12 Rounds (Knockout 1)

“Six,” Lara tells him.

With that, the bouncer tucks the clipboard under his arm and lifts the red velvet rope as cries of protest erupt from the people in line. I face the line of people and give them an apologetic wave. Not that it’s going to help any. I know the people in line are probably going to be pissed regardless, but it makes me feel better, knowing that I tried to offer some sort of apology. Then I follow Lara and Phoebe to the front doors.

The bouncer nods at me as I brush past him and says, “Happy birthday.”

How does he know it’s my birthday?

He didn’t even card me.

I give him an odd look for a second then yell, “Thanks,” from over my shoulder as I follow Phoebe and Lara into the club.

The inside of C’est La Vie is mind-blowing.

Epic.

Like a time warp.

I tune Lara out as she rambles on about sending everyone else who was invited a text and admire the décor of the club. All of the walls are vibrant reds, purples, and oranges. The bar has ornate, antique looking stools that are trimmed in gold. There are two stories of private balconies with red crushed velvet curtains and I see people hanging out on the upper ones, laughing with wine glasses in their hands.

The waitresses working the dance floor are decked out in multi colored corsets, with fluffy can can skirts. A few of them have jeweled masks on. A few others wear feathers tucked in between their coifs of curls. My eyes shift to the dance floor and right in the middle is a glittering gold recreation of the Eiffel Tower.

I feel like I’m on the film set of Moulin Rouge. One of my all-time favorite movies. I’m blown away by everything. Not only the décor, but the loud vibrating music. Couples laughing and having a great time on the dance floor. The flashing lights.

The whole atmosphere is other-wordly.

It takes Lara’s arm around my left wrist, tugging me in the opposite direction, for me to snap out of my trance-like state. I stumble behind her in the direction of the first set of velvet curtains on the left.

A soft breeze tousles my hair, blowing it out of my face, and when I look up I see there are people on swings suspended from the ceiling, gliding back and forth in a seductive yet graceful way. That sight tops it for me. I can feel it in my bones that this is going to be one of the best birthday’s ever.

There’s a sign next to the curtains of the first VIP room with my name in gold lettering. Lara and Phoebe’s eyes are on me and Lara gives me a slight nudge, urging me to push back the curtains and step inside. I do and when I step into the room I feel like I’ve been

blown away a second time. My mouth drops open. My eyes widen. I forget to breathe.

The floors are tiled like a checkerboard and the walls are deep crimson, the edges trimmed in gold. On each side of the room are two couches with red, crushed velvet coverings and suspended from the ceiling is a crystal chandelier. I watch the light play with the tiny gem-like pieces and my eyes drift downward as they dance along the walls. There’s a black rounded table in the center with bottles of champagne and there’s a flat screen mounted on the wall in the back of the room. I’m baffled. And awed. I’m not even paying attention to Lara’s and Phoebe’s reactions, but I have to know. I have to know how this was possible. How Lara pulled this off. “Lara, how did you do this?”

She steps in front of me, handing me a glass of champagne and look at me, puzzled. “What do you mean, Lee?”

I look at Phoebe who is trailing her fingers along the walls then glance back at Lara. “I mean reserving a room like this must have cost a fortune. I mean I know you wanted to make my birthday special, but this is too much.” I’d never be able to afford to pull something off like this for her birthday. I start to feel bad because there’s no way I can repay her.

“I didn’t do this.” Her face is serious. “If you couldn’t tell I was totally trying to wing it at the door. Hell, I wasn’t even sure we’d be able to get in.”

“What?” I almost need her to repeat herself because I feel like she’s talking jibberish. “If you didn’t do this than who did?”

Her eyes go wide and she shrugs. “Beats the hell out of me, but hey, I vote for us not speculating on who did this and just enjoy ourselves.”

“Holy shit!” The squeak in Phoebe’s voice causes us to turn in her direction. She holds up a bottle of champagne. “This is friggin Cristal! Cristal for Christ sake! Do you know how much this costs?”

Lara faces me with a wide grin and she grips my shoulder. “Lee, honey, I don’t know who did this, but it seems to me that whoever did wanted you to have a good time. So, if I were you I’d get started on that.”

After everyone arrives Lara pours everyone a glass of champagne and we all toast to my birthday. I’ve had about three glasses too many and I’m already starting to feel a little buzzed.

“We gonna dance, Lee!” Lara nods toward the curtain. “Come with!”

At first I tell her I’m not ready yet. I need a few more glasses of champagne before my inhibitions are lowered that much, but then I see Ryan pushing his way through Lara and Ted. I know he’s going to ask me to dance. And at first I think about declining. But then I figure, what the hell? It’s my birthday and a little dancing is harmless. When he reaches me, he extends his hand and bows in a joking manner, “My lady, may I have the honor of this dance?”

I laugh and chug the glass of champagne in my hand before accepting. I curtsy just to play along and set the glass down. “You may.”

Then, Ryan takes me by the hand and guides me through the crushed velvet curtains and out onto the dance floor .