Page 8 of Snapdragon

“Why not tonight? I can pick you up in an Uber this evening. We can go to that new club on 4th Street that we’ve been meaning to go to.”

This is exactly what I need. A night of dancing, letting go, and forgetting about life.

Chapter 5

My dress is a little itchy, the gold sequins digging in where it ends at my thigh. My shape wear is protecting me up until that point at least. Being a curvy girl is all fun and games until you have to fold up into the tiny back seat of an Uber in a tight, sequined dress.

I spent the full afternoon in the café researching every bit of information that I could find on Dragon Shifters. I didn’t learn anything concrete.

Not. A. Single. Thing.

It seemed like every piece of information was contradicted by another. I even ended up on those websites, the ones that were very interested in dragon shifters, indeed. I don’t think I realized quite so many different anatomies could exist, sexually I mean.

After that, I went home and got ready. I may have already downed a few shots of questionable whiskey that I found in the back of my cupboard before going down to meet Rosie in the Uber.

I rub at my chest now, feeling the burn there still. That whiskey had been opened a while. I’m sure I’ve already somehow poisoned myself.

I look over at Rosie, who looks stunning, as always. She’s wearing a cobalt blue slip dress that makes her bright blue eyes sing. Her chocolate brown hair is softly waved and pinned back to hang over one shoulder.

“You look stunning,” I tell her. “If I were a man, I would be drooling over you right now.”

“What if you were a Monster?” she gives me her signature brow wiggle that she does when she’s teasing.

“Stop!” I exclaim. “We’re done talking about Monsters. I’m so over them right now.”

“Bah! Don’t think I didn’t see you on those Monster lover sites earlier.”

I blush, sometimes Rosie observes a lot more than you think. I should have been more discreet.

“What were they like, anyway?” she continues, missing my embarrassment entirely. “What kind of Monster was he? Your co-star?”

“Well I couldn’t tell at the time, but Frank got the info. He’s a Dragon Shifter…”

“A what?!”

“I know! That’s what I was researching all day today. But before you ask, I literally know nothing. I couldn’t find anything online.”

I glance up at that moment, catching the disapproving gaze of the Uber driver in his rear view mirror. The judgment in his eyes sobering up all of the whiskey I had drank earlier. He looked disgusted, like I was a piece of gum he found on his shoe.

Luckily, the car pulls to a stop as we arrive at the club. I hop out quickly and wait for Rosie on the pavement.

The line to the club is massive, at least fifty people deep. It’s going to take us ages to get in.

“Ugh,” Rosie states, “remind me why I was all excited to go to a new club, again? Everyone and their Mother is here!”

“Should we go somewhere else, maybe?” I suggest. We are still standing near the entrance, contemplating walking down to the end of the line.

A group walk by us, heading straight for the door and skipping the line altogether. The bouncer easily lets them through.

“Either get in line or move along ladies!” The other bouncer keeping the line in check shouts to us.

“She’s with me.” A deep voice calls out, and I turn to see a stunning man with golden hair and tan skin. He’s with the group that were just let through. We make eye contact as he continues, “her friend too.”

Rosie whistles softly, before pulling me by the elbow and meeting the golden boy at the door.

He grins at me, one dimple showing on his cheek as he gestures us to follow him. I turn back to look at Rosie and she has a grin plastered on her face.

“You’re that singer, right? Usually has funny colored hair?” Golden boy’s deep timbre calls out from ahead.