Our salads arrived and were sat in front of us. I picked up my fork and stabbed a piece of lettuce doused in ranch dressing. I was starving. My stomach felt as though it was going to lurch toward the food if I didn’t start eating soon.
“Tell me...” She leaned in a little closer. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a preschool teacher in Denver,” I said proudly.
“Is that so?” she asked, seemingly surprised. “I would never have pegged you for the school type.”
I supposed I didn’t look like the type dressed the way I was sitting across from her. She didn’t see me on my rough days though, which happened to be almost every other day. I nodded. “Yes.”
“So what brought you here, in the middle of a school year?” she asked. “How did you hear of the resort?”
“A lot brought me here, and I think I heard of about it over the radio at some point.” I looked around and shook my head. It wasn’t the most accurate way to explain things. But my new friend probably understood more than she was letting on. “Mostly, this is my birthday gift to myself.”
She smiled. “I love that. And happy birthday.”
“Thank you,” I said and stuck out my hand. “I’m Cassidy by the way.”
“My name is Charlotte,” she said taking mine and giving it a squeeze. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” I said. “Now what brings you here?”
“We have to show ourselves a little love every now and then,” she shrugged. “Otherwise, we are sacrificing something vital to our well-being, you know?”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
“What do you say… After dinner, come with me to the club?”
I smiled at her from over the rim of my wine glass. I knocked the contents back and nodded. “Why the hell not?”
“Thatagirl!” She smiled.
* * *
About an hour later, we started walking to the club. I was in the mood for some dancing and was excited to see what Charlotte held so dear about the club.
Once we arrived, a tall, dark-skinned gentleman stood on the outside of an unassuming building. From the outside, it looked like nothing more than a simple, brick building. There were no windows and as far as I could tell, the only door inside was the one the man stood in front of.
“Ladies,” he said in a deep baritone voice.
“Good evening, Ghalen,” Charlotte said. “How are you this fine night?”
He nodded. “I’m doing well, Miss Charlotte.”
“This is my new friend, Cassidy.” She gestured to me. “I’m going to show her a good time tonight.”
He nodded and opened the door. A blast of music, smoke, and lights assaulted my senses.
“You ladies have a wonderful time,” he said as Charlotte stepped through the doorway with me hot on her heels.
I thought I was too old for a scene like this. But I was also excited to be a part of it as I followed my new friend down a long, dark hallway with muted lights flashing to the beat of the music that vibrated through me.
And when we rounded the corner into the main room, I gaped.
The place wasn’t just a nightclub but an exotic dancer joint as well.
Half-naked men danced on tables with stripper poles attached to them. Women threw their cash and themselves at the dancers. A long bar took up the far wall with several men and women doing tricks with bottles and cups. And there was a crowded dancefloor where bodies gyrated close together.
I hadn’t stopped smiling since I stepped in.