CHAPTER 12

MIA

“Come on, Mia, there’s no point in sitting around now! You already said yes!”

Eleanor’s voice echoes through my apartment as she races down the hallway, searching for something to wear.

“Which I completely regret.”

I should be doing the same, but I settle onto my sofa instead. Luckily, only the bottom portion is still wet. Normally, I’d pace away my mistakes, but since my place is still recovering, I’m lying on my back, staring at the ceiling and silently reviewing my life.

“I don’t get it. What’s the big deal?” El finally reappears.

Her mini dress is tighter than tight, which makes sense since she’s had it since our second year of college. It’s pretty obvious we don’t go out much—we have the same rotation of outfits all year long. If it isn’t our work uniforms, it’s loungewear 99% of the time. That one percentage is saved for nights like this when we decide to go ‘crazy’ and hit the town. And those nights usually end with us leaving whatever party early to come home and watch a movie.

But I’m not coming back to my place tonight. I’m heading to Griffon’s, who I can hear getting ready next door. She offered to help El and I bring our stuff over so all five of us could get ready together, but I immediately refused. I’d already fallen into her trap by saying yes to going out.

I needed my space to regroup and figure out my plan because I had completely forgotten that I was supposed to stay at her place. Since we first met, my whole existence has been a hot mess, and now I’m supposed to go out, drink, and hope that nothing else happens?

Yeah, no.

My luck has already proven to be untrustworthy.

“I mean, there are multiple things wrong with this situation. Where do you want me to start? When I stole her package?”

Eleanor rolls her eyes as she tries to shove her left breast into the tiny orange dress.

“We get it, Mia. You stole her package, got off to her, and now you have to live with her—blah blah blah. Are you done yet?”

I’m speechless. She can’t honestly be downplaying this situation right now, but she’s looking at me like what she said meant absolutely nothing.

“Oh, don’t look at me like I’m the crazy one. You’re the one who ma—”

“—YOU TOLD ME TO!!” I cut her off before she could finish, wincing at my voice getting loud.

“Fake it. Not actually do it—that was all you,” Eleanor finishes, her lips tight and her arms folded across her chest.

And I have nothing to say to that.

“Now, clearly, there’s more to this, don’t you think?”

My shoulders drop in defeat. I still can’t figure out what to say, but something is tugging at me from the inside.

“Don’t you want to go out tonight and see what else could happen? You never know; you could have fun!”

I chew on my bottom lip, listening to Eleanor sell this night to me like a car salesman trying to reach his quota. Maybe it’s because she’s a Libra, but she can convince me to do anything.

“And besides all that, you deserve a night out! Your damn apartment flooded—let’s get fucked up tonight!!!!!”

***

It took us another hour and a half to get ready before we finally headed to the bar. Halfway through one of my mini panic attacks, El told me she texted Monica—which I didn’t even know she had the number for—to tell them not to wait for us; we’d just meet them there.

That did take some of the pressure off, not having to consider a car ride with Griffon anymore. I don’t think my brain can handle the thought of us in such close proximity with nowhere else to go. I thought her apartment was bad, but fuck, that sounds like a death wish.

I can't tell if this is any better now that we’re on the way in the Uber. I’m already sweating, partly from stress and partly from how tight this halter-style jumpsuit is. Maybe it’s because it’s a few years old, but it’s probably still my nicest outfit. It’s all black, with a deep V in the front that almost reaches my belly button. Thin leather straps wrap around my waist and across the opening in the front, revealing my skin.

It’s sexy—El got it for me one year to wear for New Year’s Eve, and of course, this is my first time wearing it. But as she told me before we left, “Better late than never.”

I can feel each strap around my waist tighten with every breath I take. My thin black heels are already killing me, and I feel like I’m skiing down the pavement.

Am I actually torturing myself for…Griffon?

I don’t get the chance to think that over further when the car comes to a screeching halt.

“Here ya go, ladies! Stay safe tonight!”

Eleanor doesn’t even take a second before ripping open the door and hopping out, trying to drag me with her.

I barely manage to say, “Thank you, you too!” before my body is yanked out, and I stumble to catch my balance.

“What the fuck, El?!”

“Look! I’ve always wanted to come here!”

Finally, I follow her gaze to see a brick building with a small set of stairs leading to a steel black door.

