CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
When she walked in with her painted lips
Did she tease you for your flirty quips?
Did she leave you frozen with the wrong words chosen?
You gotta show her why she can't resist
Make her blush when you put your hand on her hips
She's gonna keep on playing until you stop chasing
So wrap your arms around her body
Tell her all she needs to know
Give A Little heart and soul
Let your body lose control
Give A Little oh oh oh
Give A Little
Wrap your arms around and Give A Little
You gotta show her when she can't decide
You gotta hold her with that look in your eyes
When you move in close take your time
Leave an empty shoulder
Let her move in closer
And wrap your arms around her body
Tell her all she needs to know
She loves to keep you in suspense
You know she loves to keep you in suspense
But you know she just wants to dance
MEL
"I'm dying."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm sorry to put on the dramatics like that, but I really think I'm dying. I need adult, female attention, like, yesterday."
Mel giggled over the phone at Nikki's apparent desperation. Mel was not a mother and had never planned to become one, but she could only imagine where Nikki was coming from. Being a stay-at-home mom while your husband worked around the clock had to get rough sometimes. And lonely.
"Well..." Mel contemplated. "I wouldn't be lying if I didn't feel the same way. Tay is suffocating me!"
Now it was Nikki's turn to giggle. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
"I wanted us to be--us. I mean, new us. But he's acting like old us and it's weird."
"Maybe old you is who you are."
"Yeah but--" Mel paused for a moment at Nikki's words. Hell. Maybe she was right. Maybe they'll always be that way. Old Mel and Tay, new Mel and Tay--it was all the same. "Either way, he's driving me crazy. So, yes. Desperately, yes, I will go out with you!"
"Oh, it's a date!!!" Nikki sang excitedly. "Let's go to Majestic!"
Mel nearly choked on her own saliva. "Nikki, Majestic is a gay club."
"I know! We won't get hit on!"
"Um, maybe not by the men, but the women will."
"Not if we walk in together, silly!"
Mel made the tsk sound with her mouth. "Nikki, Nikki, Nikki. Where did you learn to be such a naughty girl?"
"Are you kidding, I did my fair share of partying before Ike domesticated me. We're still young, you know!"
"And how in the world are you familiar with Majestic?"
"I know the door guy. Play group with his sister's kids. No biggie. On Saturdays there's a drag show on the hour, it'll be great!"
"Well I do enjoy a good drag show..."
"Dinner and dancing?"
"I do believe we have a date!"
And this was how Mel ended up at the bar with Nikki, drinks in hand, scoping out a sea of gorgeous men. "I cannot believe all of these men," Mel said, shaking her head. "Look at them. Look at him! And him and him..."
"And not one of them straight," Nikki finished for her.
"Makes looking more fun," Mel said. "You can lust without guilt..."
"Way ahead of you," Nikki said.
Mel smiled over at her. "You think this how men are when they come out like this? Ogling women like they're slabs of beef?"
Nikki scoffed at her. "Of course they do. Do they know any other way to behave in public?"
"You have a point...you think Ike, Tay, and Zac do it?"
"Yes," she said, matter-of-factly. "Except the difference between them and normal men is they won't vocalize it. But their eyes are wandering. It's a man thing. They can't help it."
"And you don't mind?"
"Do you?"
"I think I'd be concerned if they didn't..."
"Exactly."
It was disco night at Majestic. Between the attack of the 70's and the drag show every hour, it had all the makings of every stereotype a gay club could have. Mel and Nikki were having a blast.
They drank without a care. They danced with more men that night than either one had probably ever even dated. They were even spotlighted dancing on a platform. They laughed and they cackled and then they drank and danced some more. Mel knew she would regret this in the morning but she was having too much fun to care. She needed this and Nikki was a total blast to hang out with. At one point, Mel found herself saying, "Natalie and Kate are really missing out!"
Nikki waved her off. "Nah! Let those old stuck-up fuddy duddies sit at home with their noses in the air. That's their own problem! I do wish Drew were here though!"
