Pulling up to the club, it’s nothing at all like Harper explained. It’s an old but newly renovated building with a beautiful gold and glass canopy over the double-door entrance.
The line to get in is long and almost reaches the corner. I glance down the queue of people waiting to get in and observe how they are all dressed a little flash for a grungy club.
Harper is waiting by the door and flailing her arms about, trying to get our attention. I’m a little shaky on my legs as I step forward to meet her. Those shots have definitely kicked in and having to wait in line makes me wish I had taken it a bit slower.
“Hi, babe,” Harper says as she throws her arms around me. “You know Grace and Sheree?” She asks gesturing to the two girls standing with her.
“Hi, nice to meet you.” I give both the blondes a small wave and awkward smile. “Thanks for waiting,” I say to Harper, even though I had kind of hoped she was already in the line.
“No worries, our names are down as a group so we need to all go in together.”
Harper moves towards the door and speaks to the bouncer before I can even question her. I’m so happy we don’t have to line up that I don’t worry too much about why.
The bouncer pulls the rope away and ushers us through the door. We make our way down a dark hall with various doors on either side of it until we enter a huge room off to the left. I look around, once again confused at our surroundings.
“Are you sure this is the right place?” I ask, leaning into the back of Rachel and yelling into her ear.
The room is huge with a stage to the left, a DJ currently occupying it. There is a large dance floor in front of the stage surrounded by tall round tables and tall bar chairs. The walls of the room are covered with black leather booths and gold tables. This is not at all grungy, and I wonder if Harper has made a mistake.
As we make our way to the bar I see her talking into the ear of the hostess who is wearing tight black pants and a tight black blouse. Even though this is a club and she looks sexy as hell, she also looks classy and sophisticated. Harper definitely has the wrong place.
The waitress nods at her and then guides us to the stairs leading up to the second level. There’s a sign saying no entry to guests. As we make our way up, I see the same leather booths lining the walls and small tables and chairs lining the glass railing that looks over the dance floor and first floor.
The hostess takes us to a small roped off area which reads VIP. She pulls back the ropes and gestures for us to sit. Rachel and I look questioningly at each other before we then look to Harper. She seems relaxed and carefree, not at all baffled by the special treatment we’re getting.
We give the waitress our orders, and I go to hand my money to her as she shakes her head and mouths it’s on the house. I drop my hand holding the money and look pointedly at Harper. She didn’t say anything about this. Harper gives me a wide smile and just winks at me. She winks at me like this isn’t the weirdest thing that has ever happened.
Placing my money back into my purse, I then look at Rachel with an annoyed face. I hate not knowing what to expect and not knowing what is going on. Rachel just shrugs as she continues bopping her head to the music. She’s always happy to just go with the flow.
I blow out a frustrated breath. Why does this bother me so much? Why can’t I just go with the flow? Because I have a feeling someone is messing with me, that’s why.
A young waitress approaches carrying a tray full of shots and our ordered drinks. She sets the tray in the middle of the table, and Harper begins placing two shots in front of each of us while we grab our drinks.
I sip slowly from my Cosmo, knowing I’m already a little tipsy and I’m going to have to take those shots of Harper’s. I stare down the little red drinks knowing how this night is probably going to end.
“What are these?” I ask Harper, but I don’t take my suspicious eyes off the shots in front of me.
“Cherry bombs.” She chuckles as she finishes setting everyone’s drinks in front of them.
She holds one up in the air. “Cheers, girls. Here’s to a good night of dancing, gossiping, and hot men.”
“Here, here,” Rachel says as she swallows her shot back.
I watch the other girls all follow in line and decide why not. I pick up my shot and take a little taste. Wow, there’s definitely something cherry in there. I swallow it back, instantly reaching for the second one and polishing that off too.
“Woo. Go, Brooke,” Rachel screams, and I roll my eyes. I know I don’t drink often, but this isn’t college. No need to make a scene. Plus, we are in the VIP section of this very fancy not-at-all-grungy club, and I don’t want to embarrass myself. Not that there is anyone else up here to embarrass myself in front of.