The Claimed Promise

A Baby

It had been two weeks since Mandi had spoken to me about have a baby. She had gone that Friday and been inseminated with a donor she had chosen. I wasn’t invited to go or help pick the donor which bothered me tremendously. It’s too late now though. After the insemination, there had been no more discussion about getting married. All I knew was she wanted to do it soon and was planning it with her friends. Hopefully I’ll get to pick something in my own wedding. Maybe a color? Probably not though. From what I gathered; we were getting married quickly, the wedding was supposed to be this Saturday if she could get the venue she wanted.

The week went by quickly. I worked everyday so that I could stay away from the house while Mandi and all of her friends were there planning. I wasn’t invited to help make decisions and the women all got on my nerves, so I figured I didn’t need to be there. There was a lot to look forward to tonight, however. Mandi’s friends were taking her out for her bachelorette party and Lindsey was taking me out. It had been forever since I had gone clubbing and I was excited. Only 30 minutes to go. My eyes stared at the clock counting down the seconds. The door ding brought me back to reality as I turned to wait on the customers. My eyes met Samara’s.

“Kora. Is it true? Are you getting married?” A deep sadness filled her eyes.

“…Yes… it’s true.” I sighed loudly. “I’m sorry Samara. I’ve been with Mandi for so long and she asked me to take this next step with her. It might improve our relationship and I can’t just throw it all away on a sweet stranger.” Once again, I sighed, and my eyes shot straight down. I couldn’t bare to see the look of hurt on her face. Not another word was spoken between us; just the sound of the door opening and closing.

“Goodbye, Samara.” I whispered to myself as tears streaked down my face. There goes what seemed to be my last chance at happiness. Maybe Mandi and I will be happy once we’re married and the baby is born? Here’s hoping, I suppose.

As soon as I clocked out Lindsey was calling me.

“Heyyyyy! You ready to go party?!” Lindsey’s ecstatic voice screamed into the receiver.

“Yes! Stop screaming!” I laughed and headed out the door. As soon as I was in the parking lot, there was Lindsey waiting in her car.

“Kora! Your parents helped me take your truck home. We’re going over to my place to freshen up and then grabbing an uber to the club!” I laughed and jumped into her car.

“Ok, but don’t kill us. You’re a terrible driver.” She laughed and sped out of the parking lot.

Rhythm was hopping tonight, and people were pouring in and out. I had decided to dress a little more flirtatious; black tight pants hugged to every curve of my body and I wore a skimpy tank top that showed off lots of skin. Lindsey was dressed in a tight mini skirt, long stalking’s and a Mandi see through top. Again, we got straight in since Lindsey had the hook up.

We B-lined for the bar to get drinks. Lindsey held up her shot glass and looked at me seriously.

“This is to you, Kora. The best person I know marrying the worst person I know.”

Instead of fight with her, I just laughed. “Lindsey, it’ll be fine. Cheers my friend!” A smile broke across her face and we clanked glasses before throwing the liquor back. We sat at the bar drinking and joking for quite a while before we were both hot in the face.

“Let’s hit the dance floor!” Lindsey yelled and dragged me towards the middle. Soon we were rubbing and dancing along side tons of strangers. We laughed and rubbed against anyone who danced with us. Before long, Mandi had found a guy and he had stuck to her.

“Ladies, how about we head over to the VIP room? I’ve reserved a table back there and we can talk and get to know on another.” He locked eyes with Lindsey, and she winked at him.

“You ok with that Kora?” She looked at me desperately. I just laughed and shrugged at her.

“If you want to, I’m game. I wouldn’t mind another drink anyways. Is your handsome new friend going to buy us a couple drinks.” I smiled at him knowing the answer.

“Of course. Come on ladies, let’s head to the back.”

We left the dance floor and headed for the VIP room. Neither of us had ever been back here and we were both excited. As we made our way to a back table, a familiar sweet sent hit me. No. Is she here tonight too?

“Grab me a drink Lindsey, I just want to use the restroom.”

“Will do!” She gave me a thumbs up as she sat herself down at the table.

Once I was out of view, I frantically looked around for Samara. If the smell was here, so was she. I walked and peeked into each of the private rooms trying to find her. As I went further back, the smell became stronger and I knew she was in one of the rooms. Before I could peek into the next one, I heard a familiar voice; it was Mandi and her friends talking and laughing. I’m surprised she came to this club. Usually she refuses to go clubbing because it was beneath her.

“I can’t believe I’m getting married!” Mandi exclaimed loudly.

One of her friends chirped in. “I’m surprised. I always thought that you’d dump her and find someone more your level.”

Her words pissed me off but I’m sure Mandi will put her in check. It was her idea in the first place that we take the relationship to this next level.

“Oh stop. You know she has many good qualities… like… umm… well, I’m sure some will come to me!” They all roared in laughter. How could she be so horrible? Before I could storm in and confront her, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Lindsey was standing next to me and listening as well.

“Why the hell did you stop me?!” I whispered angrily at her.

Before she could respond, I heard the voice of a man. “Well, I know some good traits. She’s gullible and loyal to a fault.” The man laughed.

“That’s no s**t. Once our baby is born, I’ll divorce her, and I can take half of everything. Then we can get married and I can finally be happy!” Everyone in the room cheered and laughed.

Tears flooded my eyes from the anger ready to boil over. Before I could rush in there, Lindsey was ahead of me and shoving her way in. I rushed in behind her and she was already screaming.

“I knew you were a worthless b***h!” Lindsey screamed at her.