"She would totally eat this up!" Mel agreed.
And then the night went on. Mel and Nikki found themselves dancing to ABBA with a couple of very pretty, very beefy men who were a couple themselves when Nikki suddenly pulled Mel close and turned her attention to the bar. "Look," she said loudly over the music. "Our men have arrived!"
Mel spied Isaac and Taylor at the bar and didn't know if she should wave or run and hide. "What are they doing here?" Mel asked, just when they both managed to make eye contact with herself and Nikki.
Nikki threw her head back and laughed. "I don't know, but this night just keeps getting better and better!"
"Let's pretend like they're not here!" Mel said.
"Oooh, great idea!"
"Let's go to the opposite end of the bar and order them a drink!"
A devious grin spread across Nikki's face. "I like where this is going!"
The two of them excused themselves from the dance floor and approached the opposite end of the bar that the guys were on, knowing Ike and Tay were watching their every move. Nikki and Mel looked down the bar
at Ike and Tay and smiled. Ike and Tay smiled back. Nikki and Mel giggled at each other.
"This is so weird," Nikki said.
Mel flipped her hair back for show and smiled at Nikki. "But it's fun."
"Yeah, it kinda is," she agreed.
Mel flagged down the bartender and ordered two drinks. "Send those to the two hotties down at the end of the bar," she instructed him.
He looked down at Ike and Tay and then back at her and Nikki and smiled. "My pleasure."
Mel and Nikki couldn't help but giggle again.
______________________________________________
TAYLOR
"Why are we here again?" Taylor asked Isaac as they approached the door to Majestic.
"Because Nikki and Mel are here, that's why," Ike answered.
"How do you even know this?"
"Because my wife lets me know where she is and where she's going. It's a respect thing. And a safety thing."
"Must be nice. I couldn't pry it out of Mel."
"Mel's a tough cookie. She doesn't need you to protect her."
"That's not the point."
Ike stopped walking and turned to Tay. "This may sound harsh, but until you and Natalie no longer have that little piece of paper to tie you together, Mel doesn't really owe you an explanation for anything."
"I hate you sometimes."
"I know. Being your brother is a tough job sometimes."
Tay smirked at Ike. "Why don't we just let them have their night?"
"Relax, we're just popping in to say 'hi.' And besides it's on the way anyway."
"Ike, it is absolutely NOT on the way."
Ike scowled at Tay as they approached the door to the club. "Isaac!" They were greeted by a solidly built blonde man with bright eyes, a perfect haircut, and a sparkling smile.
"Ted, hey, how are you?" Ike greeted him, shaking his hand.
"Awesome," he said, enthusiastically. "You must be here for your wife."
"Yeah," he said. "Don't want to mess up her night, we were just in the area, thought we'd stop in and say hi."
"No prob, man. Go ahead on in!"
Taylor smiled shyly and followed his brother through the door. "How do you know that guy?" he asked Ike.
"The boys are in a play group with his sister's kids. It's a parenting thing. You wouldn't know anything about it."
"Mmhmm," Tay muttered under his breath.
They walked into the club and right into the 70's. KC and the Sunshine band blasted over the loudspeakers and Tay found himself bobbing his head. "At least the music's good!"
Ike nodded in agreement and set his sights on the club. The two of them searched through the sea of people but weren't able to locate Nikki and Mel. Tay didn't want to mention this to Ike but he was nervous about being there because he didn't want Mel to think he was stalking her or checking up on her. Things had been going so well, he didn't want to give her a reason to be upset with him.
"Hey, why don't we go sit at the bar so we don't look like we're standing here casing the place," Tay suggested.
Ike threw his head back in laughter. "You amuse me. Nobody is going to think we're doing anything like that, trust me."
They made their way to the bar and Ike spotted Nikki and Mel almost instantly. He backhanded Tay on the arm to get his attention. "Look," he said, motioning to the dance floor.
