Carina tosses a look back at us over her shoulder, her eyes shining with excitement. She clearly loves to be the center of attention, and she’s thriving off all the energy and flashing lights following her every move.
It takes us nearly 15 minutes to reach the staircase leading to the upper level, where all the VIP sections are located. Carina has stopped every few feet to pose for photos, hug fans, and make conversation with anyone lucky enough to catch her attention. Kai, who has been waiting patiently, finally leads us up a set of stairs to the VIP level.
There are four other VIP sections spaced along the balcony, each glowing under a different color of neon light. Ours is bathed in highlighter purple, the lights along the walls casting the darkness in a soft glow.
The table is decorated with confetti, and tiered trays are filled with fruit and tiny appetizers that look too pretty to eat. Ice buckets cradle bottles of champagne, tequila, and Hennessy. Along with cups and carafes of assorted juices and lemonade.
Once we’re situated in VIP, the bodyguards fan out around the section as naturally as if they'd rehearsed it a thousand times.
From here we can see everything. People coming into the club and going. People laughing, posting up, or dancing. Fans peeking and pointing, trying to get a glimpse of Carina. I even see the bar near the back of the club with bartenders working feverishly as people crowd around, waving credit cards in the air like they’re trying to flag down a cab.
“I’ll have two of my best girls come and check on you periodically. Let me or them know if you need anything,” Kai tells us.
She isn’t even entirely out of our section yet before Danielle pulls five envelopes from her oversized clutch. She hands one to each of us.
“Okay, heifer hoes,” she announces. “We’re going to play a game. It’s called Mission: Maui.” She smirks and starts waving a small stack of envelopes like a dealer about to start a pokergame. “The rules are simple. Whatever it says on your card, that’s your job tonight.”
Jaylah rips open her envelope and pulls out a white index card.
“Wait, wait, wait,” she wails after reading it. “Why doIhave to do this? And where’s your card?”
“I didn’t know we were going to have a sixth wheel,” Danielle raises her brows in my direction. “So, Marley has mine.”
“I don’t want to mess up your game plan,” I say to Danielle. I try to hand it back to her, but she doesn’t take it.
“I’m here to observe now. You’re in. Sorry, toots.”
I blink.
“Besides, as Maid of Honor, I’m in charge of the games, so I make the rules. I’m sitting this one out. The number of points you get is based on how well you do.”
Lety has already pulled her card from the envelope and reads it aloud.
“Get 10 guys’ phone numbers.” She scoffs like she can do that in her sleep. “Do I get more points if I get more than 10?”
“You sure do,” Danielle says, beaming.
Carina reads her card, a slow smile forming on her lips.
Jaylah narrows her eyes at Danielle. “Use the men’s bathroom. Are you serious?”
Danielle shrugs casually while Carina, Lety, and Camila burst into laughter.
Growing curious, I pull my card from the envelope and read the note inside.Dance with the hottest guy in the room.
Camila turns her card around so we can see it. “Teach a stranger your best dance move.”
“Oh, you got this, sis,” Lety encourages.
Camila cracks her knuckles. “Someone in this club is about to learn the power of these knees.”
Jaylah peeks at Carina’s card and rolls her eyes. She snatches it from her hands and holds it up for the rest of us to see. “This is simple. She’s the bride. Someone is bound to do this all night.”
Get a stranger to buy us a round of drinks.
“Like, seriously! What the hell are y’all waiting for? Get to it!” Danielle orders and lifts her flask in the air like a soldier ready for battle.
“I need more liquor before I do all this,” Jaylah complains, clearly still pissed about having to pee in the men’s bathroom.
