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“I think I need to go home and water my fern.” I shrug. “Can’t you bitches let me wallow?”
“You don’t own any plants, Taco Juice, and no we can’t. We’ll arrange for the guys to watch the kiddos. Go get a coffee and take the rest of the day off. We’ll pick you up at seven.”
I reach for the magazine in the trash, but she moves it out of reach with her heel. “Nuh-uh. You don’t need to obsess over this article all afternoon. Sonja is a Tic Tac, now go.” Kiki pushes me toward the elevator.
“But I don’t want to go out,” I whine. The elevator doors open and Kiki waits for me to walk into the carriage.
“Thomas Jean, go home, take a nap, shower, and put your big-boy boxers on—”
“You mean the ones that say ‘big boy’ on the crotch?”
“That’s disturbing but sure, whatever floats your boat. You, sir, are going out on the town.”
“You guyssss,” I simper.
“We got you!” Sarah shouts. “Oh shoot, Andie, didn’t you want to tell us something?”
“Oh, um, just that Mandy was coming. See you soon, TJ!” she waves at me as the doors close.
My stomach rollsas I get tossed out of my seat and land against the window as Mandy takes a corner on two wheels while Eminem shouts ‘my name is’ from the speakers. Kiki and Sarah grip their armrests as she skids to a stop in front of the club.
“Jesus, Mandy, where’s the fire?” Andie scolds.
“You guys get out and I’ll find a spot!” Mandy shouts over the music.
“Thanks for the whiplash,” I grumble, getting out of the van.
Music thumps in the club, but I’m not feeling it. I’m so dejected. We grab a table in the back and order drinks. Normally I’d be out on the dance floor already, but all I want to do is curl up in a ball and be miserable.Will I ever want to dance again?
Kiki leans into Sarah and says, “I’m worried about him.”
Nodding, Sarah mouths,Me too.
“Hello? I’m right in front of you.”
“Fine. We’re worried about you. Sue me.” Kiki hops off her chair. “I’ll be back.”
Sighing, I take a sip of my cocktail, but it tastes like watered-down vodka and Juicy Fruit gum. I push my drink away.
“Hey, TJ! Looking fresh tonight!” Rachel, a sales assistant from The White Dove Boutique, passes our table and touches my silver sequined blazer.
“Gracias, Rachel.” I limply wave my hand and look away, hoping she gets the hint and moves along. She chats with Andie for a minute then waves goodbye. I spy Kiki talking to the DJ spinning on the second floor. She wanted to go to a karaoke bar, which I normally would love, but I told them I couldn’t handle being under the spotlight with adoring fans tonight.
“You going to dance, TJ?” Sarah asks.
“Sare Bear, I can’t. I feel like Britney when she cut off her Insta account comments after everyone was trolling her and her fans wanted to send her a wellness check. I just want to go home, put on bad outfits, and dance to the music in my head.”
Sarah tosses Andie a look. “I hate seeing you so gloomy, TJ,” Andie says. “We feel helpless. What can we do?”
“Nada, Shorts.” Sighing, I stir my cocktail with my straw.
Mandy slides up to our table and drops off a drink for herself and another for Andie. “I am going to get my dance on!” She spins herself out onto the dance floor as the song “Players” by Coi Leray blasts over the sound system.
“Oh jeez, Mandy is such a dance freak,” Andie says. “TJ, please go save her?”
“She looks happy, twerking by herself.”
Mandy points to our table and does some weird pulling-a-rope pantomime, while shouting, “Girls are players too!”