Tay followed his gaze to see Mel and Nikki on the dance floor. They looked amazing. Nikki towered over Mel in nude heels accompanied by a red orange long-sleeved, Hawaiian-print dress that fell just above her knees. Mel dressed simply in a tight, black, strapless mini dress and a pair of blindingly silver Jimmy Choo platform pumps. He only knew this because he found them in the box at her house and teased her, asking her where in the world she would ever wear them. Apparently he now had his answer. Her long, dark hair cascaded in natural waves down her back. Tay's heart palpitated.
It was then that he noticed how close the guy was dancing to her and he felt his blood begin to rise. He had almost taken a step when Isaac stopped him. "Be aware of your surroundings," he warned him.
Taylor took a step back and remembered where he was. He loosened up a little and continued to watch Mel dance. The way she moved her hips and flipped her hair out of her face. Oddly enough, watching her dance with this man was one of the most erotic things he'd ever seen. They didn't even touch each other. It was just...HER. Especially in that dress...goddamn that dress...Holy shit was this happening now??
He turned himself quickly toward the bar and managed to catch the eye of the male bartender who immediately flashed a flirtatious smile at him. That did it right there.
Back to himself again, he joined Ike in the visual entertainment until Ike said, "Uh-oh, we've been spotted."
"What the hell are they doing?" Tay asked as they watched them leave the dance floor and completely ignore their presence. They watched them as they approached the opposite end of the bar and....were they laughing? "Are you sure they saw us?" Tay asked.
Ike was displaying a gooney grin all over his face. "Hell yeah they saw us. They just declared war."
"What?"
At that moment the bartender, all too cheerfully, set two drinks in front of them. "From the ladies at the end," he said. "Enjoy."
Ike smiled and showed his glass to Tay. "Oh this is cute," he said, amused.
In spite of himself, Tay realized what was going on and was becoming a little amused himself. Unfortunately, he and Natalie never did stuff like this so he was a little stuck with what was supposed to happen next. "Uh, what happens now?"
Ike's smile was almost condescending. "Do you live under a rock? Write your phone number on a napkin."
Tay looked at Ike, blankly. "She already has my number."
Ike rolled his eyes and sighed. "Tay, just play the game."
"It's stupid, what's the point?"
Ike shook his head in disbelief. "Good god. The point is we're probably getting laid tonight!"
Taylor never wrote his phone number down so fast in his life.
____________________________________________
MEL
The bartender now slid a napkin in front of Mel. "You have mail," he said, winking at her.
She pulled some money out of her clutch and gave it to him. "Here's for your trouble," she said.
Then Nikki was over her shoulder in an instant. "What is it?"
Mel opened it and laughed and showed Nikki. "It's his phone number."
"They catch on fast," Nikki said.
"What do we do now?" Mel asked.
Nikki went blank. "Uh...I guess we go over there."
"That's no fun!"
"Well we can't leave them there forever!"
"Send Ike your address!" Mel said.
Nikki laughed. "You're crazy!"
"Seriously! Tay gave me his number. Now you're just upping the ante. We don't wanna give in and go to them, do we?"
Nikki smiled deviously. "You do have a point..." Nikki scrawled her address on a napkin and sent it back down the bar.
________________________________________________
TAYLOR
Isaac opened the new delivery and laughed. "Okay," he said, defeated. "I think we just lost this battle."
"Thank god," Tay said.
"Are you being a spoil sport?"
"Well, no, I mean, this is all fun for you and stuff, but have you seen Mel? I'm fucking dying here."
Ike shook his head. "You are no fun and completely hopeless."
Tay looked back at him, hurt and offended. "Hey, I'm fun..."
They made their way over to the giggling and slightly inebriated women and Tay watched as his older brother took his wife in his arms and kissed her. Awkwardly, Tay shoved his hands in his pockets and wished he hadn't witnessed the display, partially because--well come on, it was his brother. But mostly because he knew he couldn't display such affection with Mel. At least not right now.
