But my smile slowly disappeared as I heard a noise behind me. They were almost imperceptible, the faint sound of footsteps as they kept pace with mine. My heartbeat instantly picked up and I began to walk faster. I was scared. It was late and the city was tough. As my steps quickened so did the steps of whoever was behind me. I tried to not panic. I forced myself to look around and be more aware of my surroundings. I saw a door suddenly open less than ten feet away from me and several men walked out laughing. I didn’t need to think, I dashed for the door, almost plummeting into the men who were just trying to exit.
“Slow your roll, sweetheart,” one laughed as I plowed into him and he righted me. I pulled away from his grasp and he looked at me strangely.
“You okay?”
I turned to look behind me then and saw no one. I knew I wasn’t going crazy. Someone had been following me, but I didn’t know who. And I wasn’t going to risk walking home by myself now.
“I’m okay. Thanks…I just…umm…I’ve got to go…” I mumbled walking away from the confused man who just shrugged and continued talking with his friends.
I turned to walk further into what I discovered was a club. It was dark, very dimly lit and everyone seemed to be standing around some sort of stage. No one paid attention to me as I made my way past the crowd of mostly men. I noticed briefly that there didn’t seem to be one woman in the crowd.
And just as I thought that, the curtains parted on stage and music sounded across the room. I knew it was a song by Beyoncé, but I couldn’t tell which one. Apparently all the men knew it as they began to cheer and jump up and down in excitement. And that’s when I saw her, covered in whipped cream. Well actually she was actually a he.
She sashayed out to the center of the stage and the DJ announced over the microphone from his station above the platform, “And the moment you all have been waiting for…the luscious and oh so lovely Honey Petals!!”
Roars and applause again echoed across the room as strobe lights appeared and the DJ cranked it to high gear. Apparently this was a drag queen show. I couldn’t help but stare at the whip cream that covered her pubic area and nipples. And then when she turned around and shook her butt at the crowd, I noticed that the whip cream went straight up her crack and around her narrow hips. She had pretty much created a whipped cream thong.
I honestly was captivated by the show in front of me. Two men wearing skin tight leotards danced on either side of her, shaking their behinds and wiggling parts that I didn’t even know men could wiggle. For a second I was so enthralled by what was going on there, I forgot that I was looking for a place to call a cab.
I got my head together and found my way past the screaming crowd and made my way to the bathroom. I barricaded myself in a stall, reached for my cellphone and was about to call a taxi when I noticed that not only didn’t I have any service, but my phone was dying. It charged off before I could even dial a number.
I sighed and placed my head up against the wall of the stall. I wanted to cry. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have any friends. No family. And I was scared. I didn’t want to go home alone. I felt tears springing up and wiped away at them impatiently. I forced myself to think rationally. Come on Ivy, think. Think. You’re in a bar. There are plenty of people with phones, just ask one of them. I took a deep breath and told myself that everything would be fine.
Pushing the door open, I attempted to walk out when someone pushed back on the door knocking me back into the stall with such force that I couldn’t even take a breath. He or she literally knocked the breath out of me and I hit my head as I stumbled back, not able to brace myself as I went falling to the floor. My head smacked against something hard and I think I screamed–I couldn’t be too sure– before I slumped to the floor unconscious.
Chapter Two
“Oh my Gaaawwwddd! She’s dead! She’s dead!” I heard a voice screaming.
“Shut up, Nico,” said another voice as I struggled to open my eyes. I winced as I did taking in the room around me that seemed to be decorated by a genie. I felt like I was in Disney’s Aladdin. Purple fabric lined the walls and there were clothes everywhere and then I noticed the vanity covered with wigs and boas.
“Yes, girl. It’s a mess. Don’t I know it,” said the voice and this time I was able to focus on the face of the person speaking. I recognized her instantly. It was the drag queen from earlier and I looked away and blushed as she towered over me wearing nothing but the whip cream which was slowly starting to melt off in key places.
