“Oh.” I turned in my seat to check out the room.
A few couples were slow dancing and kissing. One man’s hands were on a lady’s bottom, squeezing it tightly. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. Of course, I couldn’t be for certain. Just assuming since I had no idea what dancing that way felt like. I may never know.
It was a festive bar. Large and rectangular. Piñatas were hung above a stage on the far end. Long colorful streamers stretched across the room from one side to the other, sort of like decorations for a Mexican Fiesta. Stringed lights gave the space a patio vibe, along with terracotta tiles on the walls.
I was a little surprised to be honest. Rough, dangerous bikers liked to hang out in a place like this? By their own choice? I guess they did. Thiswastheir clubhouse.
“Most of the men in the club. No, all the men in the club are single,” Blanca told me.
“Yeah, nobody has claimed an old lady yet. I’m sort of glad, though. That means there’s still hope for me!” Letty clapped her hands and did a little more squirming in her chair. Clearly, the alcohol was loosening her up.
I stared at her and Blanca, wondering why they would want to be claimed by a biker. Didn’t they have hopes and dreams? Goals for their lives? Or perhaps becoming an old lady was their goal. No shame in that, I suppose.
But maybe Letty should have a little more ambition and not just be any old lady. She could be the president’s old lady.
Wait.
El Jefe was the president.
I couldn’t imagine Letty and Jefe together. Had they had sex? My stomach churned at the thought of them naked together. Why it bothered me, I didn’t know. It wasn’t like I was attracted to him. Or that he was charming and intelligent, traits I always thought I’d like in a man.
El Jefe was nice enough in a gritty-grumpy-biker sort of way. His muscular arms were impressive. And I sort of liked the artwork all over them.
He smelled good, too.
But none of that made me attracted to him.
The slow song ended and a new one started. Something upbeat, and women clapped and cheered as they ran onto the floor and started dancing.
“Come on!” Blanca grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the dance floor. “It’s Rihanna!”
“I don’t know who Rihanna is.” Embarrassment turned my face hot.
“How can you not know who Rihanna is?” Letty asked. “Have you been living under a rock?”
I just shrugged my shoulders and shook my head. What was I going to say? That I had lived a sheltered life raised by nunsin a monastery? That my brothers controlled me my whole life? They’d judge me hard.
Blanca and Letty shook their bottoms seductively. How they moved their bodies while wearing five-inch heels showed true talent. I could hardly walk in the ones Letty gave me to wear. And the skin-tight black dress was very constricting. I could barely breathe in it, much less dance. But I was going to do my best so not to embarrass myself more.
A club girl joined us. She had a tray full of small glasses.
Letty took two and handed one to me. “Tequila shots. Don’t sip. Just gulp it.”
I watched her lick the rim, then she drank it all at once. I cautiously touched my tongue to the white stuff on the edge of the cup to taste. I knew what cocaine was, all drugs really. The nuns made sure I was educated about somethings. Fortunately, the white stuff was only salt.
“Drink it!” Letty gave me a lime. “This will help if it’s too strong for you.”
“Thanks.” I forced a smile and drank the tequila. The liquid burned going down and made me cough. Phew, that was a lot stronger than the martini!
“Suck on the lime!” Letty laughed as she danced around me. She seemed to be having a grand time.
Miguel would have had a heart attack if he saw me with this rough crowd. The nuns, too. But I wasn’t going to think about any of them. I was relaxed, and for the first time in my life, I felt free to do anything I wanted.
So, I did as Letty advised and tried to copy her dance moves. I didn’t want to stand there like a fool. I wanted to blend in and just be one of the girls.
After a couple of more tequila shots and a lot of songs, I found my rhythm. My didn’t-give-a-crap-about-nothing attitude hadalso arrived. After everything I’d been through, today and in my whole life, I finally didn’t have a care in the world.
I laughed with Letty and Blanca.