Mel smiled up at him and bit her lip. "Why are you acting so nervous?"
Tay leaned over in hear ear. "Because you're so damn sexy and I can't even touch you right now."
"I know," Mel said with a mock pout. She looked over at Ike and Nikki and giggled. "I think they're a little too into this."
Taylor shuddered. "I genuinely believe this may be one of their little games, if you know what I mean."
"Wow," Mel nodded. Then she looked up at Tay. "It was a joint effort on our part."
He smiled at her. "Oh it was, was it? Well you do have my number now..."
"Yeah...I might call you sometime."
Tay laughed in disbelief. "MIGHT? Wow, I really put myself out there on that napkin and all I get is might?"
"Well, you know...it's risky putting yourself out there like that. You win some and you lose some."
"How did I do?"
Mel glanced down at the napkin and looked up in thought. "Well...I mean, it's barely legible..."
"Are you kidding? It's clear as day!"
"I don't know, I'm having a hard time reading it...and if I can't read it, I can't call you." She shrugged and shook her head. "I'm sorry, but tonight it looks like you struck out."
Tay smiled and shook his head. "You're horrible."
"You love it."
"I really do."
The two of them laughed and Nikki and Ike joined them. "Okay, okay, in all seriousness, we really just stopped by to see you ladies," Ike said. "We're headed to Cain's to check out a band."
Suddenly Mel was all business. "Are you thinking about signing them?" she asked.
"Uh, more like collaboration talk," he said.
"How about selling studio time?"
"I don't know..." said Tay.
"I should go with you, it would be a perfect PR opportunity for the label," Mel said.
Tay ran a hand through his hair in uncertainty. "Yeah, I don't know...I mean there will be cameras and..."
"So?" Mel said. She was already paying her bar tab. Tay couldn't help himself as he salivated at the angle and the curves of her body as she leaned up over the bar to sign her receipt. Then she turned her attention back to him. "I'm part owner now, it's merely business."
"I wouldn't mind tagging along," Nikki piped up. "I think we're about done here anyway."
Mel smiled. "Then it's settled. We're coming along."
Tay and Ike exchanged nervous glances at this news. "Uh, okay then," Ike said. "Let's hit the road."
Not thinking about it, Tay grabbed Mel's hand as they left the bar. Outside in the parking lot, Tay asked her, "Uh, did you bring a jacket or anything?"
Suddenly sober and slightly peeved, she looked up at him. "What are you trying to say?"
Immediately he wished he hadn't said anything. Sometimes he forgot that saying just the wrong thing could set her off. It was just one of the things that made her exactly like him. Plus she'd been drinking. Great going, Tay. Just fucking great.
"Uh, I'm not saying anything," he said.
"Yes you are. Why else would you suggest it? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me? Do you hate my dress? You hate my dress. I knew it. You know you're something else, I swear it. Always trying to control what I do or what I wear. Nothing's ever good enough for you. It's always your way or the highway. Well you know what? I like my dress. I LOVE this fucking dress. I think I look hot in it and if we were in a straight bar tonight, ANY of those men would have fallen all over me. How do you like that, huh?" As she rambled, a breeze blew through and that night was boasting lower than normal temperatures. She suddenly hugged herself. "Goddamn when did it start cooling off?"
Tay raised his eyebrows at her in expectation.
Realizing what was going on, she narrowed her eyes and glared at him. "You know, I'm not stupid. Of course I have a jacket with me. What do you take me for?"
Detecting her hurt pride, he opted not to say a word as she went and pulled a blazer out of the front seat of her car. He watched as she bent over. That dress...he could have had her right there in the parking lot
and nobody would have seen them. He knew this. He was so tempted. She put a black, quarter-sleeved blazer on over the tight, black mini dress. God, that was hot too...
Tay quickly sobered up his excitement as he and Mel climbed in the SUV with Ike and Nikki and headed over to Cain's Ballroom. How he expected to concentrate on this band with Mel looking the way she did, he had no idea.
