A Wild Ride (Jessica Brodie Diaries #3) (25 page)

The next day we lay in bed most of the day, ordering room service and enjoying each other. He had surprised me with a suite when we got back to the hotel saying, “When a Davies man wants to make an impression, he pulls out all the stops.”

All our stuff had been moved into our new room, if not as neatly as I would have expected. Toward the evening we were supposed to go to this restaurant called Flasia SF. It was my little joke on William, San Francisco style. It was a lot of beautiful transvestites that put on a sort of G-rated stripping show. They danced on the bar, took off some clothes but not all, and did lip sinking routines. Basically, a drag show without going way over the top.

I heard from a friend that it was a hoot. The food was also supposed to be delicious.

I didn’t plan to tell William they were originally men. I wanted to see if he caught on.

We got ready in dressy-casual attire. It wasn’t an upscale place, but it was still a night out, so the patrons dressed tried a little harder. I wore only earrings to make my ring stand out more.

As we were walking through the lobby, William said, “Wait, Jess. Let’s grab a quick drink first.”

“But William, we have reservations. We’ll be late.”

“Fifteen minutes isn’t going to kill us.”

“Yes, but there is a bar at the restaurant. Why do you need to get a drink here?”

“C’mon babe, please? It makes it feel more like a night out when we start from the bar.”

Since when?
I thought to myself in exasperation.

I let myself be pulled, expressing my displeasure. Irritation crept in as he led us to the far corner, ignoring an open spot nearest the door.

As I was about to say something, William shook hands with someone. I felt my irritation rise—this was no time for a business meeting. I looked toward the door, counting minutes, worried about our reservations. The restaurant was unreal popular for a girls’ night out, and they wouldn’t have open tables on a Saturday night in summer. If we didn’t make it, they’d give our table away.

Turning back, so as not to be overly rude, I looked a little more closely at the man William was meeting.

“Is that how you greet a friend, Jessie girl?” Adam said with a shit eating grin.

“What the-- Why are you here?” I asked in bewilderment.

I then noticed Lump was just walking in from the other entrance to the bar.

“What... Wait...”

Her face lit up in a smile and her eyes immediately sought my hand. She grabbed for the ring and held it up for Adam to see.

“Jesus, Jessica, that sucker is huge!” Lump exclaimed. “Willie, I know you like to spoil her, but really?”

William’s smirk was triumphant.

“Wait, why are you guys here?” I asked again.

Smiles dropped off their faces like leaves in fall. William looked incredibly uncertain.

“Is that okay?” Lump asked, stepping closer and lowering her voice. “Did you want alone time with Willie, because we can get lost.”

“No, that’s not what I meant...”

“I invited them, Jess,” William said with a worried expression. “I thought it might be fun to share the town with friends.”

The light blinked on in my head, clearing away the haze of confusion. Obviously he invited them. Which hopefully meant he changed all the reservations to a larger party. Which, I admit, was my chief concern.

Hyper-organization was a huge flaw of mine on vacations. Or a huge saving grace, depending on who was judging.

“Got it,” I said, smiling. My acknowledge didn’t erase three worried faces.

“I just thought it a crazy coincidence,” I explained, “but, I get it. I just hadn’t sorted it all out in the old noggin’. I wasn’t expecting it. Just forget about it for God’s sakes!”

“Is it cool, Jess?” Adam asked anxiously, “‘Cause we can--”

“Just shut up Adam. I was just slow on the uptake. Of course I am excited! Did you make the reservation for four, though, William, because we are now running late.”

Lump started laughing. “We moved it back an hour, Jess. Relax. We’ll make it.”

I let my breath out in a
whoosh
. I let a huge smile light my face as I regarded them.

Adam looked at me sideways. “Are you losing your mind, Jessica?”

He couldn’t understand my moods on the best of days.

I punched his arm.

“Beer me,” I said to no one in particular as Lump bent to examine my ring again.

“Did you tell all the girls?” she asked, working my ring off so she could try it on.

“Yeah. They were excited. I couldn’t get ahold of you—now I know why.” Lump smiled. “And Gladis.”

Lump’s smile slipped. “She knew about it.”

