The Match

For the first time since he ambushed me, I finally get a good look at Nate. He’s about the same age as Sloan with messy blond hair and deep brown eyes. He’s handsome, sexy even, but he doesn’t compare to Sloan.

“That’s nice of you,” I yell over the loud music. “But I can get my own drink.”

He frowns but his disappointment doesn’t last for too long before he recoups, replacing it with a cocky smirk. Nate runs his fingers down my bare arm, his touch doing nothing for me. Not like when I was with Sloan. The energy between us was electric.

“I insist.” Nate steers me toward the bar on the far right wall with his big hand on my shoulder.

Following behind us, Stacey chats up Nate’s friend as if she has known him for a long time. Some people can find something to talk about with anyone. My best friend is one of those people. She’s the queen of small talk.

Taking in the dense air and the stench of sweaty bodies, I glance up at the purple lights that illuminate the mirrored walls and ceiling, casting shadows of the people grinding on each other. Parts of the club are roped off, the VIP areas lined with plush couches, some of them even with their own bartender.

Two girls are dancing in cages suspended in the air, high enough for everyone in the club to see them perfectly. Each of the girls wraps her half-naked body around a pole at the center, dropping to the floor with such grace I can’t help but stare.

“That will be us soon enough,” Stacey says, tugging on my arm.

I roll my eyes at her. “I’d rather we save ourselves the embarrassment.”

She points up at the girls. “You will look a thousand times better than them when you’re up in the air. Ladies night is all about the ladies. So, take the stick out of your ass and let’s have some fun.”

“How do we get up there?”

“The stairs, silly.” She pulls a white ticket from her purse. “And with this. I hand it to the bouncer when we get up there, and we are good to go.” Stacey moves behind me and playfully smacks me on the ass, pushing me away from the bar. “Get a move on, girlie. The night is a wasting.”

“Ava,” Nate says to me. “Don’t leave yet.”

I look over my shoulder at him and he nods at the bartender who’s popping the tops off four beer bottles. I turn to Stacey. “How about we have a drink with them to get our liquid courage, and then maybe I’ll consider dancing up there with you.”

She flashes a victorious smile and claps. “Deal.”

I move between Nate and his friend and take two of the beers from the bartender, handing one to Stacey. “Thank you,” I say to Nate and press the bottle to my lips.

Nate brushes his fingers along mine as we stand there, drinking in silence. Desperate to escape the awkward start to our girls’ night out, I pound the beer and set the empty bottle on the counter behind me.

“Thanks for the drink, Nate.” I give his arm a squeeze. “Have a good night.”

“I’ll be here if you change your mind, beautiful,” he says with a wink.

As Stacey pulls me up several flights of stairs and toward the bouncer who’s responsible for helping girls into the cages, my throat closes up. I need another drink…or ten. Maybe hanging out with Nate and his friend wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Sweat-slick limbs rubs up against me, the sensation on my skin causing my stomach to turn. Stacey never has a problem with public displays or making an ass out of herself.

I stand next to Stacey as she yells something to the bouncer. He has his arms folded across his thick chest, his huge forearms dwarfing the black T-shirt that fits him like spandex. The man reminds me of a surfer with his tanned skin and bleach-blond hair. A few seconds pass where they have a conversation I can’t hear over the thumping techno music, before he lifts the rope blocking the entrance to our cage.

“I can’t believe we are doing this,” I say loud enough for Stacey to hear.

She looks over her shoulder and smiles. “You won’t forget this night. Enjoy it.”

I try not to look out at the crowd, who could probably care less about me. So, why am I so nervous? Another man opens a cage for two half-naked girls that were inside. They look exhausted as they make their exit past us and down the stairs.

Stacey takes her place in the cage to my left. Still unsure if I should go through with the plan, I follow her lead.

For the first few minutes after the cages are raised in the air, I’m stiff and awkward, until I get into my groove. I try not to think about the people in the crowd. They don’t matter. No one can see my face, though I doubt that’s what they are looking at anyway.

Moving my hips back and forth to the music, I keep my eyes in front of me. Stacey tells me to grip the metal bars and drop it low. Under the heat from the lights and the steady pace we have to maintain, I practically melt into a puddle on the floor. It’s too hot, even in a skimpy dress.

I tighten my grip on the bars before I get too confident and fall and embarrass myself. Singing the words to the song in my head, I keep going and force my body to move, already feeling my leg cramping up. The pain radiating up my thigh makes standing in these heels ten times harder, but I force myself to keep pace with Stacey. She loves all the attention she gets from everyone, smiling as she gyrates to the music.

When the song changes to a more techno beat, I inch forward, in sync with Stacey, and we move to the beat of the music. Once the song ends, I stop for a second, sweat dripping into my eyes and down my face. With the lights blinding me, I can hardly see the faces in front of me. The cages finally lower after what feels like an hour. They swing to the side to drop us off on the platform, and the same bouncer opens the doors for us.

“Oh my God that was amazing,” Stacey yells, throwing her arm across the back of my neck. “You are a natural. See, I told you that you can do it.”