______________________________________________________
When she walked in with her painted lips
Did she tease you for your flirty quips?
Did she leave you frozen with the wrong words chosen?
You gotta show her why she can't resist
Make her blush when you put your hand on her hips
She's gonna keep on playing until you stop chasing
So wrap your arms around her body
Tell her all she needs to know
Give A Little heart and soul
Let your body lose control
Give A Little oh oh oh
Give A Little
Wrap your arms around and Give A Little
You gotta show her when she can't decide
You gotta hold her with that look in your eyes
When you move in close take your time
Leave an empty shoulder
Let her move in closer
And wrap your arms around her body
Tell her all she needs to know
She loves to keep you in suspense
You know she loves to keep you in suspense
But you know she just wants to dance
MEL
"I'm dying."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm sorry to put on the dramatics like that, but I really think I'm dying. I need adult, female attention, like, yesterday."
Mel giggled over the phone at Nikki's apparent desperation. Mel was not a mother and had never planned to become one, but she could only imagine where Nikki was coming from. Being a stay-at-home mom while your husband worked around the clock had to get rough sometimes. And lonely.
"Well..." Mel contemplated. "I wouldn't be lying if I didn't feel the same way. Tay is suffocating me!"
Now it was Nikki's turn to giggle. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
"I wanted us to be--us. I mean, new us. But he's acting like old us and it's weird."
"Maybe old you is who you are."
"Yeah but--" Mel paused for a moment at Nikki's words. Hell. Maybe she was right. Maybe they'll always be that way. Old Mel and Tay, new Mel and Tay--it was all the same. "Either way, he's driving me crazy. So, yes. Desperately, yes, I will go out with you!"
"Oh, it's a date!!!" Nikki sang excitedly. "Let's go to Majestic!"
Mel nearly choked on her own saliva. "Nikki, Majestic is a gay club."
"I know! We won't get hit on!"
"Um, maybe not by the men, but the women will."
"Not if we walk in together, silly!"
Mel made the tsk sound with her mouth. "Nikki, Nikki, Nikki. Where did you learn to be such a naughty girl?"
"Are you kidding, I did my fair share of partying before Ike domesticated me. We're still young, you know!"
"And how in the world are you familiar with Majestic?"
"I know the door guy. Play group with his sister's kids. No biggie. On Saturdays there's a drag show on the hour, it'll be great!"
"Well I do enjoy a good drag show..."
"Dinner and dancing?"
"I do believe we have a date!"
And this was how Mel ended up at the bar with Nikki, drinks in hand, scoping out a sea of gorgeous men. "I cannot believe all of these men," Mel said, shaking her head. "Look at them. Look at him! And him and him..."
"And not one of them straight," Nikki finished for her.
"Makes looking more fun," Mel said. "You can lust without guilt..."
"Way ahead of you," Nikki said.
Mel smiled over at her. "You think this how men are when they come out like this? Ogling women like they're slabs of beef?"
Nikki scoffed at her. "Of course they do. Do they know any other way to behave in public?"
"You have a point...you think Ike, Tay, and Zac do it?"
"Yes," she said, matter-of-factly. "Except the difference between them and normal men is they won't vocalize it. But their eyes are wandering. It's a man thing. They can't help it."
"And you don't mind?"
"Do you?"
"I think I'd be concerned if they didn't..."
"Exactly."
It was disco night at Majestic. Between the attack of the 70's and the drag show every hour, it had all the makings of every stereotype a gay club could have. Mel and Nikki were having a blast.
They drank without a care. They danced with more men that night than either one had probably ever even dated. They were even spotlighted dancing on a platform. They laughed and they cackled and then they drank and danced some more. Mel knew she would regret this in the morning but she was having too much fun to care. She needed this and Nikki was a total blast to hang out with. At one point, Mel found herself saying, "Natalie and Kate are really missing out!"
Nikki waved her off. "Nah! Let those old stuck-up fuddy duddies sit at home with their noses in the air. That's their own problem! I do wish Drew were here though!"
