh and dance for a few songs.
Maybe I will get out of here as planned after another drink or two, but for now, it’s nice to let the world go and dance with my best friend—a girl that knows me better than any sister ever could.