CHAPTER III

“W hat do you think of this?” Tabi held out an outfit that looked like it was stolen from Jessica Rabbit.

“Um... it looks... great?” I said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

“Really? Because this is what you’ll be wearing tonight,” she said happily.

“No, I’m not.” I laughed at the ridiculous notion.

“What? Why?” She stomped her feet, throwing a full-on toddler tantrum.

“What do you mean, why?” I rose from the bed, snatched the outfit from her, and held it out like it was a live grenade. “Tabi, I’ve never worn anything like this.”

“That’s the whole point, Winter.” She turned back to her closet. While she dug through her clothes, I plopped back onto her bed.

She pulled out another outfit and handed it to me. “Let’s try this one. Maybe this suits you better,” she said.

I had to disagree with her again .

This one was even worse. The white mini dress’s straps were so thin they might as well be dental floss. I looked at Tabi as if she’d just suggested we go bungee jumping without the cord. “How do you think this is something I would want to wear?”

“What’s wrong with this one?” Tabi put her hands on her hips, cocking one hip out.

“You seriously don’t know?” I asked incredulously. “Tabi, I might as well go butt naked.” I handed the dress back to her, about to cry and laugh at the same time.

“It’s no different than what you wear at work,” she countered.

“Um, yes there is.”

“Uh...how?”

“What I wear at work is a uniform! I have zero control over my attire there. Going out in public? That’s completely different because I can choose what I wear,” I argued.

She rolled her eyes so dramatically I half expected them to get stuck in the back of her head. “Winter, you’re beautiful, and you have a rocking body underneath all those layers you’re hiding under,” she said, gesturing at me like I was some masterpiece waiting to be unveiled.

I bit my lip, still not convinced.

With a confident stride, Tabi plucked out another outfit and held it out like a trophy. My eyes widened in shock as I took in the tiny garment that looked like it could double as a naughty waitress uniform. The black crop top barely covered anything, and the skirt was so short I was pretty sure it would show my ass cheeks.

She must have noticed my expression because she went back to the closet.

If a woman wanted to show off her curves, more power to her. But I didn’t have any, and now Tabi wanted me to walk around like I was auditioning for a part in Moulin Rouge .

“Alright, I think I finally found the one,” Tabi said, regaining my attention. She spun around, holding out a dark blood-red lace dress that hit a few inches above the knee, with long ruffled sleeves and a scoop neck. It was sexy but still left a little to the imagination.

“I love it.” My smile burst forth as I took the dress from her. When I looked up, she was grinning at me.

“Finally!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands triumphantly into the air.

Once outfits were chosen, we took our time getting ready. I styled my hair into a retro ponytail that flowed down the middle of my back, and I used natural color eyeshadow to highlight my amber eyes. A light rose blush added a pop to my cheeks, and pink gloss on my lips added the final touch.

“Oh, my God, Winter! You look absolutely drop-dead gorgeous!” Tabi’s eyes practically sparkled after I was all put together.

“Really?” I asked, glancing nervously in the mirror. My self-consciousness was paying a visit. I’d never worn anything so sexy before— again, at least not on purpose. I was more of a cozy-pajama-at-home kind of gal.

“Yes, really. Now stop thinking you’re not!” Tabi said, her tone playful yet insistent. I turned to look at her in her black mini-dress with long sleeves and a side slit, her long platinum hair falling freely over her shoulders in big soft waves.

“Tonight, we’re free birds, Winter.”

Just as we were about to leave the room, Tabi’s phone rang. She reached into her purse, pulled out her phone, and glared at the screen with irritation and disbelief.

“Ugh! I wish he would just stop calling.” She silenced the call and tossed the phone back into her purse.

“Who’s got you so riled up?”

“That was Michael,” she replied, her tone heavy with disdain.

“Tristan’s dad?”

“Yep, that’s the one.”

“Have you talked to him since he’s been locked up?”

She shook her head vehemently. “Hell no. I want nothing to do with him.”

Tabi once shared with me how Michael was both verbally and physically abusive toward her. It was heartbreaking to hear from her what they had gone through, and what she had to do to keep her and Tristan safe. I was just happy and relieved that he could never hurt her and Tristan again since he’s in jail.

“Come on,” she said, adjusting her purse straps over her shoulder. “Let’s get this party started.”