"She would totally eat this up!" Mel agreed.
And then the night went on. Mel and Nikki found themselves dancing to ABBA with a couple of very pretty, very beefy men who were a couple themselves when Nikki suddenly pulled Mel close and turned her attention to the bar. "Look," she said loudly over the music. "Our men have arrived!"
Mel spied Isaac and Taylor at the bar and didn't know if she should wave or run and hide. "What are they doing here?" Mel asked, just when they both managed to make eye contact with herself and Nikki.
Nikki threw her head back and laughed. "I don't know, but this night just keeps getting better and better!"
"Let's pretend like they're not here!" Mel said.
"Oooh, great idea!"
"Let's go to the opposite end of the bar and order them a drink!"
A devious grin spread across Nikki's face. "I like where this is going!"
The two of them excused themselves from the dance floor and approached the opposite end of the bar that the guys were on, knowing Ike and Tay were watching their every move. Nikki and Mel looked down the bar
at Ike and Tay and smiled. Ike and Tay smiled back. Nikki and Mel giggled at each other.
"This is so weird," Nikki said.
Mel flipped her hair back for show and smiled at Nikki. "But it's fun."
"Yeah, it kinda is," she agreed.
Mel flagged down the bartender and ordered two drinks. "Send those to the two hotties down at the end of the bar," she instructed him.
He looked down at Ike and Tay and then back at her and Nikki and smiled. "My pleasure."
Mel and Nikki couldn't help but giggle again.
______________________________________________
TAYLOR
"Why are we here again?" Taylor asked Isaac as they approached the door to Majestic.
"Because Nikki and Mel are here, that's why," Ike answered.
"How do you even know this?"
"Because my wife lets me know where she is and where she's going. It's a respect thing. And a safety thing."
"Must be nice. I couldn't pry it out of Mel."
"Mel's a tough cookie. She doesn't need you to protect her."
"That's not the point."
Ike stopped walking and turned to Tay. "This may sound harsh, but until you and Natalie no longer have that little piece of paper to tie you together, Mel doesn't really owe you an explanation for anything."
"I hate you sometimes."
"I know. Being your brother is a tough job sometimes."
Tay smirked at Ike. "Why don't we just let them have their night?"
"Relax, we're just popping in to say 'hi.' And besides it's on the way anyway."
"Ike, it is absolutely NOT on the way."
Ike scowled at Tay as they approached the door to the club. "Isaac!" They were greeted by a solidly built blonde man with bright eyes, a perfect haircut, and a sparkling smile.
"Ted, hey, how are you?" Ike greeted him, shaking his hand.
"Awesome," he said, enthusiastically. "You must be here for your wife."
"Yeah," he said. "Don't want to mess up her night, we were just in the area, thought we'd stop in and say hi."
"No prob, man. Go ahead on in!"
Taylor smiled shyly and followed his brother through the door. "How do you know that guy?" he asked Ike.
"The boys are in a play group with his sister's kids. It's a parenting thing. You wouldn't know anything about it."
"Mmhmm," Tay muttered under his breath.
They walked into the club and right into the 70's. KC and the Sunshine band blasted over the loudspeakers and Tay found himself bobbing his head. "At least the music's good!"
Ike nodded in agreement and set his sights on the club. The two of them searched through the sea of people but weren't able to locate Nikki and Mel. Tay didn't want to mention this to Ike but he was nervous about being there because he didn't want Mel to think he was stalking her or checking up on her. Things had been going so well, he didn't want to give her a reason to be upset with him.
"Hey, why don't we go sit at the bar so we don't look like we're standing here casing the place," Tay suggested.
Ike threw his head back in laughter. "You amuse me. Nobody is going to think we're doing anything like that, trust me."
They made their way to the bar and Ike spotted Nikki and Mel almost instantly. He backhanded Tay on the arm to get his attention. "Look," he said, motioning to the dance floor.
