“I’ll be sure to pass the message along. I’m going over there next week to help out with some last-minute wedding plans.” I’ve had to force Ava to let me help out more. She’s four months pregnant, plus she already has a one and a three-year-old. The poor woman just doesn’t like to ask for help, but I love going over there and spending time with Gabbie and Nikolai.
“Be sure to give those babies kisses from me, too.” Nodding, Kendra walks away and starts to get ready for her turn on stage.
I start to do the same, only I’m packing up to leave for the night. As I’m stuffing my things into my tote bag, my entire body begins to tingle with awareness. The sensation shocks me, since I haven’t felt it in so long. For a moment, I think I might be losing my mind, but then, I stand tall and glance towards the locker room door.
And there he is, leaning against the wall with his legs crossed at his ankles.
He stares right at me, as if he’s daring me to come towards him, and I almost do. I almost listen to the silent demand to come to him.
But then, I remember he doesn’t want me. Not really.
So, I turn away, finish packing my things, and then say my goodbyes to the girls. Walking out of the locker room, my eyes stay down at my feet, knowing he’ll still be there watching and waiting for … something.
When I finally find the courage to look up, I stop in my tracks.
He left.
He’s gone, and I feel as if I failed some sort of test.
As Kendra drives, I look out of the passenger side window. I’m curious as to where she’s taking me, and for the first time in months, excitement and anticipation fill me. I’m not sure how many times I ask Kendra to tell me where we’re going, but each and every time, she denies me an answer. I guess in a way, I’m glad she doesn’t answer, because not knowing, makes the excitement that much sweeter.
After a few more moments of silence, I finally break it, once she takes a right and heads into a parking garage. “Hey, Kendra. You mind giving me some sort of hint or something?”
She doesn’t answer, until she finds a parking spot. I frown, noticing how many vehicles are here, and I wonder why there are so many. We’re in the middle of nowhere, so it makes no sense, as to why there is some random parking garage here. “Before we go inside, you’ll need this.”
Quickly turning towards her, I glance at her out stretched hand. Tilting my head, I stare at the deep red bracelet. “Why do I need this?” I ask, taking the bracelet from her.
“Trust me. You’ll need it.” My gaze finds her, and I watch her intently, as she checks over her appearance in the rearview mirror. Her long, blonde hair is pinned back, and of course, her collar is on. It’s not until she touches up her lipstick that I see she’s also wearing a bracelet. Hers however, is a black and white one that’s braided. “Are you ready?”
Shaking myself out of the daze I was in, I nod, and then get out of the car. Kendra leads the way, and I quietly follow behind her. We reach an elevator, and as we step inside, my heart begins to race. The elevator door closes, and I swallow hard, knowing that whatever I’m about to face, will do one of two things. It’ll either give me what I’m searching for, like Kendra believes, or it’ll just be another night out on the town. I won’t lie and say I’m hoping for the former. I want this empty void to go away, and I really want something to satisfy this growing need inside of me.
It would really help though, if I knew what the hell it is that I’ve been searching for.
Once the elevator doors open again, my eyes widen, as my mouth opens. We didn’t go up. We went down.
We went down to a … night club?
“Addiction” by Big K.R.I.T. booms so loud on the speakers that I have to suck in a breath. The bass is thumping so hard that I literally feel the pulses throughout my body. As we walk out of the elevator, Kendra waves and smiles at the security guards that I just noticed, standing by the elevator. My eyes track every single thing about where I am, but not a single thought forms in my mind. I can only blindly follow behind Kendra, as she reaches what I’m assuming is some sort of check in counter. What is this place? I’m not getting the normal night club vibe.
The woman on the other side is behind a glass, and she smiles, as she seems to recognize Kendra. All I can do is stare and wonder why she brought me here. “Trix? Trixie?” Blinking quickly, I glance at Kendra. “You alright?”
“I … I’m. Uh. What is this place?”
“Okay, so don’t freak out, but I sort of brought you to a … sex club.”
“A sex club,” I deadpan.
“Don’t worry,” she claims in a soft but loud voice. “My first time was … it was a lot to take in. But right now, you need to show her,” she says, as she points to the lady behind the glass. “Your band, and she needs to stamp your hand, too.”
In some sort of daze, I do as Kendra commands. Once the woman stamps my hand with a big black X, she states, “This is only good for tonight, and it lets everyone know that you’re a guest.”
Nodding, I back away, staring at the new mark on my hand. “They change the letters each night. Especially, when it’s guest night,” Kendra tells me loudly, as she takes my hand.
She leads me further
