by Lisa Shelby
Gabe beelines for Joel and wraps his arms around his hubby’s neck, and they instantly start dancing in perfect rhythm with each other. Liam makes his way toward our group, and I don’t know why I’m so surprised—because I did dance with him all night at Emily’s wedding all those years ago—but he can move. I can’t help but laugh, though. He may shake his ass like nobody’s business, but he also bites his lower lip in the classic white-man’s over-bite move.
He sees me laughing and comes closer. He pulls me by the hips so that we’re dancing with only each other. Bending down, he shouts over the beat. “What’s so funny? You don’t like my moves? First my mad singing skills and now my dancing? You are a hard woman to please.”
When he finishes his statement, his hands are still on my hips, and my hands are on his chest. It’s only when he pulls back from me that I take note of how good it felt to almost be in his arms. I feel the loss of being close to him immediately.
Whoa, who would have expected that?
The moment fades quickly, though, because he stops his skilled ass shaking and starts doing his best Saturday Night Fever impression. All he needs is the white suit, and you’d think he was straight out of the seventies.
“You are so stupid!” I yell across the dance floor.
Stupid and hot as hell. Always has been.
“You love it and you know it!” He stops dancing, straightens out his shirt, looks around the room for a moment, claps his hands together, and the bumping and grinding—the good kind—starts again.
He is crazy.
Kind of reminds me of Mick.
Always the life of the party.
I shake my head at him and, he takes my sass as a challenge and attempts to show me his best moves so I have nothing to laugh about. If he wants to have a little dance off, then a dance off he shall have.
I turn around and shake my booty and maybe twerk a little in his direction, and I get the exaggerated reaction I was hoping for when I look over my shoulder.
“Damn girl!” His eyes are locked on my butt but not in a creepy way. I know Liam is just looking for fun and is a big old flirt, just like me. I don’t feel uncomfortable around him, and I also know that just because we’re dancing and having fun, doesn’t mean he’s into me.
He’s Liam, and this is what he does.
Do I want him to be into me, though? Nah, he’s not my type…is he?
It’s getting so crowded there’s no way to dance close without touching. There’s no avoiding it, so we might as well embrace it. And embrace it we do. We move our bodies all over each other to the beat of the thumping dance music that seems to have put us both in a trance. A trance that has his hands pulling me tightly to him and mine exploring his chest and holding tight to his arms.
When the obligatory Tainted Love starts playing, we break apart, and the spell I was under while I was touching him is broken, and I realize it’s hotter in here than I thought it was before my hands were on Liam. Since there is a giant fan blowing on us, I don’t think it’s the club. I think it’s the man I was dancing with and what he unfortunately does to my body.
Our whole group dances together and sings along to the classic eighties song like our lives depend on it. I look in Liam’s direction and see the big, macho man completely embracing his environment and not judging a single person in the room. Not the drag queens or the cute boys in short shorts—and only short shorts—dancing on the platforms above us.
Nope, he fits right in with our crew, and we’re having a great time. I’m so glad I’m not regretting bringing him with me.
Two songs later and Liam shouts, “Shots!”
Gabe and the rest of the group cheer in agreement that shots sound like the right next thing to do, and everyone follows Liam back to the table like he’s the Pied Piper or something. It sure doesn’t take long for the Liam affect to take hold of the people.
Shortly thereafter, there are shots for all ten of us delivered to the table, and Liam places one in front of each of us.
“Sorry, I’m driving. You can have mine,” I say as I push it in front of the birthday boy. Joel notices, though, and snags it before Gabe does and puts it in front of Liam instead. He throws me a wink, and I know he is trying to keep Gabe from going all the way over the edge on his special night.
Liam holds up one of his shots and shouts, “To the birthday boy!”
“To Gabe!” We all cheer. I take a sip of my water while the shots are thrown back and watch Liam down mine with no problem at all. I might also watch his throat as he swallows it down with ease.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I need to cool off, and I know just where to do it.
