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“I’ll change it now!” Ross tries to shake me by the shoulders, but our size difference is so massive that he’s the one who ends up shaken.
“Now make yourselves at home. There’s a complimentary champagne bottle, and I’ll send the ladies right along!”
I take a seat near James and Tucker, both hairless family specimens at age eighteen and twenty-one. We all watch as Michael is pushed by Grant to take the lead and open the champagne, but first, of course, he has to say a few words.
“Guys, guys!” He tries in vain to call for their attention.
I decide to give him a hand and call out, “Guys!”
Everyone stops talking.
I continue, “Michael, the floor is yours.”
“Thank you, bro!” he says, with a wave in my direction.
“I’ll be brief, I promise! I just… Well, my father is no longer with us. I have very few men in my family, and none of them could be here today. I didn’t have a strong masculine figure in my life until meeting you, George!”
My father gets slapped on the back by several members of our entourage. Michael goes on, “George, Grant, Harvey… You gave me a family I could have only wished for. And now that I am going to start a family with Kiera…”
He starts to get emotional. Me and the boys at my flanks try to hold back the laughter. “I feel like, as a man, I am complete!”
Grant, dad, and I jump at him to hug and give him noogies. Somebody yells “Enough of this shit; let’s drink!” Michael pops the champagne, the first of the night.
“Drinks on me, boys!” I yell and my words are received with roaring cheer, which only grows louder once the ladies comes in: two girls, a blond and a brunette, waltz in wearing exotic clothing and claws at the ready to take all our money.
The blond comes in with another bottle of champagne and comes straight at me with it. “Are you the hockey player?” she says in a forced sensual tone.
“Yes, I am,” I can’t help but wonder what she is doing here. Raising a kid on her own? Trying to pay for college?
“What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Krystal,” she says as she sits on my lap, but I push back as politely as I can.
“Listen, Krystal…” I open my wallet, pull out a hundred-dollar bill, and place it under the strap of her bikini top.
“Why don’t you open that champagne with those two over there? Because I’m a committed man.”
I point to Tucker and James, who seem ecstatic that she is looking in their direction. I just point out that James can’t drink first.
I take a seat again, near the TVs, while the party goes on. I watch the cartoon, and even if there’s no sound, I’m more interested in it than in the party going on around me.
My father notices my sulking mood and comes over to me with a concerned expression on his face. He is already a little buzzed.
“Hey, pal, what’s wrong?” He places a hand on my shoulder, and I give him a small smile.
“Strip clubs make me sad, dad,” I say without looking at him.
“How’s that possible?” He slaps his thigh, excited. He turns his head towards the little show going on with the brunette dancer, and then turns back to me. “Why don’t you have a little fun?”
He elbows me in the ribs, but I just wave him off. “I’m here to support Michael. Let the girls do their work with those who care. All I can do is feel pity for them.”
Dad gives me a crooked look but lets the subject go.
“Well, you can have some booze, can’t you?” he says, handing me a glass of champagne.
“I can’t! I’m one of the designated drivers, remember?” I say.
Dad just nods and looks at me as if I were a saint.
