Born to Make You Smile

THREE

On Friday evening, I headed over to my best friend Dorina’s place. She lived with her older sister, Vanessa, in a spacious two-bedroom condo downtown. With its ten-foot ceilings, upgraded finishes, and breathtaking view, it screamed luxury. Financially, I’d imagine they were both doing exceptionally well.

As soon as Dorina saw me, she greeted me with a loud, “Here she is!”

Her long chestnut-brown hair was styled sleek and straight, and it fell over her skintight magenta dress.

“ Damn .” Her eyes ran over my body.

“This old thing?” I teased and struck a pose in my favorite little black dress. It emphasized my hourglass curves and hid the extra weight I’d gained over the past few years. My golden curls fell to my shoulders, and I actually made an effort with my makeup. Eyeliner and mascara to highlight my blue eyes, and a hint of blush and bronzer to bring some color to my porcelain skin.

I hollered a hello to Vanessa, who was still in her bedroom getting ready.

“I can't believe you’re actually coming out with us tonight,” Dorina said. “I'm so happy! You have no idea.”

She flailed her hands and hugged me. She smelled of coconut and vanilla, her signature perfume since high school.

For once, I decided to be more outgoing and accept Dorina’s invitation to join her tonight. I figured I’d have a few pre-drinks here, then nurse one at the club. I just prayed the cover charge wasn't astronomical.

“Want a drink?” she asked.

“Yes, please!” I removed my nude pumps and felt small, sinking about four inches below Dorina’s five-foot-seven height.

I met Dorina in grade nine. She saw me sitting alone at lunch on the third day of school and plopped herself next to me. We talked and realized we lived just a few streets away, and we immediately bonded over our love for shows like One Tree Hill and Degrassi . We kept each other sane during the four long years. She also taught me how to tame my unruly curls with all the right products and blow-dry techniques. She had a natural talent for doing hair, and it wasn’t surprising when she became a successful hairdresser and an assistant manager at the salon.

Dorina and I took our vodka sodas to the couch. She vented about her day. A disgruntled older man had made a fuss and refused to pay his hairdresser. Dorina managed to calm him down, and he ended up settling his bill, even leaving his hairdresser a very generous tip. Dorina had that effect on people. Calm but firm. Like a mama bear.

“Your hair looks amazing,” she gushed. “You’re using that new curl activator lotion I got you?”

“Yeah. It’s a game changer.”

All thanks to Dorina’s exclusive freebies from the salon, my hair always looked fabulous.

“Dor,” Vanessa called from the kitchen. “Did you pay this hydro bill or no?”

“I paid it,” Dorina said.

Vanessa groaned. “Goddamn, why is it so high?”

I shifted on the couch. I had so many overdue bills I knew I’d have to tackle this weekend. My stomach dipped as I remembered my mortgage increase.

When my mother had passed away suddenly, I was left to handle the house payments. She had nothing set up—no life insurance and very little savings. While most eighteen-year-olds were planning their summer grad trips and prepping to attend university, I had been mountain-deep in debt, trying to keep my head above water.

Five years later and I was still drowning.

“Random question,” I said with a sigh. “How much is a normal mortgage rate increase? For a house? Asking for a friend, obviously.”

Dorina tilted her head at me. “Oh, pollita . How bad is it?”

I shrugged. “It’s fine. I'll just have to dip into my emergency savings. Cut down on extra groceries this week.”

And then the next...

“It’s going to be okay!” She placed a hand on my arm. “You’ll figure it out like you always do.”

I nodded with a forced smile, trying my best to believe her optimistic words.

“I may have something to help take your mind off your mortgage woes. Will’s friend Ethan is coming to the club tonight, and I thought maybe you two might hit it off.”

While I’d gone on many dates, I never really felt that spark, that longing to continue seeing them. Not to mention, the expectations of a sexual relationship intimidated me. Because of that, things would typically fizzle out after the first or second date. In the end, I’d decided I didn’t have the desire nor the time to deal with any kind of commitment. I had enough on my plate these days.

“I’ve met him a few times,” Dorina said. “He’s really nice. Gorgeous. Smart. Successful.”

“How old is he?”

She crossed her long, tanned legs. “Same as Will. Twenty-eight.”

I frowned. A guy that age definitely had a lot of experience and expectations.

“Look. I know you’re super particular about men. But just meet him. You never know! Sparks could fly.”

Dorina, as always, the hopeless romantic.

