The Men In and Out of Her Life

Chapter 2-2

“I’m glad there’s you, Peanut. Now let’s get in there.”

Julia looked up just in time to see Lacey and Nikki being greeted by Pierre and motioned to Sophie. “Wow, would you look at Lacey all dolled up and tiny standing next to Nikki.” As soon as she said it, she realized how it sounded and tried to undo the insult about Nikki. “I didn’t realize Lacey had lost so much weight, and Nikki looks great too. I’d kill for skin like hers. She’s never going to look her age.”

Sophie laughed at Julia’s faux pas. “Yeah, Nikki’s skin is amazing.” She fixed her gaze on Lacey. “Lacey really has taken working out at the gym to a new level. I can’t keep up with her, especially since our trainer has talked her into competing for the Ms. Fitness contest.”

“How much weight has she lost?” Julia asked enviously.

“I think she’s lost thirty-two pounds, four sizes, and a lot of the baggage that came from being dumped for another woman.”

Lacey and Nikki descended upon them before Julia could respond. Anyone watching them would have thought that they hadn’t seen each other in years as they greeted each other with hugs and laughter. Pierre stood by watching and couldn’t help but smile at their reunion. “Julia, would you like me to bring that out now?”

“Yes, it’s time to get this party started.”

The girls didn’t even notice him leave as they all got comfortable around their table and began catching up. Within minutes, Lacey had forgotten why she had been so nervous and was practically dancing in her chair to the beat of the song, taking in her surroundings, including the outside view directly in front of them of the waterfalls and spectacular pool and palm trees. It was breathtaking. The Cabana Club certainly didn’t have the typical “meat market” feel of other clubs she had been in years ago. Lacey wasn’t sure if it was the upscale-type of club goers or the ambiance, maybe a bit of both, but she liked it so far. She looked to Julia and mouthed “thank you” above the music and the girls’ chatter. Julia smiled and leaned in toward Lacey. “I wanted to help you celebrate life after divorce.”

“Girls, girls, champagne’s here!” announced Pierre as he quickly poured them each a glass. “Allow me the first toast.” He looked first at Sophie and, then holding the almost-empty bottle up in Lacey’s direction, said: “Welcome to the Cabana Club; it’s now a better place for me, to see all your beautiful faces.

“Ahh,” the girls said in unison. The girls held up their glasses and clinked them together, and, again, Pierre left unnoticed as the girls toasted to their friendship, to Sophie’s change of direction, to Nikki’s loss of three pounds, to Julia’s connection, and to Lacey’s divorce.

Their laughter and toasts to one another could not be heard over the music, but it was definitely obvious to any onlookers that the girls at the front table were having a good time. Ian elbowed his brother and motioned with his eyes in the direction of the girls. Tom looked in their direction, and Ian laughed as he watched his brother’s eyes get big and blow out a breath that came back in a whistle that they both heard over the music. “What do you say we send them over a round of drinks?” Ian asked Tom.

“Yeah, I’ll split a round with you. Or we could always go photo-bomb in one of their selfies.”

Ian’s mouth opened as if to reply, but his voice got caught in midair as he saw her get up off her chair and go dance with a guy that resembled a tall and lanky businessman trying to look comfortable out of a suit. Ian couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her tiny and toned body told him that she visited the gym as much as he did. From where he was standing, he could see the laughter that shone in her eyes and sparkled through her dimples. She was full of life and obviously loved to dance, another thing they had in common. He had to see her up close.

Tom, standing next to Ian, followed his brother’s gaze and saw immediately why he had wanted to buy the round of drinks. He slapped Ian on the back. “Hey, bro, I’ll go order that round for them.”

Lacey returned to her chair and was surprised to see a mixed drink waiting for her. She still had half a glass of champagne left and wasn’t planning to drink anything else. “Where did this come from?”

As if rehearsed, the girls all answered with their club code: “Ten o’clock.” Lacey looked in the direction and saw two guys holding up their glasses of beer. Lacey followed suit and held up her drink in a gesture of thanks. As soon as she sipped it, she knew what it was. She set it behind her glass of champagne. Her Long Island Ice Tea days were over, and she wasn’t about to drink enough to lose control, just enough to take the edge off, which the champagne was doing. She looked back to the girls. “That was nice of them to do that though.”

“I don’t know that ‘nice’ has anything to do with it, but this night is definitely getting better,” Julia said over the music. “Come on, girls. Let’s go dance.” They all got up, except for Nikki.

“You guys go ahead. I’ll watch our purses and take orders for your dance cards.”

Lacey took her by the hand. “No one’s going to take our purses, and no one’s got a dance card, so let’s go, girl.”

