Over the past six years they’ve become more than just friends, they’re like the family I never had.
“We’re going to Temptation,” Jayden says as he grabs a bottle of water out of my refrigerator.
I cast a longing glance at my TV. “But I was just about to watch Temptation Island.”
Lisa shakes her head. “You can watch that show anytime. Tonight, we’re going out and you’re going to have fun. Right Jay?”
“Mhm.” He parks himself on my couch with the popcorn bowl in one hand and the remote in the other.
“Oh, come on guys, it’s been a long work week. I just want to eat, relax and watch some television.”
“You do that almost every weekend and most of the time we’re here with you. You’ve turned into a hermit. At least in college you would go out to parties with us sometimes- “
“Only because you insisted.” I cut her off. I can’t count how many parties I went to with Lisa and Jayden in college.
“How are you ever going to meet any guys sitting on the couch watching TV?” she asks putting her hands on her hips.
“Who says I want to meet any guys to date,” I mutter under my breath.
The message from him is still fresh in my mind. If anything, it reinforces the no relationship mantra I’ve been feeding myself over the past few years.
Lisa eyes soften with sympathy as though she knows what I’m thinking. She knows all too well what I went through.
“It’s been three years Ava. I refuse to let that bastard control your dating life anymore.”
“Hey Av, what happened to HBO, it’s not coming up?” Jayden asks.
Lisa marches over to him and snatches the popcorn and remote out of his hands.
“Hey woman, what are you doing?” He looks over glaring at her.
She glares right back. “You’re supposed to be helping me convince her to go out not watching TV and stuffing your face.”
Jayden looks over at me and sighs. “Fine. Listen Av, let’s just go out for a while and if you don’t like it, we can leave, but you’ve got to at least try and go out and have some fun.”
Looking back and forth between my two best friends my resolve starts to wilt. “You promise, I can leave if I’m not having fun.”
Lisa grins as she bounces slightly in her heels. “I promise.”
I sigh. “Fine. I’ll go out for a little while.”
“Yay! Come on I’ll do your hair and makeup,” Lisa says giving the remote and popcorn back to Jayden before grabbing my hand and dragging me into my room. I can already tell this is going to be a long night.
***
The inside of the club is electric. Despite all the years I’ve been in Chicago, I’ve never been to this club. Partly because I’m not much of a party person and partly because this place is always packed. Anytime I pass it, the lines are usually out the door. Temptation is easily the hottest club in Chicago. When you first step inside there is a walled off area where bouncers check IDs.
Once you get past the main entrance and turn a corner that is where the actual club is. The energy in the building is almost palpable.
A mixture of blues and purples streak from the strobe lights in the ceiling. The bar area takes up one entire wall. It’s filled with people sipping drinks and chatting.
To the right and left are a series of booths, couches high tables and low tables filled with more people talking, laughing and eating.
And in the center of it all is a huge dance floor filled with writhing bodies moving to beat of the music the DJ is playing. Looking up I see a second story with a bunch of rooms with blacked out windows.
“It’s great isn’t it?” Lisa yells over the music.
“Uh yeah,” I say unconvincingly. I can hear the nerves in my voice so I know Jayden and Lisa can.
Lisa puts her arm around my shoulder. “Oh, come on, it’ll be fun. Besides you look hot tonight. Your ass in that dress looks fantastic, if I do say so myself.”
At the mention of my outfit, I look down at myself. The top half of my dress is black with thin spaghetti straps and a deep v neck showing my cleavage or lack thereof in my case. At my hips the dress changes to a light grey and cuts off mid-thigh showing my curves. I still can’t believe she talked me into wearing this. My thick, curly hair hangs around my shoulders and a pair of two-inch black heels are on my feet.
“Whatever I’ve seen a few guys checking you out since we walked into the club.”
I roll my eyes. Guys don’t check me out. Especially when I’m with Lisa and I’m totally okay with that. I’m secure enough in my looks to recognize that in this friendship she’s the extraordinary one and I’m the ordinary one.
“Are you sure they weren’t looking at you?” I ask.
“No, you have a great body. You need to flaunt it more, instead of hiding behind those big clothes you like to wear.”
“Why don’t you two go get a table and I’ll get the drinks,” Jayden says cutting into our conversation.
“No, I’ll go get the drinks. What do you guys want?” I need something to do to stop my nerves from getting the best of me.
“A rum and coke,” Jayden says.
“Make that two.” Lisa adds. “We’ll be over there.” She points to a section of tables on the right.
I head towards the packed bar. I manage to find an opening between two women and raise my hand to flag down a bartender. One looks my way
