“Why didn’t you eat lunch?” I ask, taking a bite.
“We were busy,” he says between his chews.
The memory of seeing him drive past Haley’s house earlier comes to mind. Is that why he didn’t eat lunch?
“I saw you earlier today, driving in that new development with all the new houses.”
His chewing stops and his head tilts, eyeing me in question.
“Did you do a house call over there?” I ask.
He grabs a napkin and wipes his mouth and then his eye lights up. “Yes. Yes, a house call. I did a house call over there.” He shakes his head, and his cheeks rise in a small grin. “I almost forgot what I did today.” He chuckles. “Why were you over there?”
I finish chewing and grab a drink of water. “I was dropping off an order at Haley’s.”
“Damn, she lives over there? That’s a rich area.”
I nod. “Her house is pretty nice too.”
A ding comes through my phone. I look down at it and see it’s Rya again. I decide to ignore it because I’m sure it’s her asking if we want to go clubbing this weekend.
I let out a small sigh as I sit down on my vanity and stare at myself in the mirror, fresh out of the shower. I’m already regretting agreeing to this. After ignoring Rya for a couple of days, she asked Zayn if he wanted to go. All three of them agreed to go, so I finally said, screw it, I’ll go.
Rya messaged us in a group chat about this new club that opened up in the city that she wanted to go to. I didn’t bother to look it up.
After curling my hair, I let them sit while I do my makeup, so the curls hold up longer. Usually, I do some type of eyeshadow when I go to the club, but I decide against it and keep my makeup light. I run my fingers through my hair, breaking up the curls after I complete my makeup. I tease it a little and then spray hairspray all over. Heading into my closet, where all my going-out dresses are, I stand there staring at them, figuring out what to wear.
“Oh Viiii,” Rya says, entering my room.
I shift my body around and see her in a skintight red dress and black heels. The excitement in her eyes that we are going out makes me roll my eyes. She grabs my hands. “Oh, come on,” shesays with a frown. “It will be fun.” She releases my hands and looks through all my dresses. “Have you pregamed it yet?”
“No,” I say, standing there watching her go through my dresses. “I don’t plan on drinking a lot.”
“You could at least have one shot to loosen you up a bit,” she says over her shoulder. “This one.” She grabs a black halter dress off the hanger. She puts it up against my body. “Wear this one.”
I drop my robe, not caring that I’m naked, truth be told, she’s seen it all. I slide the dress up my body, situating it while I look at myself in the mirror. When’s the last time I wore this dress? I say to myself. Since I hardly ever dress up, I sometimes forget how good I look in clothes other than leggings and a sports bra.
I slip on my strappy black heels and spritz that new Valentino perfume I bought in Vegas all over myself. I walk out of my closet and see Rya sitting on my vanity, touching up her lipstick.
This vanity was another selling point on this house. The lady’s husband put it in for her since she loved to do her makeup. I thought that was so sweet. I sometimes wish I met the couple.
“Are you ready?” I ask, putting deodorant on.
Rya stands up and looks over herself in the mirror. “Yup. The boys are waiting for us.” We both carefully walk downstairs in our heels, holding onto the railing.
“Are you guys ready for a shot?” Zay yells out as we enter the kitchen.
Ez catches my gaze with a small smile on his face right as I sigh. “You don’t have to take one,” he says.
Rya looks over at me. “Yes, she does. She needs to loosen up.”
Has Rya always been this bossy? Or am I noticing it more now that I’m not on her level of wanting to go out?
I grab the shot from Zay’s hand and choke it down. The burning runs down my throat to my chest, making my eyes water.
We arrive at the club, the strong bass slamming through the speakers, sending shakes through my body. The four of us make our way further inside, walking through the crowded room, brushing past bodies as we look for a less crowded area.
Rya grabs my hand and starts swaying her hips against mine. I do a little sway with my hips and then stop. I’m just not feeling it.