“We’ll see,” I said, finishing the last of my vodka soda. “But I am going to need another drink before we go.”

***

The club’s dance floor was bursting with people, and I held Dorina’s hand as we maneuvered through the thick crowd. The rhythmic thumping of dance beats, beaming purple lasers, and the fetid smog of sweat and cheap perfume invaded my senses. This was the kind of scene I’d loved and craved years ago. Now, all I wanted was to go back to Dorina and Vanessa’s quiet condo and chill.

“I see him,” exclaimed Dorina as she spotted Will standing by the bar. She tapped my arm. “And Grace, there’s Ethan.”

As we approached the two men, my nerves fluttered. Half eager, half hesitation. Then Ethan turned around to face me.

He was handsome, wearing a black dress shirt that hugged and emphasized his taut, fit body. He also happened to be very tall, well above six feet. He looked like a model straight out of the pages of GQ magazine. Like the type of man with so many notches on his bed that he’d worn down the frame. And then there was me. The complete opposite.

Not a single notch, scratch, or scrape to be found on my bed.

With a smile, Dorina introduced us. “Grace, this is Ethan. Ethan, Grace.”

Her expression was hopeful.

“Grace. It’s so nice to meet you.” Ethan’s voice had a silk rasp that suited his physique. He had dark hair and eyes and a chiseled jawline peppered with a trace amount of stubble.

He generously offered to buy me a drink, then we stepped off to the side where it was quieter so we could chat. He asked me about what I did for a living. I told him how much I loved being a dental assistant. He talked about working at his uncle’s company as a financial analyst. He was friendly, charming, and definitely intelligent. Almost too good to be true.

As we spoke, I noticed him frequently glance at his phone, like he had somewhere else to be. The first time, I let it slide, but by the third time, I began to grow irritated.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, trying to remain polite.

“Actually,” he said with a sigh. “I gotta go. I have a twelve-week-old puppy at home, and I don’t want to leave him too long. He’s not used to being alone longer than a few hours.”

My shoulders sank as guilt consumed me. I’d misinterpreted the situation and made assumptions.

“What kind of puppy?” I asked, my voice soft.

“He’s a chocolate lab.” Ethan pulled up a photo on his phone.

He was the cutest, most scrumptious brown pup I’d ever seen.

Be still my heart.

“His name’s Aslan.”

“Aslan?” I repeated, thinking I’d misheard him. “As in The Chronicles of Narnia ?”

I thought about the box set on my bookshelf. The special collection had been passed down to me from my mother.

“Yup. My favorite book series growing up.”

A bout of surprise came over me, and my cheeks warmed. “Mine too.”

“No way.” He smiled widely, showing off his pristine set of white teeth, then tilted his head. “Listen, Grace. Before I go, do you think I can get your number? I’d really like to see you again.”

I looked into his deep brown eyes and entered my number into his phone before I could change my mind.

The night continued after Ethan left, and I held on to the one drink he’d bought me, though it was practically down to ice. As I watched Dorina and Will grinding on the dance floor, Vanessa approached me.

“Hey,” she said. “How’s it going?”

“Not bad. You?”

She sighed. “I’m over this scene.”

“Same here.”

She leaned in close. “I didn’t want to discuss this at the condo, you know in front of Dor, but I couldn’t help but overhear you talking about your mortgage situation. So there’s a job available. At the club.”

Vanessa worked as an organizer for some sex club downtown. Truthfully, I didn’t know much about it, except for the fact that Dorina hated that her sister worked there, calling it sketchy and unsafe.

I nodded with hesitation. “Okay…”

“We could really use a part-time bartender and server on weeknights. Great way to make some extra cash and still keep your full-time job.”

I tried to picture myself working at a sex club. Yeah, right. “I don’t know. I’m not sure that’s my scene.”

Vanessa fluffed her short black hair. “It’s not as crazy as you think. Sure, it gets a little kinky, but most of the heavier stuff is behind closed doors in the rooms. I mean, you’ll definitely see some things, but it’s pretty tame. At least I think so.” She shrugged.

“So I wouldn’t have to…” I paused to collect my thoughts. “Participate or get naked?”

“No way!” She put her hand on my arm. “It’s not like that. You don’t have to wear anything you’re not comfortable with. A costume of your choosing or a bit of leather. But it’s completely up to you.”

Dorina blew me a kiss from the dance floor, oblivious to my conversation with her sister.

“I’ll think about it,” I said.

Vanessa clanked her drink against my empty glass with a smirk, then walked away.