“Hey, guys, I’m gonna go watch the show. It should be starting soon, and I want to see if I can get a table. I’ll save as many seats as I can in case any of you want to join me. No biggie, though, if you don’t want to,” I yell, grabbing my water glass and heading to the other side of the club where the drag show takes place.
I haven’t gotten far when I hear Liam say, “Hey wait up, little lady!”
I turn to see the whole crew abandoning our table and following me to the other side of the club. “Nice try. Did you think you could just sneak off without me? You trying to ditch me, Cami?” He takes one of my hands and pulls my arm around his waist and puts his arm around my shoulders. “And what about the birthday boy? So rude, Cami.” He winks down at me, and I don’t bother to reply. I said I was saving seats, and I know he’s just giving me crap.
It’s already getting pretty crowded, and there is one small table that will hold three or maybe four of us and a couple of empty seats at the bar. Chance and Tyler grab the seats at the bar, and Liam and Gabe snag the small round table. There are only three chairs, though. Gabe and Joel take two and that leaves just one. Liam sits himself down and then tugs on my hand and pulls me down to his lap. He’s so big I don’t even have to do the typical girl move and pretend that I’m worried I’ll be too heavy. No need. My five-foot-two frame isn’t anything to him.
The show hasn’t started yet, so we sit and chat for a bit. I notice out of the corner of my eye that Liam is getting a lot of attention. Don’t get me wrong, Gabe and his blond hair and blue eyes and Joel with his brown hair and muscular build are hot too, but Liam…Liam is something else. He’s getting gawked at like he’s a girl in a tight, short skirt and stilettos, with her boobs hanging out walking past a construction site.
It’s interesting to see the way people treat him. It doesn’t seem to faze him, though. He’s again engrossed in conversation with Gabe as they whisper like gossiping school girls. All the while his hand rests on my hip, and I can’t help but notice how nice it is to sit on his lap like this. Even if he is ignoring me and spending all his time talking to Gabe.
Just as this thought crosses my mind, his attention turns to me, and his face is mere inches from mine. “So, Cami…Gabe wants to ask you something, and he thinks you’re going to say no. Keep an open mind and think about it before you answer.”
What is happening here? When did Liam become the go-between for me and Gabe? And what in the world does Gabe want to ask me?
“Oh my goodness, what are you two plotting? Gabe, when have I ever told you no?”
“It’s not anything bad, but I do really want you to say yes!” Gabe says.
“Say yes to what?”
“Well, you know how I’m working with the developers that are building the Avenue of Dreams this year?”
“Yes…”
The Avenue of Dreams is a yearly event where a neighborhood of high-end, multi-million dollar homes is built, and before the new owners move in, the homes are furnished and decorated. For a month tickets are sold, and the public get to walk through each and every room of all of the houses in the neighborhood. People can take pictures and get ideas for their own homes, and they also like to take the opportunity to see how the other half lives.
“Well, I’ve been given a house! Can you believe it? I am the
realtor for an Avenue of freaking Dreams house. That means it’s all mine, and I have to hire an interior designer to donate their work. Floor to ceiling. Everything.”
“Gabe, that’s amazing!” I lean across the table and give him a kiss on the cheek and squeal like a teenage girl. “Gabe, this is huge! Designers are going to be all over you to get to do just one room in that house. This is so exciting!” I practically squeal, bouncing up and down on Liam’s lap.
It’s a really big deal that Gabe has been chosen by his agency to represent them and sell one of these big, beautiful houses. His commission is going to be huge. But what this has to do with me, I have no idea.
“It is exciting, Cam and that’s why I need you!”
“Need me?”
“Yes, I want you to do the interior design with me. I know you’re going to say that you sell houses and you don’t decorate them, but you know you’d be great at this! I know you have your secret binder where you keep all of your ideas tucked away at home. Please say yes, Cami!”