“She’s blushing! Maybe the blood’s rushing straight to her head. Do you think it means she has a concussion?” I recognized his voice as the DJ from earlier. He was a scrawny man with a squeaky voice that seemed to get higher when he was upset.
“Damn, Nico. Calm down before I give you a concussion,” the drag queen said placing a hand on her hip and rolling her eyes.
I attempted to sit up, not wanting to be a part of the catfight that seemed about to start. I winced as I tried and the drag queen snapped her fingers. The scrawny DJ guy, who I guess was called Nico reached behind him and grabbed a robe from the pile of clothes and handed it to the drag queen. She slid it on and said, “There. Now you don’t have to worry about your modesty being offended.”
I couldn’t help but blush again and said with a shaky voice, “Where am I? And what happened?”
“Some dude, definitely not a regular. I know the regulars–They always tip well among other things—” started Nico.
“Nico was going into the bathroom when he saw some guy slam the door into your face.” The drag queen summed up.
“Someone did this on purpose?” I said in disbelief.
“Oh yeah, honey and he would have done a whole lot more if I hadn’t shown up,” Nico said smugly. “I started attacking him with my shoe. Good thing I wore stiletto heels today. They’re custom made. Check them out.”
I stared down at his shoes that resembled ruby slippers. “Errr they’re very nice…Thank you for stopping that guy from doing any more damage…” I said shyly. For some reason I felt like crying.
He nodded happily and said, “I might be a scarecrow but I took ten years of karate. Daddy insisted to toughen me up.” He giggled, “Not that it worked. Anyway…” he said exaggerating the word, “Who was that dude? An ex-boyfriend? Ex-husband?”
I shrugged and even that motion hurt. I shook my head. “I honestly didn’t see who hit me. Was it a guy wearing a suit who seemed to be imitating the Wolf of Wall Street?”
Nico snickered. “Yeah, that’s a pretty accurate description. He can’t punch to save his life. He took off running after I hit him with my shoe a couple of times.”
“So you do know who attacked you?” The drag queen said getting back to the point.
I nodded, “I think I do. I had a feeling he was following me, that’s why I came in here. I’m sorry. I didn’t get your name?”
“Honey. Honey Petals. I own this club: Honeycomb.”
I reached out and shook her well-manicured hand. “I’m Ivy…eerr Nia. Nia.”
Honey looked at me and narrowed her eyes. She placed a hand on my head and said, “You don’t know if your name is Ivy or Nia? Maybe you do have a concussion.”
I pointedly changed the subject. “I’m guessing this is your changing room?” I said looking around, avoiding her eyes and dislodging her hand from my forehead.
“Yeah, excuse the mess. I had a little bit of a tantrum earlier today and might have made a mess of things.”
Nico scuffed, “Ha! Tantrum? It was world war Z up in here.”
“Well that’s neither here nor there,” Honey said sharply making Nico immediately swallow his next statement. “Want us to drive you home?”
I nodded gratefully. But then felt bad, as if I were imposing. “Or you could just call me a cab…I don’t want to cause you guys so much trouble. Both of you have done enough for me tonight.”
“Girl, it’s no problem. And I don’t know too many taxis that would
be willing to pick you up on this side of town so late at night. We’re probably your best bet right now.”
I knew Honey was right.
Nico reached out his hand and I took it, as he seemed to effortlessly help me up. Wow, he was strong for such a scrawny guy. Those years of karate had apparently paid off. As if reading my mind, he winked at me and said, “I told you I was strong. But I’m not going to lie. Carrying you from the bathroom to here in these heels was not the best idea. I should have just kept them off. I’m probably going to have bunions in the morning.”
Honey laughed, “You already have bunions, don’t try to blame it on the shoes.”
Nico rolled his eyes and I bit back a smile. Honey noticed and smiled back, “We’re like an old married couple. Excuse us. Now let’s get you out of here.”