I nodded, the confusion earlier seeping back in. “I thought she would. Weird that she didn’t have someone waiting for the call.”

“She’s old. She was probably nappin’,” Adam spoke as if he was talking to two girls hard of hearing. Or thinking.

“She would have Lady answer,” I replied in the same tone.

We let it be, unable to answer and not wanting to speculate. Gladis was, indeed, getting up in the years. I didn’t want to think ahead to what that really meant.

We got the restaurant a little early, due in large part to me. When time started to crunch by, flirting with us being late, I lost my good humor. Adam, not trusting women when their personalities suddenly shifted, was my biggest helper in getting everyone to make tracks. The other two just took it in stride. They knew my crazy could be ignored for a while before I got violent.

As we walked in I told the hostess of our reservation. She checked the books and smiled a sultry smile.
Here we go.

Her eyes landed on the boys. “Me
ow
,” she said with pleasure. Her boobs pushed out and her hand found her trim hip.

I had told Lump all about this place, so she was in on the joke already. The only thing she asked was, “Do they like to be called he, or she?”

I told her in exasperated tones that they made the change, and they were now she, so do not embarrass me!

“Hello boys and girls,” the hostess purred, eying all of us with squinty Marilyn Monroe eyes. “Welcome to Flasia SF. I am Cindy. Your table is being cleared right now so you get to hang out with me for five minutes while we wait. I am a lucky girl!”

She was all sex and kitty grins, but not in that really irritating way. The girls here all played a part. Some also played that part in real life, but Cindy seemed like she was putting on a show for our benefit, of which I was glad, because people that went around trying to do Marilyn Monroe eyes all the time were laughable.

Cindy had long, full red hair. Wig, definitely, but a quality one. She had black, fake lashes and lots of make-up. She didn’t have fake boobs, but looked to have taken some hormones to grow a semblance of her own, and wore a water bra to fill in the rest. Her dress was red and sparkly with a slit down the front that went to her belly button. Her body was bangin’! Thin, toned, but still soft. Men were lucky to have a different muscle to fat set-up than women, and the result looked great in that dress!

Who was I fooling? All dresses. I was more than a little jealous.

“You girls brought some men!” Cindy flashed a sultry smile. “We don’t see nearly enough of them in here!” She laughed at her double entendre, which William and Adam didn’t get. “My, my, my. Look at these strong men. Where are all you pretty people from?”

“We are from L.A. originally,” I said, pointing to Lump, then myself, “and they are from Texas.” I motioned toward the boys.

Cindy’s eyes lit up. Her smile seeped deeper into her face. “Cowboys, huh? I like cowboys.” She stepped closer.

Adam got a slightly panicked look, eyes darting to Lump to see if this treatment was somehow okay. Unlike the always self-assured William, Adam got nervous when Lump got too close to other men. Or drew too much attention. Unlike me, she thought that behavior was cute. Territorial, she’d called it.

William’s brow was slightly furrowed as Cindy let her eyes slide down his body, then winked at me. He knew something was amiss.

“And look at you, honey!” Cindy said, letting her eyes slide down Adam. “Look at your cowboy boots! Julie,” she called over her shoulder toward the bar, “this man is wearing real cowboy boots!”

A waitress came up in a baby doll shirt and a short, black skirt. Both pieces of clothing were glittery and fun. She was Asian and absolutely gorgeous. Freaking off the charts hot! Her tall frame was thin, large boobs straining her shirt, and toned legs so not fair!

“What, sweetie? Hello all!” She had a wispy voice and graceful demeanor.

“Cowboys,” was all Cindy said. It was all she had to say, really.

Julie looked at the boys and smiled meekly. “Hello boys. Welcome! I’m Julie.”

She reached out with a dainty hand to shake. William met it easily, trained by Denise to always be cordial. In opposition, Adam had stars in his eyes and was having a helluva time not looking down at those bursting, perfect breasts.

Her eyes turned to Lump and me. “And who are the lucky ladies? Oh, look at you girls! You are pretty, aren’t you?”

I felt elated as I introduced everyone.

“They are big cowboys,” Cindy said with a hint in her voice and a wink to Lump and me.

“The bigger the cowboy, the better the ride,” Lump replied with a smirk.

