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Chapter 1
ANNA
I was glad it was summer. My heart always felt fuller when it was sunny. It wasn’t that I’m not happy in the winter, but the winter here was cold and dreary. Overcast days outnumbered the sunny ones. Unlike where I grew up. When the skies were unobstructed blue and the wind was just lightly blowing there wasn’t much that could dampen my mood. Today was one of those lucky days. I grabbed Luna’s leash, popped my earbuds in, and stepped out of my apartment building into the bustling city. I could feel the energy of the city around me as I walked down the busy sidewalk. Luna walked alongside me, her tail wagging happily.
Luna and I went to our regular coffee shop on the corner and sat outside while we munched on our breakfast. As I munched on my muffin, and Luna downed her scone in one bite, I watched the people as they passed by. I hadn’t lived in Chicago for a long, I recently started a new job as event coordinator for a local Humane Society. I had moved here from a small college in the middle of nowhere after I graduated with my degree in nonprofits and community relations. My heart was tied to community work and helping others.
Luna lay at my feet as we took a relaxing moment before we headed to work. She’s a beautiful girl, a black pitbull that I found curled up in the corner of a kennel at the shelter. Volunteering with animals had always been a passion, and luckily, I had been able to resist the urge to adopt all the needy dogs I have encountered. But pitbull number 4658 snuck past my defenses. I adopted her and she repaid me the unconditional love, kisses, and a wiggle butt.
“Come on, Luna, we have a lot on our plate today,” I said, reluctantly tearing myself away from the peaceful scene. Landing this job had been a stroke of luck, albeit a busy one. The organization had thrown me in the deep end assigning me to organize the biggest event of the year. I was organizing the annual Gala fundraiser. It was super fancy and a big moneymaker for the agency. I had made a few good friends and really embraced the chill vibe they had got going on in the office. Everyone seemed to get along, fused together by a common goal. They found something to celebrate and had potlucks every week. This week happened to be “2 weeks until the Gala” party. Like I said, they would celebrate anything. So, I’m bringing the chips.
The Humane Society was just a short walk from my apartment, and occasionally, I had the pleasure of bringing Luna along. It was one of the many things that made this job so special to me.
“Good morning Alexis, got the chips!” I exclaimed as I breezed past her office into mine. Given the Gala preparations, I had been spending most of my time at the office, so I had done my best to make it feel like a second home. A cozy dog bed nestled in the corner for Luna, accompanied by a basket of toys. Luna was adored by my coworkers, and she relished the attention she received while trotting around the office. My chairs were adorned with fluffy rainbow pillows, and pictures of my family adorned the shelves. Overall, it was a space that radiated happiness and warmth. It felt like a little home away from home.
“Morning, sunshine.” Alexis popped her head in. The director of social media marketing, she was quite the wild child. Full of energy, we bonded over our love of bright colors and morning coffee. We hit it off as soon as we met. A few weeks into the job, and she had already commandeered the position of my bestie. Her words, not mine.
“Hey! How did it go last night?”
Alexis made a gagging sound, “The picture from his profile is definitely an oldie and he talked about his stocks most of the dinner. But fear not, I have another date lined up for tonight.”
“Same guy? Why?” I raised an eyebrow.
She shook her head. “Nope. A guy from my gym. His name is Jason. He’s a doctor.” Alexis waggled her eyebrows. “Super casual, not really a date. It’s more like ‘Hey, I’ll be at this club tonight, and maybe we’ll run into each other.’ I need you to come with me, be my safety net.”
“Al, I don’t want to go out tonight. I’m super busy with this planning and I told Luna I would take her to the dog park.” I hesitated knowing that Alexis had a way of convincing me to do fun things.
“Anna. I need my BFF there. What if we don’t bump into each other? What if he’s skeevy when he’s not in the gym? Besides, Luna will survive missing the dog park for one night. You’ll still have tomorrow to focus on event planning. We haven’t had a proper night out in weeks. Please,” she pleaded.
I couldn’t deny that Alexis had a point. It had been a while since I had the chance to let loose and have some fun. Maybe having some fun would help me forget a bit of the stress of the move to Chicago and the gala.
“Okay, meet me at my place and we’ll go together.” I relented. “But you’re paying for my drinks.”
“Squeeeeee! Thanks, Anna, you’re a lifesaver. Dress sexy!”
That girl. I really like her but she radiated energy that can be exhausting. Nevertheless, I found myself genuinely looking forward to the night ahead. The thought of drinks, dancing, and the company of my friend provided a welcome distraction from the tedious permit paperwork that awaited me regarding parking and alcohol services.
After work, Alexis joined me at my apartment, where we cranked up the music and poured ourselves some wine while getting ready.
“I’m so glad you brought me this dress,” I murmured, admiring my reflection in the full-length mirror. Alexis had gifted me a sleek black dress that hugged my curves and ended just past my hips. With the addition of the tall, fiery-red heels she had also provided, my short legs appeared miraculously elongated. At least, that’s what Alexis had insisted when I slipped them on. My long brown hair had been straightened and made shiny. Alexis helped me with my makeup, expertly applying a smokey eye and bright red lipstick.
Of course, I could do my own makeup. And I do own my own dresses. But to make it easier on myself, I let the expert take control and I’m glad I did. I looked damn good.
“Trust me, girl, you’re going to turn heads,” Alexis said, smirking at me.
As Alexis and I sat in the back of an Uber, she filled me in on the details of this club since I was still somewhat new to the area. This club was advertised by word of mouth only, hidden away in an old warehouse giving it an exclusive vibe. It was 11 o clock, late enough that the club would be packed but not so late that everyone was already drunk. My stomach was flip-flopping. Mostly the anxiety of a new place and thoughts about Alexis leaving me to be with that doctor guy. Although I would love to have that cliche relationship of cuddling and hand-holding, I was not the type of girl that had one night stands, or who wanted to meet a guy at a club. I was just there to get out of my head and dance with my friend.
“Promise me you’ll stay close? I don’t want to be left alone to fend for myself,” I reminded Alexis once more.
“ Of course! No worries. I’ve got your back girl.” Alexis responded, staring out the window at the large, brick building that had come into view. There was no line or sign to signify what the place was. If you weren’t aware there was a club you would never have guessed. The soundproofing itself was genius as I could barely hear the music as we stepped outside the car. One man, granted he was the largest man I think I’ve ever seen, guarded a large, glossy black door. It was chilly with a threat of rain as we made our way to the door which had been opened for us by the very large man.
The club itself was a sight to see. The ceiling boasted distant windows, allowing the stars to twinkle through. The dimly lit space, adorned with subtle red lights along the walls, added to the mysterious atmosphere. It gave the feeling of privacy, a cover for those who were looking for companionship the night. Black leather booths with tall backs lined the walls and in the center was a dance floor. Looking up, there were shadows of people on the second level of the club. Shielded by the darkness of the club, there was an air of exclusivity, the second level was not just for anyone. Alexis and I headed for the bar in the back. The bass of the music vibrated through my body and the stench of sweat and alcohol permeated through the air.
The bartender was busy making drinks, but he gave us a quick nod of acknowledgment. Alexis ordered two vodka sodas and as we waited for the drinks we leaned against the bar people-watching. The dance floor was packed, with bodies writhing and pulsing to the beat of the music. Carefully we held our drinks above the throng of people as Alexis and I navigated through the many already drunk people to find a table near the dance floor.
“To our friendship and a fun night out! We deserve it!” We clinked our tequila shots together and finished them off. As we sat sipping our vodka/ lemonades, Alexis looked around for the gym friend.
