“So, this is it.”
Rosie pulled up in front of a nondescript building that looked well maintained, and not at all like a strip club. It had a red sign reading “Diamond Lounge” in elegant script and a bouncer at the door.
“I have to say this is an excellent idea, I’ve been wondering what this place was like for ages,” Lucy put in from the back, where she was squeezed between Amy and Ryan. She and Ryan were well on their way to becoming besties, the way they had been cackling in the backseat the entire ride.
Rosie grinned at me. “I gotta agree, Gwen, ever since the boys opened it I’ve wanted a peek, but Cade was always foiling our attempts, he would not be happy about this at all.” She gave me the impression she didn’t mind this one bit. She opened her door and everyone else followed suit.
I looked to the ceiling of the car. “Please don’t let me get arrested tonight,” I pleaded before jumping out.
The bouncer gave us all a questioning look, but opened the door for us. We all walked in, Ryan and Lucy whispering to each other linking arms, Amy and Rosie laughing. Once I got a good look at the interior I was surprised. It was almost tasteful. Apart from the women dancing naked on the poles, of course.
The lighting was dim, a soft glow radiated from candles on the tables. Black cushioned chairs were clustered around round silver tables and they looked comfortable. One must be comfortable for a lap dance, I guessed. A long runway split the bar in two, jutting off a stage. It had a pole at the end of it, which a blonde with huge boobs was currently hanging off. Other girls danced on circular mini stages that were peppered around the room. Some were cozying up to various men, of which there were many. The place was packed.
“Okay, now we’ve looked, and I feel sufficiently persuaded to get breast implants and lose ten pounds, time to go,” I instructed my friends.
Ryan cocked his head at me. “Um, no way, we’re staying and discussing what size you should go to, we have a lot to refer to here. And look! We’ve got us a table.” He pointed to Amy, who was sitting at an empty table giving us the thumbs up.
I groaned as Rosie and Lucy grinned at me, walking to join Amy.
Ryan linked his arm with mine. “Come on, Gwen, it’s just a bit of fun, what trouble could we possibly get into?” he asked innocently.
After two surprisingly good cocktails, I hated to admit I was having a great time. This place actually felt like I was in a trendy bar, well one with an almost exclusive male clientele that had naked women dancing in front of me. The service was good, the cocktails were great, the company was pretty awesome as well.
I was surprised we hadn’t gotten any sleazy advances from guys. I wasn’t being full of myself, it was just we were pretty much the only women in a bar full of guys, and my companions were nothing to sneeze at. Amy looked like she should be modeling for Victoria’s Secret, Lucy looked like a sexy Snow White with her milky skin and black hair, and Rosie looked like a biker goddess.
My thoughts were interrupted when I felt conversation stop. My head crooked to where all of my friends where glaring, apart from Ryan, he just looked puzzled.
“Well, isn’t this pathetic, Cade’s latest piece resorting to staking out his bar. He dumped you already, sweetheart?” a nasally, spiteful voice asked me.
Great, just what I needed. Ginger stood at the edge of our table, flanked by two equally skanky friends. She had gotten her roots done since the last time I saw her, but it wasn’t much of an improvement on the “Whore Chic” look. She had cheap looking extensions in, which only made her stringy hair look worse. The faux leather dress she was wearing with a zip running down the whole front should have been burned, along with the thigh high heeled boots she was wearing.
“You coming in for a job interview, sweetheart?” I asked, looking her up and down. “I don’t think even a strip club would lower themselves to hire something like you. Maybe Burger King?” I suggested sweetly.
A gaggle of laughter erupted from behind me, and Amy gave me a fist pump.
Ginger’s face reddened and she narrowed her kohl-rimmed eyes at me in a death stare. “Bitch, you are just the flavor of the month, Cade will come back to me, he can’t get enough of my pussy,” she snarled, stepping closer to me.
“Well, aren’t you classy,” Ryan put in, giving her a cold gaze.
She glanced at him, taking in his printed shirt and tan slacks. “Shut up, fag, no one asked your opinion.”
Oh no she didn’t.
Amy clenched her glass and directed a withering glare at the bitch. I knew she was seconds away from throwing said glass at her.
“I suggest you shut your crude mouth and walk away before I catch an STD. Or lose my temper,” I informed Ginger through gritted teeth.
Ginger rolled her eyes, smirking. “Like I’m scared of some townie, I’ll wipe the floor with you, bitch.”
I tried to get up, but a hand on my arm stopped me.
“She’s not worth it, my darling, what if you rip your Chanel?” Ryan asked me conversationally, glancing at my dress. I was inclined to agree with him until Ginger ran her poorly made up mouth yet again.
“You see, this world has a way of getting rid of the women who don’t belong here. Just ask Laurie. Oh no wait, you can’t.”
“She did not just say that,” Lucy declared icily.
Amy and I stood up at the same time, both advancing on the gaggle of skanks. I was closer, so I got to Ginger first, not before she reared her fist back trying to punch me. I caught it in my hand and laughed in her face.
“Didn’t your dad ever teach you? You never rear back when trying to hit someone.” I shook my head. “Stupid whore.”
I raised my other hand in a lightening quick move and clocked her in the nose. She went down like a sack of potatoes. Amy and Rosie were taking care of the other two while I knelt down, grabbing Ginger by the hair, avoiding the blood coming out of her nose. I seriously didn’t want that anywhere near my dress.
“Don’t you ever talk about my friends in a derogatory way ever again. Actually, don’t ever come close enough that we have to choke on your cheap perfume. And if you so much as think that girl’s name one more time, you’ll be sorry,” I told her evenly.
She glared at me, trying to struggle out of my grasp. “Fuck you.” Her voice was slightly garbled, due to her bloody nose.
I gripped her hair and pulled, making her cry out. “Now, that wasn’t the apology I was looking for. How about we try that again.”
I pointed her head to Ryan, who was calmly sipping his cocktail, looking amused.
Ginger kept struggling, and for once kept her mouth firmly shut.
I shook my head. “I’m not letting go until you say the words, or until your cheap extensions give out.”
She gazed at me like she wanted to scratch my eyes out, then she turned to her friends for support. One had run off, and the other had her hands behind her back and Amy hanging onto her, smirking.
She stubbornly stayed silent a moment more before whining. “Fine. I’m sorry.” She glared at Ryan, looking like the words caused her pain.
I smiled. “That wasn’t so hard now, was it? Run along now, I’m sure you have a penicillin shot to take.” I let her go, pushing myself up and dusting my hands on my dress.