Honey dropped the robe and wiped off the whipped cream. I looked elsewhere while she finished and she tossed on a dress and said, “Let’s do this…”
A few minutes later we were sitting in her SUV. It was a luxury car and the leather on the seats were so comfortable. I found myself drifting off as soon as I gave her my address which she programmed into her GPS.
I slept soundly, probably because of exhaustion when the sound of Nico whistling woke me up.
“Girl, I’m not trying to offend you, but what’s a car like that doing in an area like this?” Nico asked pressing his nose against the window as if trying to get closer to whatever he was talking about.
I sleepily looked in the direction of my apartment complex. All hints of sleepiness left as I realized whose car it had to be. After all, there wasn’t another one like it.
“Winslow…” I whispered and as if he heard me, he opened the door of his car and stepped out. And then to my surprise, the passenger door opened and Hollis stepped out as well. He made his way around Winslow’s car and came over and stood next to Winslow. Hollis stood there with his arms folded. He looked pissed. And Winslow didn’t look much happier. His stance was casual as he leaned against the car with his hands in his pocket, but I could tell his shoulders were tense and he looked none too pleased.
“You know these guys?” Honey asked.
“I would like to get to know them,” Nico said with a little laugh. “They’re hot.”
Honey rolled her eyes and turned around to look at me, waiting for a response.
I gulped hard. And it wasn’t until that moment that I realized how much I missed them.
“Yeah, I know them.” I sighed, knowing this was coming but not expecting it so soon. “Thanks Honey, Nico. For everything.” I reached for the door handle and opened it. As I climbed out, I thanked Honey and Nico again, delaying the inevitable.
“Stay out of trouble, Ivy Nia.” Honey called to me as I walked towards the two men.
“Unless trouble looks like those two,” Nico said gesturing towards the guys who still hadn’t mumbled a word. “That type of trouble, even I would want a piece of,” he yelled out the window with a big smile on his face.
I didn’t acknowledge his parting words; my mind was too focused on this moment.
“Friends of yours?” As expected, Hollis spoke first referring to Honey and Nico. He didn’t give me a chance to answer as he continued, “And who’s “Ivy Nia? Is that what you’re calling yourself nowadays?”
“Let’s not do this here,” Winslow said before I could respond. His voice was cold and he seemed upset. I wondered why.
Hollis shrugged. “Whatever you say,” he said sarcastically before swooping his arm out in an exaggerated motion and saying to me, “Lead the way, my lady.”
Stiffly I did what I was told. I knew there was no use arguing with them and I was curious as to what brought them to me in the middle of the night.
They followed me up the stairs of my apartment. No one said a word and the silence was disconcerting. I reached into the back pocket of my jeans and pulled out my key. I inserted it into the keyhole and pushed open the door.
I ignored the stale smell of my apartment as I took a few steps across the carpet which I was sure hadn’t been replaced at least since the early 80s and turned on the light.
It was pretty barren, I thought to myself as I thought of what my apartment must look like through their eyes. On the far right wall was a sofa that had been there when I arrived. In front of it was a coffee table with a glass top. There were no other pieces of furniture besides a lawn chair which I had bought on a whim. I sat it next to the window and would sit there and drink sometimes. I was terribly embarrassed of that fact suddenly and hoped no one would take a peek into my fridge to see all the other bottles I had there to drown my troubles away.
Not that it had worked. After all my troubles were right there standing in my living room, not looking happy.
Hollis gave my apartment a cursory glance while Winslow slowly closed and then locked the door. He leaned against it and folded his arms as Hollis previously had.
I sat down on my sofa with a sigh and placed my elbows on my knees. I folded my hands and waited for someone to speak.
“So this is what you left us for?” Hollis said looking around and stopping to lean against the counter. It was as if both of them were deliberately trying to avoid being near me.
“Don’t be insulting, Hollis,” said Winslow lazily even though I knew he agreed with Hollis. “I like the burgundy hair, Ivy.”
