I snorted when I slipped and fell on my ass.
I sang along to songs I didn’t know the lyrics to.
Nobody paid any attention to me, that I could tell, anyway. There might have been someone judging me from afar but who cared? Not me! I was having a grand time like the other girls.
“Do you know Snoop Dogg?” Letty watched me with a curious smile. She was always asking if I knew this musician and that one. She seemed to get a kick out of me sayingno.
I clearly needed to study up on current-day music.
“Of course, I know Snoop Dogg. Just not this song.” Jeez, how many times would I lie today? That probably wasn’t the last.
“It’s called ‘Beautiful.’” Letty seemed to know every song. I admired her for it and how great she danced.
“I like it!” I closed my eyes and swayed my head from side to side, along with my shoulders.
It was a slower song than some of the others, but it still had a good beat. Smooth and chill. Great for moving promiscuously like Letty and Blanca. I didn’t move my body like them. It felt wrong. A little dirty and I didn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea about me.
“Look at you, all sexy and fun. Been watching you for a while.”
I opened my eyes to see if someone was talking to me. Sure enough, a man was grooving in front of me. He checked me out like I was a shiny new sports car on the showroom floor. He went around me and made me a little dizzy. I hadn’t seen him before. Or maybe I had and couldn’t remember.
“Dance with me.”
“We are dancing. Everybody is dancing.” I spread my arms wide. Literally, no couples were sitting this song out. He wasbobbing his head like a rooster and in time with his hands. I was copying him. I’d call that dancing.
“Not apart, but together.” He wrapped his hand around my wrist and pulled me against him. “Like this.”
Whoa, he was close! Close enough for me to feel parts of him I had never felt on a man before.
“I’m not sure I want to.” I tried to back away and get a better look at him. He wasn’t wearing a leather vest like the other guys.
“Maybe I can convince you that you want to.” His hands glided down my hips. I had to admit, it felt good, but maybe that was the alcohol talking.
“What’s your goat name?” My words weren’t coming out right.
He threw his head back, laughing. “Goat?”
I shook my head. Not goat. “Road. I mean, road name!”
“No road name. I’m Dom’s friend.” He snaked his arm around my waist and held me against him.
I didn’t fight him off. Honestly, he helped me stay on my feet. “I don’t know Dom.”
“He’s a cool dude.” His lips went on my neck. He might be kissing me. Or licking. “We’re tattoo artists.”
“I’ve always wanted a tattoo!” I screamed. “Will you give me one right now?” My brother would hate it if I marked up my body. He’d made it his mission to keep me blemish-free and a virgin.
Hey! A brilliant idea came to me. I was away from the monastery and the nuns who’d controlled my life and followed my brother’s orders. I could spoil myself. Get ink on my arm so no Mafia man would want me. Losing my virginity would be even better, but not with this guy.
“Sure, baby. Let me show you to my office.” He led me off the dance floor.
I’d lost track of Letty and Blanca. There was probably a horny biker who wanted more than dancing from them. At least this guy didn’t want sex from me. He only wanted to dance.
“You have an office here?” I shouted so he could hear me, then promptly stumbled, falling into him. “What did you say your name was?”
“Death wish.”
I stared at the man. “Did you say death wish? That’s an interesting road name.”