Tay followed his gaze to see Mel and Nikki on the dance floor. They looked amazing. Nikki towered over Mel in nude heels accompanied by a red orange long-sleeved, Hawaiian-print dress that fell just above her knees. Mel dressed simply in a tight, black, strapless mini dress and a pair of blindingly silver Jimmy Choo platform pumps. He only knew this because he found them in the box at her house and teased her, asking her where in the world she would ever wear them. Apparently he now had his answer. Her long, dark hair cascaded in natural waves down her back. Tay's heart palpitated.
It was then that he noticed how close the guy was dancing to her and he felt his blood begin to rise. He had almost taken a step when Isaac stopped him. "Be aware of your surroundings," he warned him.
Taylor took a step back and remembered where he was. He loosened up a little and continued to watch Mel dance. The way she moved her hips and flipped her hair out of her face. Oddly enough, watching her dance with this man was one of the most erotic things he'd ever seen. They didn't even touch each other. It was just...HER. Especially in that dress...goddamn that dress...Holy shit was this happening now??
He turned himself quickly toward the bar and managed to catch the eye of the male bartender who immediately flashed a flirtatious smile at him. That did it right there.
Back to himself again, he joined Ike in the visual entertainment until Ike said, "Uh-oh, we've been spotted."
"What the hell are they doing?" Tay asked as they watched them leave the dance floor and completely ignore their presence. They watched them as they approached the opposite end of the bar and....were they laughing? "Are you sure they saw us?" Tay asked.
Ike was displaying a gooney grin all over his face. "Hell yeah they saw us. They just declared war."
"What?"
At that moment the bartender, all too cheerfully, set two drinks in front of them. "From the ladies at the end," he said. "Enjoy."
Ike smiled and showed his glass to Tay. "Oh this is cute," he said, amused.
In spite of himself, Tay realized what was going on and was becoming a little amused himself. Unfortunately, he and Natalie never did stuff like this so he was a little stuck with what was supposed to happen next. "Uh, what happens now?"
Ike's smile was almost condescending. "Do you live under a rock? Write your phone number on a napkin."
Tay looked at Ike, blankly. "She already has my number."
Ike rolled his eyes and sighed. "Tay, just play the game."
"It's stupid, what's the point?"
Ike shook his head in disbelief. "Good god. The point is we're probably getting laid tonight!"
Taylor never wrote his phone number down so fast in his life.
____________________________________________
MEL
The bartender now slid a napkin in front of Mel. "You have mail," he said, winking at her.
She pulled some money out of her clutch and gave it to him. "Here's for your trouble," she said.
Then Nikki was over her shoulder in an instant. "What is it?"
Mel opened it and laughed and showed Nikki. "It's his phone number."
"They catch on fast," Nikki said.
"What do we do now?" Mel asked.
Nikki went blank. "Uh...I guess we go over there."
"That's no fun!"
"Well we can't leave them there forever!"
"Send Ike your address!" Mel said.
Nikki laughed. "You're crazy!"
"Seriously! Tay gave me his number. Now you're just upping the ante. We don't wanna give in and go to them, do we?"
Nikki smiled deviously. "You do have a point..." Nikki scrawled her address on a napkin and sent it back down the bar.
________________________________________________
TAYLOR
Isaac opened the new delivery and laughed. "Okay," he said, defeated. "I think we just lost this battle."
"Thank god," Tay said.
"Are you being a spoil sport?"
"Well, no, I mean, this is all fun for you and stuff, but have you seen Mel? I'm fucking dying here."
Ike shook his head. "You are no fun and completely hopeless."
Tay looked back at him, hurt and offended. "Hey, I'm fun..."
They made their way over to the giggling and slightly inebriated women and Tay watched as his older brother took his wife in his arms and kissed her. Awkwardly, Tay shoved his hands in his pockets and wished he hadn't witnessed the display, partially because--well come on, it was his brother. But mostly because he knew he couldn't display such affection with Mel. At least not right now.
