19. Jolene

"Idon't know about this." I turned this way and that in the mirror.

"What don't you know?"

"Is this appropriate? I'm a mother of four."

"And I'm a mother of five, so what are you saying?"

The outfit was cute but seemed too young, though not really. It's just that I haven't worn anything like this since forever, if ever, and I didn't want to come across as one of those women who try too hard to look younger than they are.

It was an off-the-shoulder jumpsuit with a belt at the waist that cinched everything in and fit too well in some places. I don't know the last time I remember, I had breasts, but there was no mistaking them tonight.

I realized what the problem was quickly enough, though. I hadn't seen myself as a sexual being in a long time, and this outfit screamed come and get it. The heels they dragged out of my closet hadn't been worn in years because they're about three inches high does amazing things for my legs and thighs but hurt my back like hell if I wear them for too long.

I guess a few hours wherever they're taking me won't be too bad, as long as she wasn't expecting me to dance in these things. My house became party prep central, meaning that's where the three of us got dressed because there was no one underfoot to get in the way.

Sheila made a batch of margaritas, which we polished off before we were even out the door. I was surprised to see Jonathan at my door when it was time to go. "I'm just the driver; don't panic. My wife claimed she don't trust you nor her sister not to get drunk tonight, and since I don't trust none of you, I'll be driving and picking up when you're done."

I gave my sorta brother-in-law a peck on the cheek and thanked him for looking out for us. One of the lessons you don't need to learn twice is once you have to come to the local precinct to pick up your wife, her sister, and her best friend because one of your buddies took them in for streaking across the golf course in their underway and running through the sprinklers high off their ass off of wacky weed.

I guess he wasn't looking for a repeat, though that had been years ago, and we'd done worse since then, just never got caught.

* * *

I almost didn't getout of the car when they pulled up to this place with a line going around the block. This is some high school college-age bullshit and not suitable for mature women. Too late, Sheila kissed her husband goodbye, and by the time I looked around, Maeve, who had been sitting next to me, was at my door, pulling it open. "Out!"

She must've seen the panic on my face because she didn't even give me a chance to say no before starting to walk away. She walked right to the front of the line and gave the bouncer something that he nodded at, and removed the rope for the three of us to enter, which made the people in the front of the line feral.

I wanted to disappear, but Maeve didn't even acknowledge their existence, and Sheila just took my elbow and pulled me along with her, leaving the two young women who were the loudest fuming.

"What's this place? I didn't know this was here." I guess I didn't get out much since Covid, so there were some new places opened up that I hadn't had time to hear about or see, not that I would've seen this place.

It was a nightclub, obviously and a huge one with more than one floor from the looks of it. The gentleman that Maeve was following took us to the VIP section, where there was a bottle person waiting to serve us.

Maeve made that poor girl, who was smiling for all she was worth when we came in, go and get a new, unopened bottle of champagne. She tipped her nicely, though, when she came back, so hopefully, that alleviated any negative feelings.

The place was already crowded, and most of the people who came in after us were going upstairs or heading to the bar on our floor. "This place opened about a month ago and has been all the rage since. People are coming from all over the south I hear, on account of one of the owners used to be a professional football player."

"Oh, no wonder it's so packed."

"Yeah, I hear the drinks and food aren't anything to sneeze at either." I took a sip of the expensive champagne, and people watched for a minute.

"Hey, what did you give the bouncer?"

"VIP tickets. Clay's the PT for one of the guys, and he gave him a handful that we just threw in a drawer. I figured now was as good a time as any to use them."

I realized that we didn't have to yell to hear each other even though the music was loud, and the next hour and a half was passed pleasantly, reminiscing about our wayward youth and the shit we used to get up to before we became respectable women.

All of a sudden, there was a hush over the crowd; even though the music didn't change levels, there was something different in the air. "What the hell is going on?"

"That's big dick energy."

"What, Sheila?" Sometimes, I wonder about my sister-friend.

"She ain't lying; look at the women. Look at how they're fixing themselves and laughing louder to draw attention. I tried craning my neck, thinking maybe it was some ball player or the other that had walked in to make all the women go gah-gah.

A familiar-looking face walked through the crowd of men and women, stopping every once in a while to speak to someone, but it was obvious he was heading for the VIP section because there was nowhere else to go in this direction.

I started to get that nervous feeling in my tummy, and I didn't want to say anything because he was almost here even though he kept being stopped. The smile never left his face, though.

"I know him."

"You do?"

"Yes, he's that cop that came to my house."

"Really? I think Clay did say his client had retired and became a cop or something like that. I hardly listen to him when he's talking about his famous clients because when am I ever going to meet them?"

What was his name again? Something Kirkland, Kinky, what the hell? I was drawing a blank. "Good evening, ladies; wait, don't I know you?" He squinted in the way people do when they're trying to remember something.

"Jolene, right?"

"Yes, you came to my house about two months ago." I noticed his eyes go to my finger, but he didn't say anything.

"Do you ladies have everything you need?" I looked at the other two to answer, and Maeve nodded her head yes.

They introduced each other, and once he realized who her husband was, the two of them started chatting like old friends, but I wanted him gone so I could ask her for all the info. Not only that, but he kept looking at me every few minutes, and I needed to pee.

"Oh, this is my sister Sheila and our best friend Jolene. We're celebrating her divorce." Oh, good heavens, why?

"Oh really?" Did his smile just get wider?