We're In

On Friday night, I stood in front of my closet trying to find an outfit that was both sexy but not too sexy, seeing as I was now a stand up gal with a boyfriend and I didn't want to give anyone the wrong idea. But who am I kidding, it's not like I was beating them off with a stick pre-Dylan. I settled on a pair of skinny jeans, my new Topshop heels and a backless top, tossing all three garments on the bed. 

I was reaching for the jeans when my bed rang. Digging through the mess of covers, clothes and god knows what else, I finally unearthed it from under a pillow and grinned involuntarily when I saw that it was Dylan calling. I fluffed my hair, thankful that I had already done my makeup. An unmentioned downside of having a long-distance boyfriend is that since the advent of Facetime, you have to be camera-ready from the shoulders up at any given moment. 

Looking casually gorgeous 24/7 is a full-time job.

"Hey!" I said, as his face pulled up on the screen. He was in his hotel room, by the looks of it.

"Hey gorgeous," he said, his brown hair hanging a little longer than usual. 

"You need a haircut," I said, laughing. 

"I know," he replied, shaking his head. "I also need a shower. It's been nonstop events and meetings since we got here last night."

"Are you done for the day?" I asked. It was 8:30 here, which meant it was 7:30 in Chicago. 

"Yep, just cleaning up before dinner. Hold the phone further away," he said, giving me a sly smile. I was wearing nothing but my bra and underwear, since I had been picking out my outfit. I flipped onto my back on the bed and held the phone at arm's length. 

"Better?" I asked, slowly sliding my hand down my stomach. He nodded slowly, watching my hand as it trailed down my rib cage and towards my black lace thong. I slowly traced my hand back up, and arching my back, unhooked my bra, tossing it away.

He groaned on the other end as I squeezed my breast. "You're killing me," he said. 

"Do you want me to stop?" I asked.

"Hell no," he said breathlessly. 


Two hours later, Elena, Spencer, Ashley, Haley and I were waltzing into a popular club near my apartment. We walked through the front part which was purely a bar, and through a pair of curtains that lead you to an open room dotted with circular booths. Haley knew a guy who had gotten us a table for the evening, with the first bottle complimentary. 

"Here you are ladies," Haley's friend said, waving his arm out as we arrived at our table. The place was already almost full.

"Thanks Bruce," Haley said, leaning up to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Stop by if you have a free minute!" 

He gave her a charming smile and disappeared into the crowd.

"Um, Hal, this is awesome," I said, sliding into the buttery leather booth and surveying the bounty in front of us. All of the times I had gotten bottle service in the past had been when Nick and his friends were footing the bill, and I was usually too hammered to appreciate the set up. There was a bottle of grey goose and a bottle of veuve clicquot chilling on ice, with glass pitchers of OJ, cranberry juice and tonic water next to it. A bucket of ice with crystal glasses was on the other side, along with a tray of crackers, cheeses and fruits. 

"I know!" Haley squealed. "Bruce always hooks me up, but I try to only come a few times a year so that he doesn't think I'm just using him."

"Are you sleeping with him or something?" Spence asked with a laugh.

"No!" Haley replied in mock horror. "I'm a faithful girlfriend."

We settled in and made drinks; Me, Ash and Haley going straight for the vodka and Elena and Spence starting with champagne. 

"So Elena," Ash said, after we had all downed about half of our drinks. "What is going on with Mr. Barwyer?"

"Who?" Elena and I asked in unison.

"Whatshisface, the bartender slash lawyer? A Barwyer." 

Elena laughed, "We've seen each other a few times but it's super casual. Between school and work, he really doesn't have a lot of time for a commitment right now."

Ash and I shared a loaded glance. 

"Elena?" I started hesitantly. "Are those your words or his?"

She shrugged, "I mean those weren't his exact words, per say, but he is a busy guy."

I chewed on my lip. Elena was so sweet that guys tended to take advantage of that and walk all over her. A la the Jeff incident of a few months ago. 

"As long as you're okay with that set up," Ashley said, a tinge of sarcasm in her voice. 

"I'm fine with it," Elena defended, and I felt the need for a topic change. 

"So! See any worthwhile men in here?" I interjected, giving the room an obvious sweep with my eyes. 

"Over there, already spotted," Haley said, tipping her head towards the back left corner. I followed her gaze and sure enough there was a table packed with guys around late 20s, early 30s. We decided to have one more drink before approaching them. 

After two more vodka cranberries, I was definitely feeling tipsy. Tipsy enough that I finally brought up my conversation with Nick to Ashley when the other girls were in the bathroom.

"So.. Nick invited me, well us, to his premiere party next week," I said to Ashley. 

"What!" she squealed, squeezing my forearm in excitement. "We have to go shopping tomorrow!" 

"Wait, wait!" I said, laughing. "I didn't say yes yet! I don't want to make Dylan angry."

"Please," Ashley said, rolling her eyes. "I know you want to be a good girlfriend, but it's not like he's your date if I go too, right?"

I shrugged. "I want to go, and he did say it was a 'group thing' when we talked."

Ashley widened her eyes, pleading. "Pleeease Dani, we have to go. How fun would that be! Dylan will totally understand. Plus, he was super shady like seventeen times when you first started dating, and you've only been shady that one time you had lunch with Nick. This will like.. even the score."

Have I been living with her for too long or did that just make sense?

I chewed on my cheek, trying to decide what to do. My brain was coaxing me straight into the wrong option, which I knew was wrong. But it didn't seem fair to put off a great evening just because it involved my ex. 

"Okay, I'll tell Dylan in the morning," I said. 

"Tell him, or ask him?" Ashley said. 

"Both?" I replied with a laugh. Then, pulling up a text to Nick I typed before I could chicken out.

Ash and I are in for Tuesday! Just lmk the plans. 

I set my phone on the table and freshened up Ash and my drinks. Within minutes, he had texted back.

Awesome, thanks D. It means a lot that you'll be there. 

I showed the text to Ashley, who rolled her eyes in response. I laughed before texting back.

Wouldn't miss it :) 

My phone beeped again with his response immediately.

Are you out tonight? I'm heading down to the lower west side now.

The vodkas decided that texting him back would be a good idea.

Yeah, we're down at a club off bleecker near my place. 

"What are you saying to him?" Ash asked, noticing that I hadn't put my phone down in 5 minutes.

"Um he asked if we were out," I replied sheepishly.

"Dani..." she warned. "I know I'm all morally confused most of the time, but don't you dare invite him here."

"I didn't!" I defended. "All I said is that we were at a club down this way."

Ashley gave me a warning glance as my phone went off again.

Okay well have a good night. Call me later, if you want. 

I tucked my phone away in my bag. Call me later? I reminded myself, firmly, of my ridiculously gorgeous, nice, smart and funny boyfriend who I would get to see in just 6 days. But in the meantime, I would have to find a killer dress for Tuesday night.