I blushed at his compliment. Hollis smirked, “I hate the hair. And lose the contacts. If it weren’t for the fact that your smell is forever imprinted in my brain, I wouldn’t have even recognized you. And what’s up with the clothes? Are you goth now?”
I felt anger bubbling to the surface. How dare he? He and Winslow were the ones who made my life tumultuous and now he dared criticize me for trying to pick up the pieces? I was beyond angry suddenly.
“Have you always been this much of an asshole and I was just too blinded by lust this entire time to notice?”
Hollis looked taken aback and Winslow laughed and started clapping. “Bravo, Ivy. It’s about time someone put him in his place.”
“Hold your applause, Winslow and kindly shut up,” Hollis growled. Winslow stopped clapping but continued to smile. He winked at me and my heart did a little jig. Hollis slowly approached me and sat down next to me. I moved over, not wanting to let him get too close. I was still angry with him for his comment earlier.
“I’m sorry. I’m still a little sore about you leaving me–”
Winslow cleared his throat.
“Leaving us…” Hollis corrected unconvincingly. “I like your burgundy hair too.” He said bringing up his hand to push my bangs out of my face.
“I know you were going for the stand-offish look, but to me you look like a fairy. A mature version of Tinkerbell,” he said with a laugh.
I looked at him and shook my head. “You haven’t seen me for months and the best you can do is compare me to a Disney fairy?”
“Maybe I should just shut up and let Winslow do all the talking…” Hollis said with a sigh.
“That’s your best idea all night,” Winslow responded matter-of-factly. He then opened his mouth to add something else, but he didn’t get the chance as I cut him off.
“Whatever you have to say, I don’t think I want to hear it.”
“I’m sorry, Ivy. But you don’t have a choice.”
Chapter Three
I shivered at Winslow’s words. They sounded ominous and I wondered if anyone would come to my rescue if I screamed.
As if reading my mind, Hollis said, “No one’s going to hurt you. We just want to talk. And we want you to hear us out. The past few months have been difficult to say the least.”
I smiled humorlessly, thinking that I could relate and all the bottles under my kitchen sink were proof of that.
Winslow continued, “We’re sorry that our presence has wreaked havoc in your life. When you wanted to leave us, we didn’t expect it to be such a severe cut off. When I found out you resigned from your internship–”
“I had to. I was trying to break all ties–”
“And we understand that, but we’re sorry that breaking ties with us meant such a drastic change in your life.” He sighed and I recognized now that his tone was filled with guilt. My heart began to ache.
“Those were choices I felt I needed to make. Actions that I had to take…”
“But that’s just it,” Hollis butted in. “You shouldn’t have had to make those choices or take those actions. We’ve made a mess of your life and we want to do whatever we can to make things better.”
I didn’t know how to respond. I looked at Hollis’ disparate colored eyes and felt that familiar warmth began to spread across my body, flushing my cheeks and warming the space between my thighs.
“I see something hasn’t changed,” he said softly reaching up and gently rubbing my lower lip. I moved away abruptly. I stood up and walked away from him, pacing the small space of my living room.
I stopped and turned away from them and folded my arms. “How did you find me?”
“We’ve had eyes on you since we realized you left the city,” Winslow answered.
I turned towards them with my arms still folded across my chest and narrowed my eyes at them. “You’ve had someone following me?”
“I guess that’s what you could call it,” Hollis said with a shrug.
I wanted to hit him, but more than that, I wanted to sleep. The exhaustion hit me full force and I leaned against my kitchen counter.
“I can’t–”
“Ivy–”
I held up my hand, stilling Hollis’ protest, “I can’t have this conversation tonight. I’m beyond tired. I had a hard night–”
“That’s why we’re here. You didn’t get home around your expected time…We were worried…”
Jocked Up: Sports Romance (A Secret Baby Second Chance Romance) Page 40