Mandi stared at both of us in absolute shock.

“Kora! What are you doing here?!”

“It’s my bachelorette party tonight too you know. My last night of freedom… or so I thought. Clearly, the wedding is off.” I scowled at her.

“You can’t just leave me! We committed to this baby!” Tears streamed down her face.

I laughed at her. “You mean his baby?” I pointed to the man sitting in the corner, observing the situation with a bewildered look on his face. “I’m pretty sure you two can figure out how to raise the baby together seeing as you two made it.” Before she could say another word to me, I turned and stormed out of the room, Lindsey right behind me.

“Kora, are you ok?”

“You know… I am. I’m ok. I’d rather find out then marry some worthless leech. Let’s finish what we came here to do. Let’s get s**t faced. But… I do have a favor.” I turned to face Lindsey. “Can your bouncer friend get them out of here?”

A mischievous grin spread across her face. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.” She headed towards the door without another word. I followed close behind her, my mind racing. How could I have been so naïve. It was out of the blue and it hadn’t made any sense to me at the time. I should have suspected something. Instead, I fell right for it, hook line and sinker. After a few minutes, Lindsey’s bouncer friend quickly walked to the back of building. When he came back out, he was accompanied by three more men. They moved with a purpose to the VIP rooms and soon, they were dragging each and everyone of them out of the club.

“Hey stop! We rented this room!” Mandi screamed at the men. Her screams fell on deaf ears however, and soon they were all thrown out of the building.

“There you go Kora. Consider that my housewarming gift to you.”

“My housewarming gift? What do you mean?” The puzzled look on my face brought a huge smile to hers.

“Well, you’re going to need somewhere to live and, it might as well be with your best friend in the world!”

I laughed. “True… very true. Thank you, Lindsey. For everything.”

She embraced me tightly. “Of course, Kora. I’d do anything I could to help you. Now, I have to go repay my friend.” She laughed and winked at me. “I’ll meet you at the bar.” With that, she turned and headed off with the bouncer and I headed towards the bar. Time to drink this whole nightmare away. As soon as I sat myself at the bar, the bartender sat a shot and a beer in front of me.

“Rough night?”

I threw the shot back and started sipping the beer. “Yeah, but not for the reason I thought it would be.” 

“What do you mean?” She looked at me quizzically.

What do I mean? I gave up an opportunity for something so different because of that b***h! “Nothing…” I muttered, while I continued to scream internally. How could I be so stupid?!

“Another shot please.”

The music thumped around me as I drank my sorrows. After about 45 minutes of drinking by myself, I got up and wondered around looking for Lindsey. There’s no way it takes that long… right? Before she had told me, she had stopped seeing him because he was a two-pump chump and wasn’t fun in the bedroom. So, my conclusion that should have been done 30 minutes ago has to have some ground to it. Before long, I’m wondering back towards the VIP area. Since her friend worked here and he was allowed to utilize these rooms when they were available, I figured there may be a chance they were in one of them. The recent memory of Mandi’s betrayal hit me as I made my way towards the private rooms. What a worthless woman she ended up being. I may have lost the house I had inherited, but at least I wasn’t on the loan and she didn’t get to take half of my assets. My pace slowed to a stumble as I realized how drunk I really was. How many shots had I taken? I’m not even sure… I stumble towards the entrance to a room and to my relief, I hear Lindsey’s voice. Without a second thought, I burst into the room.

“Lindsey! Stop making me drink my sadness away by myself!” Our eyes meet and she instantly smiles in excitement.

“Kora! I’m sorry, I ran into Liam. You remember him, right?” I look over at the man she is currently sitting in the lap of. It’s the same man she had spent the whole night with the last time we were at the club. I had never been introduced to him but, I did remember him.

“Hey! It’s nice to finally meet you!” As I stepped forward to put my hand out, I realized there was a very sweet smell in this room. My attention was quickly stolen. As I turned, sitting in the corner, surrounded by others was Samara. Our eyes quickly met and soon I was intoxicated by the smell coming from her. My body felt hot and desperate the closer I got to her. There was no understanding to my feelings, just acceptance. This feeling had been there before and was there now.

“Samara, what are you doing here?” My breath is ragged and desperate.

“Well, like you I suppose, I’m enjoying the atmosphere.” She looks around in a decisive way and begins her advance towards me. Within seconds she’s standing less then a foot form me, and I can’t will my feet to move. We stand there and she stares at me intently. The room seems to become hushed as we have our moment.

“So, Kora, tell me what has caused you to drink in sorrow.” Samara’s eyes are dark, and she seems genuinely concerned.

“It’s nothing. I don’t want to ruin anyone else’s fun night.” My gaze falls to the floor and before she can say anything else to me, Lindsey is filling her in to me dismay.

“Well, Kora’s b***h of a girlfriend turned fiancé and turned ex tonight! She told Kora she wanted to have a baby with her and that she had gone to the sperm bank to be inseminated. Turns out, the baby belonged to her boyfriend and we heard them scheming tonight in one of the VIP rooms.” Lindsey blabbed so quickly I became frustrated.

“Enough, Lindsey. It doesn’t matter. I ended it with her, and I’ll figure everything out one step at a time.”

“But Kora… she took your house. I mean, I want you to come live with me, it will be so much fun but, it isn’t fair to you. You were so good to her…”

“Enough, I said! I think you owe me a drink from making me drink so long by myself.” I gave her a faint smile to let her know I wasn’t mad, but I was done talking about this. She nodded understanding and jumped up to bring me over her drink.