Mel smiled up at him and bit her lip. "Why are you acting so nervous?"
Tay leaned over in hear ear. "Because you're so damn sexy and I can't even touch you right now."
"I know," Mel said with a mock pout. She looked over at Ike and Nikki and giggled. "I think they're a little too into this."
Taylor shuddered. "I genuinely believe this may be one of their little games, if you know what I mean."
"Wow," Mel nodded. Then she looked up at Tay. "It was a joint effort on our part."
He smiled at her. "Oh it was, was it? Well you do have my number now..."
"Yeah...I might call you sometime."
Tay laughed in disbelief. "MIGHT? Wow, I really put myself out there on that napkin and all I get is might?"
"Well, you know...it's risky putting yourself out there like that. You win some and you lose some."
"How did I do?"
Mel glanced down at the napkin and looked up in thought. "Well...I mean, it's barely legible..."
"Are you kidding? It's clear as day!"
"I don't know, I'm having a hard time reading it...and if I can't read it, I can't call you." She shrugged and shook her head. "I'm sorry, but tonight it looks like you struck out."
Tay smiled and shook his head. "You're horrible."
"You love it."
"I really do."
The two of them laughed and Nikki and Ike joined them. "Okay, okay, in all seriousness, we really just stopped by to see you ladies," Ike said. "We're headed to Cain's to check out a band."
Suddenly Mel was all business. "Are you thinking about signing them?" she asked.
"Uh, more like collaboration talk," he said.
"How about selling studio time?"
"I don't know..." said Tay.
"I should go with you, it would be a perfect PR opportunity for the label," Mel said.
Tay ran a hand through his hair in uncertainty. "Yeah, I don't know...I mean there will be cameras and..."
"So?" Mel said. She was already paying her bar tab. Tay couldn't help himself as he salivated at the angle and the curves of her body as she leaned up over the bar to sign her receipt. Then she turned her attention back to him. "I'm part owner now, it's merely business."
"I wouldn't mind tagging along," Nikki piped up. "I think we're about done here anyway."
Mel smiled. "Then it's settled. We're coming along."
Tay and Ike exchanged nervous glances at this news. "Uh, okay then," Ike said. "Let's hit the road."
Not thinking about it, Tay grabbed Mel's hand as they left the bar. Outside in the parking lot, Tay asked her, "Uh, did you bring a jacket or anything?"
Suddenly sober and slightly peeved, she looked up at him. "What are you trying to say?"
Immediately he wished he hadn't said anything. Sometimes he forgot that saying just the wrong thing could set her off. It was just one of the things that made her exactly like him. Plus she'd been drinking. Great going, Tay. Just fucking great.
"Uh, I'm not saying anything," he said.
"Yes you are. Why else would you suggest it? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me? Do you hate my dress? You hate my dress. I knew it. You know you're something else, I swear it. Always trying to control what I do or what I wear. Nothing's ever good enough for you. It's always your way or the highway. Well you know what? I like my dress. I LOVE this fucking dress. I think I look hot in it and if we were in a straight bar tonight, ANY of those men would have fallen all over me. How do you like that, huh?" As she rambled, a breeze blew through and that night was boasting lower than normal temperatures. She suddenly hugged herself. "Goddamn when did it start cooling off?"
Tay raised his eyebrows at her in expectation.
Realizing what was going on, she narrowed her eyes and glared at him. "You know, I'm not stupid. Of course I have a jacket with me. What do you take me for?"
Detecting her hurt pride, he opted not to say a word as she went and pulled a blazer out of the front seat of her car. He watched as she bent over. That dress...he could have had her right there in the parking lot
and nobody would have seen them. He knew this. He was so tempted. She put a black, quarter-sleeved blazer on over the tight, black mini dress. God, that was hot too...
Tay quickly sobered up his excitement as he and Mel climbed in the SUV with Ike and Nikki and headed over to Cain's Ballroom. How he expected to concentrate on this band with Mel looking the way she did, he had no idea.
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