Out on the dance floor, Lacey couldn’t keep her eyes off the guys who bought their drinks. Laughing and dancing, she kept staring in their direction purposefully, moving and grooving to the beat. As the song came to an end, the D.J. announced the line dance to “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus. The crowd broke out in approving applause as they formed a line, side by side. Lacey and Julia stepped up to the front as if to lead because this was their dance and one that they were good at. As the music started, Lacey felt a shoulder bump hers and looked to her left, surprised to see one of the guys that had bought them their drinks right beside her.

“Mind if I join you?” Ian asked over the music.

Not missing a beat of the dance that had already begun, Lacey looked him up and down a couple of times, smiling. “Hey, it’s a free dance floor, right, Julia?” Julia answered with a nod while mouthing the words “My Achy Breaky Heart.” When the song ended, they all broke out in cheers and clapping, and the D.J.’s voice broke in: “We’re going to slow it down now. It’s guys’ choice.” Lacey quickly turned to leave the dance floor and felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned, and he was so close she could feel his breath on her face.

“Would you like to dance?” Ian asked her.

Lacey’s response stopped somewhere in her throat as she looked at him as if for the first time. This guy’s too beautiful. It’s only a dance. It’s only a dance, she chided herself. “Sure,” she said more confidently than she felt.

This guy’s too beautiful. It’s only a dance. It’s only a dance,He pulled her close, and Lacey tried to relax as she watched the girls leave the dance floor. She felt the beating of his heart, not confusing it with the beat of the music, and tried to pull away just a little bit. He pulled her back into him, gently but firmly, keeping one hand in hers and another around her waist. Well, at least he’s not groping me, Lacey thought. She rested her head on his shoulder, and for the duration of the song, Lacey allowed herself to not think but just enjoy the feel of his firm body next to hers as he led them around the dance floor, obviously no stranger to the art of dancing.

Well, at least he’s not groping me,

“Would you look at that,” Nikki said to the girls. “They look as if they’ve been dancing together for years.”

“You can say that again,” Sophie agreed.

Nikki turned to Sophie. “So what’s new with you, gorgeous?”

Sophie’s smile brightened at the compliment. “Zack and I are adjusting to my new schedule. Since I’ve quit court reporting college, I have more time with him.”

“Well, that’s perfect timing, considering all you guys are going through,” Nikki said.

“That’s one way of looking at it,” Sophie agreed.

“So how’s the job going?”

“Actually, real estate is so different now.”

Nikki took a sip of her drink. “You mean because of the economy?”

Sophie nodded her head. “There’s that, and the fact that everyone’s sue-happy so the laws have changed.”

“You staying busy, though?”

“Yeah, there’s plenty of business, especially because investors always take advantage of foreclosures; they seem to be winning at the game of Monopoly because of others’ misfortunes. But at least it’s a job,” Sophie added.

“I’m rooting for you, girl. So, are there any new flames blazing bright in your life?”

“Well, there is a guy I’ve dated a few times and we seem to have a lot in common, but it’s too soon to tell if it’s anything serious.”

“Good for you,” Nikki said enthusiastically. “You deserve to have some fun.” And she really meant it. They shared a common bond of being single parents, and Nikki knew that Sophie had really been having a hard time lately, especially with Zach’s dad in a coma. Sophie was ten years younger than her, but Nikki had never felt anything but comfortable around her. She envied and admired her unpretentious beauty. At five-six, with long legs and a waist that disappeared when she turned sideways, she was a knockout. She dressed classy and conservatively almost always. Her hair was sexy but simple, cut to fit her heart-shaped face with multi-layers that flowed down in their natural wave and swept in toward the frame of her face, showing off her lips and cheeks, but bringing more attention to her big almond-shaped eyes that were the color of honey. In the months that Nikki had known Sophie, she had come to learn that the inside was just as pretty as the outside, and Sophie had welcomed her into their group with genuine approval.

Sophie leaned over and squeezed Nikki’s hand to thank her. Like Nikki, Sophie reflected on their friendship which was entwined with the common thread of single parenting, and she was always grateful for the time they spent together. Nikki had an innate ability to splash her enthusiasm for life on all who came in contact with her in a way that enabled people to see past her excess weight and marvel at her beauty. Her blond and unruly hair framed a round face that was well-defined by her cheekbones and a perfect nose and eyes the color of an inviting pool of refreshing water, big and round as quarters.

As another song started, Lacey returned to the table escorted by Ian, her face flush and her eyes still dancing. “Nikki, Sophie, this is Ian. Where’s—”