“Gabe, absolutely not! You’re right; I sell houses. I don’t decorate them! This is your big break. You need to go with a pro, not some novice who likes to design for a hobby! You are a crazy person!”
Gabe looks at Liam and says, “I told you she’d say that.”
His attention is now back to me. “Cami, I know you sell houses now, but I also know that secretly you dream of designing and decorating them. Here’s your chance! You know you want to do it, and you know every year we walk through those houses you’re thinking to yourself that you would have done it better. I know you are. Don’t say no! Monday, I’m gonna email you the plans to the house. Look it over and think about it and then let me know.”
“Gabe, why would you risk your big moment and your big commission on selling this house, on me?” I really can’t wrap my brain around this conversation.
Liam squeezes me tighter to him with the arm he now has around my waist. “Just think about it after you see the plans. No decisions need to be made tonight. Now shhh…the show’s about to start,” Liam says, sounding excited for the burlesque drag show to begin.
I’m excited too, but it’s from the feel of his breath on my cheek. The vibrations of his voice coming through his chest pressed against my back. I do my best to ignore all of this and focus on the conversation at hand.
“Liam, how did you get involved in all this anyway? You and Gabe just met five minutes ago!”
Liam leans over and puts his arm around the shoulder of a very pleased Gabe and says, “Aw, come on now, the G-man and I are tight. Right, Gabe?”
“Liam, I will be tight with you anytime. All you have to do is ask.” Gabe sighs dreamily.
Joel rolls his eyes, and he and I share a look of exasperation over these already annoying bosom buddies.
“Ladies and gentleman! Welcome to Embers! My name is Pebbles, and I’ll be your mistress of ceremonies tonight.”
Our attention is drawn to the stage where the beautiful Pebbles is decked out in a black, skin-tight mermaid dress and a long, jet black ponytail pulled so tight her cheekbones look higher than mine could ever dream of being.
No sooner does Pebbles take the stage than four more shots are placed on the table courtesy of Chance and Tyler who give a wave from the bar. Again, I push mine aside and watch as Liam slams his and then my empty shot glass down on the table with a loud bang. Good thing he’s a big guy. I would be plastered after two shots, but he’s had four and seems okay.
Pebbles warms up the crowd with jokes and banter. Just as I knew she would, she’s eyed Liam, and is sauntering toward our table.
Instead of addressing him, like I expect, she turns toward me.
“Hello, darling. What’s your name?”
“Cami,” I reply, preparing myself for whatever is about to come my way.
“What’s your man’s name?” she asks, shoving a microphone into my face.
My man? It takes me a second to realize that while I’ve been enthralled with our hostess, I am still sitting in Liam’s lap and his big, tattooed arm is wrapped around my waist as though it shouldn’t be anywhere else. He’s not my man but, I’ll play along. I look over my shoulder and kiss his cheek.
“My man’s name is Liam.” His chuckle shakes me, and I hear Gabe and Joel yell out cat calls at the sound of me saying Liam is my man.
Aren’t those two easy to please?
“Cami, would you like to hear a joke?”
“Of course I would!”
There are hoots and whistles being thrown around the room, and it seems the rest of the patrons are in the mood for a joke as well.
“Did you know that there are three types of orgasms, Cami?”
Oh, this is going to be good. I can’t wait to see where this is going.
“There is? Do tell.” I inquisitively play along, speaking into the microphone.
“There sure is, sweetheart,” she says with a wink. “Well, see now there’s the positive reinforcement orgasm where a girl such as yourself will yell out, YES! YES! YES!”
I can feel Liam’s hold on me tighten, and he pulls me back just enough to whisper in my ear. “Oh this is gonna be good, little lady.”
Damn, he has to stop whispering in my ear like that.
Pebbles carries on. “Then there’s the religious orgasm that has you praying to the lord above while you yell, OH, GOD! OH, GOD! OH, GOD!”