All the girls started laughing, Cindy putting her hand on Lump’s arm. Adam, red faced, shuffled at the ground, not knowing where to look. I could tell he desperately wanted to tell Lump to shut up. William was still confused, realizing this scene was not real life, and looking at me for help. Which he didn’t get.

Cindy, still chuckling, led the way to our table. The restaurant was small and dominated by the large bar. There were tables all around the walls, with one aisle separating the table or booth from the bar. As we walked down that aisle, the boys got looks from every single lady they passed, whether at tables or working.

It was true, there weren’t many men—it was a destination spot for women mostly—and Adam and William got the stares because of it. Some women might not look when their spouses were around, but on a girls’ night, they were gawking a-plenty.

When Cindy reached our table she stood back for the boys to pass, and eyed their butts as they did so. She then gave Lump and I sultry smile and a wink. It was clear that she was on our team, and it was all in good sport. All for show.

Our waitress came in a flash, already making her rounds in the area before the next snippet of show was to start. She was shorter than the other girls, but just as beautiful, just as glamorous, and just as fun-loving.

“Hello everyone. Hello boys, nice to have you here. My name is Linda and I’ll be serving you all night long.” She gave William a small smile, which he returned with a slightly askew and uncomfortable version of his own. “Here are the menus, and what would you like to drink?”

We gave our orders and she hustled off, smiles in plenty.

Before the next show started, William asked, “What is this place?”

“What do you mean?” I didn’t look up from my menu.

“I don’t know.” He shook his head as he looked around, brow still furrowed. His gaze took in Adam, who was currently ogling a half-naked waitress.

Lump noticed and kicked him. “Put your eyes back in your head, you fool!”

Adam looked sheepish, but he pointed in exasperation. “Look at what they’re wearing? When I go into Hooters, I know to look up. Weren’t expectin’ it, Betz. Why’d you bring us here if you knew we couldn’t help but look?”

Lump rolled her eyes. William, thoughtful, sought my gaze, and then clung onto it intently. He was working it out, probably thinking what Adam said was a valid point, and wondering what I was up to.

“You’ll see. I hear the show is great. I didn’t know you were hounds!” I winked, letting him know I was playing.

The lights dimmed and everyone looked at the bar. Lump and I were facing away from it so we half turned in our chairs to watch.

The first act was already half-stripped down. She must not have completely re-dressed after the first shows. She had a short cheerleader type skirt on and a type of Madonna bra. She had a bunch of chains and jewelry that made the outfit work somehow, while singing a Madonna song. Hence the outfit. Her routine worked her all the way down the back portion of the bar, out to the end where we could all see her easily.

Her rhythm wasn’t the best, but she was funny and really hammed it up. Tons of fun.

The next performer was none other than Julie! She had a G-string and nothing dangling. Her body was something out of a model’s magazine. I was definitely jealous. So was Lump by the look on her face.

She didn’t lip sing so much, but her dancing was on spot! Girlfriend had some moves! The whole crowd was cheering her on, singing along to the Cher song, and having a blast! When she was done the girls in the audience went wild!

After Julie were three more, but none could match Julie’s body, moves or beauty. All were fun to watch, though, and all were still pretty with great bodies or talent. Usually both.

“I am so excited for L.A.!” I gushed at Lump, watching Adam out of the corner of my eye.

The guy was worth the price of admission. He was trying to focus on anything but the pretty waitresses. His eyes darted constantly, landing on a boob then flinching away. He’d see a face, then helplessly plummet his gaze, only to get scorched and find something else to look at. He was not enjoying the scenery with his girlfriend across the table, staring at him.

I felt a little bad for him.

William was also looking around, but in a very different way. He treated this whole thing like a large puzzle, working at it like a stray thread in a sweater. He wasn’t nearly as dazed and tortured as Adam, to Lump’s dismay.

“Me, too! I want to go to some of our old stomping grounds,” Lump said distractedly, still watching a red-faced Adam.

“Some of the calmer ones, though,” I went on, watching a dancer saunter down the bar.

Our conversation broke up as dinner came, plates looking and smelling delicious. I lost track of the boys as I dug into the meal, chatting with Lump and ignoring a grim-faced Adam.