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“So once you’re buzzed and unable to grasp reality?”
“And deaf…” she added, pulling me through the other side of the cattle-like masses. “Almost there!”
“I don’t know if there’s enough alcohol for this,” I joked, hiding my blatant discomfort, as Ivanna gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. Everything felt like the vibe and cadence of a frat party; though bigger on the budget, larger on the venue.God, what a bad memory, and an awkward one at that.I nervously massaged the wings on my silver butterfly ring.
“Maybe you haven’t tried the right alcohol,” she sashayed through the curtained partition towards our private booth. We sat side by side, sheltering ourselves near large, potted palms and black steel decor. “Tienes suerte en tu lado. You’re in luck, pretty girl, I got just the thing for you.” She reached for the bottle that sat at our table, passing me a shot glass. “I know Alejandro isn’t here yet, but soon he’ll be in your belly,” she teased. “Well, his tequila at least.”
“This looks different.” I noted, watching as Ivanna carefully twisted off the top.
“Because it is. This is his new signature recipe. Black label, 100% blue agave.” She poured me a taste. “He hasn’t shut up about this one and how it’s his favorite. It’s cute, really. He’s barely that passionate about anything anymore.” She mocked Alejandro, deepening her voice, “Ivanna, I harvested this myself, it’s on special reserve just for Gemma. Extra Añejo.”She puffed her chest.
“Extra Añejo?” I laughed.
“Yeah, something about how it’s aged. They stuff it into a barrel for a long time. I don’t have the patience for that, let alone listen to Alejandro drone on about it forever,” she waved off. “But it looks damn good, doesn’t it?” She passed the shot to me, its amber hue much darker than the golden pyramid of tequila bottles that stood at the center of the club.
Slowly, I took a sip, letting its scorch spring from my toes and up to my lips. Its taste was completely different, immediately unique to anything I had before, warm like grass in summer, but dark and rich like smoked butterscotch. Perhaps it was the spice, being complex with intoxicating notes that I could hardly describe. I toyed with the inside of my cheek, realizing that it was akin to having Alejandro in a glass—the taste, the scent, the rush. I loved it.
I read the black subtext to Don Jefe’s dark label. “Piedra Preciosa? What does that mean?” I asked surprised, wanting to finally understand the tender phrase that Alejandro had purred into my ear time and time again.
Ivanna arched a brow. “It’s like a preciousgemstone.” She elongated its prefix:gem,gemstone,Gemma. Alejandro was a clever man, but now I knew he was also incredibly sweet, having used the term of endearment the moment he saved me from Gerard. I was—for whatever reason—hisGemstone.I couldn’t hide my smile.
“Look at you glow. Now, you’re enjoying yourself,” Ivanna gleamed. “There’s something here for everyone.”
“Maybe. I’m still deciding that.” I used my palm to shield my reddening cheeks.
“Not your definition of exciting?”
“More or less. Exciting for me is guessing the Wordle puzzle correctly on the first try. Or an empty theatre for a newly released horror movie.”
“You like horror?” her face soured.
“Of course. It’s my absolute favorite.”
“Horror is so not my thing. It’s too… scary for me.”
“And this isn’t?” I gestured towards the empire of swaying bodies. Everyone rippled like an erotic wave, their moves indistinguishable from dancing or fucking.
Ivanna spoke into my ear, avoiding the need to shout. “On first glance, yes. It’s a lot to take in. I noticed right away you were overwhelmed, and you’re not very good at hiding it either.”
“Wasn’t trying to.”
“Good. It means you’re being honest with your feelings. And that’s something I know Alejandro needs.”
“That’s good for Alejandro, but honestly, I’m still deciding on whatIneed.” I replied, unsure if this scene was something I could ever get used to, buckled by the noise of shattering glass and bouts of arguments behind us.
“It might be uncomfortable. But it’s not everything. There’s always more to us than what others see on the surface. It doesn’t have to be perfect in order for it to be significant. It can even be something new we learn about ourselves.” She poured herself a drink, finally giving it a taste.
“I like to think I know myself pretty well,” I said half-convincingly.
“Maybe. But don’t be so sure.” Ivanna licked the taste of tequila from the corner of her mouth, the tops of her breasts rising in the corset beneath her blazer. She crossed her legs, the vibration of her skin-tight pants shifted the cushion below us, teasing alongside the hum of music that ran up my thigh and to my ass. I wiggled myself within the little spot where I sat. “You like porn?” she asked.
“Excuse me?” I literally laughed.
“Porn? Porno? Watching people fuck?” She nudged the drink toward the direction of my mouth.
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