I can feel Liam chuckle behind me.
“And then of course you know the fake orgasm right, Cami?”
“Do I?”
“Of course you do, sugar. That’s the one that makes you yell out, OH, LIAM! OH, LIAM! OH, LIAM!”
The crowd starts roaring with laughter, and Gabe and Joel are having fits as they point at Liam in that way that says, Oh man, you just got your ass handed to you, kind of way that guys do.
When I look at Liam, he’s laughing right along with the rest of us and taking his beating like a champ.
After that, Pebbles moves on to the next table, and soon, the first performer is on stage and lip synching to the Diana Ross classic, I’m Coming Out.
Liam seems to be having a great time. Too great. Not only does he have his second round of shots, but he has mine too. Another round comes, and again he has mine because nobody in our group can seem to accept the fact that I’m not drinking.
Liam gets a little louder and a little more enthusiastic as the show goes on. By the time it ends, I have to admit that Liam is still getting a lot of extra attention but not the kind he’s used to. At least I hope he’s not used to getting this kind of attention. It’s the kind of attention the drunk guy causing a scene gets. “Hey Liam, why don’t we get you home? What do ya say?” I stand from his lap and pat him on the shoulder. “Let’s go, buddy.”
Liam stands, and Gabe and Joel help stabilize him as he sways on his feet.
“Happy birthday, man! Thanks for having me.” He gives the birthday boy a big bear hug and then does the same to Joel.
“I’m glad Cami dragged you out here to be with us. It was great to meet you. Oh, hey, I’m gonna start a monthly happy hour at a different location each month. I’m putting you on the list. You have to come! I’ve got your number, and I’ll text you the info.”
“Sounds good, my man. I’ll be there,” he says with a slight slur.
Putting my arm around his waist, I wave goodbye to the boys while I guide Liam to the door. The cold December air hits us as soon as our feet touch the sidewalk, and I can only hope the cold air helps to sober him up. I keep my arm around his waist and focus on getting to my car while keeping the beast next to me upright.
“That was fun, Cami. I like your friends.”
“I’m glad, Liam. My friends seem to have liked you too. Now let’s get you to the car and hope you’re sober enough to get me to your place. You have a loft in the Pearl District, right?”
“In deed I do,” he says as he puts more weight on my shoulders.
I have never been so glad to see my s
weet little Prius when we finally reach her.
“Ok, here we are.” I open the passenger side door, and I have to practically fold him in half to fit him into the car.
Once I squeeze him in, I run around the front of the car, hop in, start the engine, and drive in the direction of his neighborhood.
“So, what’s your address?” I say, shivering while the car warms up.
He rattles his address off, and I know exactly where I’m going. “I just sold a loft in your building last month. Nice place.”
“It’s okay. Just there until I get settled here and find a piece of land to build on.”
Looking over at him, I see he has his head against the headrest, his eyes are closed, and it looks like he’s trying to stop the world from spinning.
I have a moment of good karma and find street parking right in front of his building. I park and run around to open his door. He’s still sitting the same way only with his mouth hanging open.
Well, this should be fun.
“Come on, you big lug. Let’s get you to bed.”
Chapter 2
Liam
Oh, God, it’s so damn bright. What the hell?
My eyes finally open all the way, and I can see that I’m in my apartment.
How the hell did I get here?
I remember Embers, dancing, shots, the drag show, more shots, and Cami.
Cami…
Who would have thought that I would spend my Saturday night at a gay bar with Cami, and I would have a fucking blast? She’s a really cool chick. She goes with the flow, can dance her ass off, and doesn’t expect to start a relationship just because we shared the same space on the dance floor. Fun and flirty. That’s Cami. She was always around when I would come to town to visit Jonathan and she was always entertaining to say the least. She is a mellow, pint-sized version of me in that regard. It was nice to hang with a new group of people too. Cami, Gabe, and their crew were pretty fun.