I followed her out of the room but nearly crashed into her when she stopped dead in her tracks. “Oh! I almost forgot!” Swiftly pivoting on her ankle-strap black heels, she headed back to the closet. “Your outfit just wouldn’t be complete without these babies,” she declared.

She caught sight of my hesitation and started to sway a pair of shoes back and forth in front of me. I took a deep breath and then reached out to grab the heels.

She grinned in response.

We left her bedroom and found her five-year-old son Tristan in the living room, deeply engrossed in his coloring book, with his sitter, Emily. At the sound of our heels reverberating on the wooden floor, he jerked his head in our direction.

“Wow!” He beamed as he looked at each of us. “You both look so pretty!”

“Thank you, baby.” Tabi pulled him into a hug, smothering him affectionately and leaving a bright red lipstick mark on his cheek.

“Ew, Mom!” he exclaimed, wiping his face. “Gross,” he muttered, making us burst into laughter.

“My turn,” I declared, teetering toward him in my heels, trying not to stumble like a newborn giraffe.

“No!” Tristan shrieked, giggling as he tried to hide behind Emily, who doubled over in laughter.

“Fine,” I conceded, feigning defeat. “How about a hug?”

He peeked over Emily’s shoulder, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He propelled himself off the couch and leaped into my arms.

“Oh, wow,” I said with a grunt, barely catching him.

He wrapped his little arms around my neck and whispered, “Have fun, Winter. I love you.” His sincerity melted my heart. I feel incredibly grateful to have Tabi and Tristan by my side. They both provided so much comfort, helping to fill the emptiness left by those I’d lost and had to leave behind.

Giving him one more squeeze, I set him on his feet. “I love you too,” I said, kissing my palm and tapping it to his forehead.

“We’ll be home late,” Tabi told Emily. “But you have my number on the fridge, so call if you need anything. And I mean anything . Be good,” she cooed to Tristan, enveloping him in one last hug.

“I will,” he muttered against her neck.

When Tabi pulled back, she glanced at me and grinned. “Ready?”

I took a deep breath. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied.

* * *

Tabi and I sat in the back seat of the Uber on our way to the club.The overpowering scent of the driver’s cologne was so strong it made me nauseous. I wanted to roll the windows down and stick my head out just to get some relief.

I gazed out the window as we drove through the bustling city. We moved past high-end shops that transitioned into dive bars and luxurious condos.

We pulled up outside the nightclub, and its neon lights illuminated the street, casting vibrant shades of pink, purple, and blue across the sidewalk. Women in flashy outfits and stiletto heels flooded the entrance as they made their way inside.

The Uber driver maneuvered his car to the front of the valet station. A muscular man with intimidating tattoos on his face and arms approached the car and knocked on the window with his knuckles. The driver lowered the window just enough for him to speak.

“You can’t park here, man. This is an invitation-only zone,” the man declared.

The driver gestured toward us in the back and said, “I’m just the Uber driver.”

“But we were invited,” Tabi chimed in.

The man nodded and opened my door. “Let’s go,” he instructed us.

Okay, then.

A chill in the night air sent shivers down my arms, prompting me to hug my jacket closer to my body.

I followed the tattooed man until I stood in front of another bouncer outside the club. His massive frame covered the entire doorway, and his muscles rippled under his suit jacket.

“Hey! You can’t cut in line!” a woman with a piercing voice yelled. Despite the abrupt disruption, Tabi remained focused on the bouncer in front of us. “We were?—”

“I heard you the first time,” he grunted. The bouncer looked me up and down. I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

“Names,” he demanded.

“It will be under Tabi Allinder and a guest.”

“Winter.”

“Tabi.”

The bouncer raised his fingers to the small earpiece in his ear. After a few seconds of murmured conversation, the bouncer pulled open the heavy door. “Follow Miguel.”

We came face to face with a tall, sexy-as-hell man. He was so good looking it was hard to look away from him. He possessed a strong jawline, striking bright blue eyes, and a chiseled physique that filled out the tight fabric of his black shirt, which emphasized his bulging muscles.

“Follow me.” Tilting his chin toward the door, he gestured for us to enter the club. Despite the numerous piercing gazes fixed on me, I remained composed as I made my way inside.