Right next to it, on the wall, hangs a hot pink LED sign that reads

:

GIRLS

GIRLS

GIRLS

My eyebrows furrow. “I don’t get it—this is where they wanted to go?”

Like most things, El just chuckles and grabs my hand before heading up the stairs. Once we reach the top, she turns back to me, winks, then turns around and knocks exactly four times.

Before I can speak up, a tiny window that I never noticed before slides open, and a pair of brown eyes stares back at me.

“What’s the password?”

My eyes widen, and if I wasn’t scared before, I sure as hell am now.

“Wha—”

“Bunny!” El interrupts me.

Within seconds, the window closes, and I hear the locks on the door unlatching.

“Bunny? You’re joking, right?”

My red flags stand straight up, but curiosity gets the best of me as the door finally opens, and I follow El inside.

It’s loud—like really, really loud. I’m still confused for a second because it’s pitch black, and my grip on her hand tightens. Then suddenly, velvet curtains are drawn back, revealing a sea of people.

But as I take my first few steps forward, I notice it’s not just people. It’s a sea of only women.

Left and right, everywhere I turn, all I see are beautiful women dancing on top of each other, making out, and drinking.

My mind can’t even register what I’m witnessing, so I lean forward and practically scream into El’s ear.

“Where are we?!”

She whips around in an instant, already laughing. “You don’t get it?”

All I can do is shake my head.

“It’s a gay bar!” El screams.

My eyes bulge out of their sockets. “What?!”

“Monica said it was Griffon’s pick! Let’s go try to find them!” El yells back before continuing forward.

Immediately, I scoff and shake my head.

Of course, I’m not even surprised. She probably did this as part of her own twisted little game. She knows what will knock me off my feet; it’s almost like she likes to push my limits and see me uncomfortable or scared.

If that was her goal, she’s 100% winning because it feels impossible to see the end as we make our way through the crowd. There are flashing lights everywhere, and the techno music definitely isn’t helping me find my sense of direction.

By the time we reach the bar, I feel like I’ve used every ounce of energy I had in me. My body practically drops onto a stool, and my feet silently thank me. Just as El grabs the seat next to me, her attention is directed at a striking, tall blonde woman, giving her the ‘I’m interested’ eyes.

She doesn’t even move to sit down as she watches the woman tilt her head to motion for her to come over. I already know what El will ask when she turns back to face me. Immediately, I wave her off with a, “Go ahead, you bitch! Just text me!”

Still, I roll my eyes as El plants a kiss on my cheek before skipping away. Of course, my only friend ditched me within the first fifteen minutes.

I guess it will be up to me to find Griffon.

It doesn’t take long. I turn around in my swivel chair, scanning the crowd, and my gaze drifts upwards to the packed balcony overlooking the dance floor.

First, I spot Monica dancing, and then my eyes catch Lauren, who’s chilling at a private table with a group of girls, drink in hand. And dead center, standing at the railing, is Griffon, dressed in sneakers, cargo pants, and a graphic tee with ripped sleeves, exposing the minimalist tattoos that trickle down both of her arms. I probably would’ve found her quicker if she didn’t have that damn trucker hat on. But under all of these lights, the brim of her hat casts a shadow across her face, making her look even more mysterious than usual.

I don’t know how long I’ve been staring, leaning back with my elbows on the bar. But Griffon doesn’t look like she wants to stop, either. In fact, it feels like her eyes have always been on me. The entire time I’ve been here, meaning she watched me walk in, watched me look confused, watched me find out this was a gay bar, watched me get lost, and watched me get ditched.

All while sitting up there with the most perfect view.

I can’t really see her eyes, but I can see her smirk. She’s satisfied with herself again.

I can feel my skin getting hot, the embarrassment kicking back in. How could I have fallen into another one of her traps?

Finally, I look away, turning around in my seat, to see El and her mystery girl heading for the dance floor. All I can do is let out a deep sigh as I try to wave over the bartender. But just as I’m about to speak up, someone steps into the open space next to me.

“Can I get you a drink?” a soft voice says.

I don’t realize they’re talking to me until I don’t hear a response, and my eyes widen when I turn to see a short-haired brunette staring right at me. I take in her delicate and soft features with a quick scan over.

“Oh, uhhh—” My eyes dart all around, trying to figure out what to say. Then, for a moment, I remember why I’m even here in the first place.

“—Sure, why not!”

Without hesitation, she smiles before turning to order us both a round of shots.