KELLAN
I sit in the parking lot of The SX Club waiting for my friend Rodney to show up. This was his idea, and the asshole is late. I'm half-tempted to leave.
I watch the line of people slowly filing into the building. Scantily clad women and their dates. Rodney has told me that the people who come here are normal, but to be honest, I'd be more worried about picking up an STD from this place than a good time. Being a medical professional, I know how rampant herpes is in this town.
My body is my temple, and unlike most guys my age, I'm not really into playing hit and run. I like to know where a girl's been before I stick my dick in her. Why Rodney thinks I could meet a girl here, of all places, is beyond me. It's supposedly virgin night or something stupid like that. But I'm pretty sure that a lot of the women in the club have seen more dicks than I have. It's not like you can prove female virginity anyway.
I check my phone and scowl. Rodney is already five minutes late. I'm giving him five more minutes and then I'm going to drive to the pool hall down the street. If he wants to enjoy a night of debauchery, he can do it alone. This is not my scene at all.
I find myself staring at the time, half-praying he doesn't show up. To be honest, I'm not even sure I'm ready for something like this. I broke up with my fiancée two years ago after walking in on her having sex with another guy in our bed. I haven't had any interest in dating since. Jacking off always seemed like the better solution to take care of my sexual urges as opposed to subjecting myself to the possibility of getting hurt again.
But that's not what tonight is about. Tonight is just about getting laid. If I can force myself to do it.
I don't want to force myself, though. Coming here feeling like I have a goal makes me no better than all the other douchebags in the world.
“Thank God,” I say as Rodney's time runs out.
I turn the key in the ignition to bring my Jag to life.
“Bye-bye, weird little club.” I back out of the space I'm parked in and start heading towards the exit. I'm halfway there when I see Rodney's Chrysler pull in. I curse under my breath before stopping next to him and rolling down my window.
“Where are you going, buddy?” He sounds as if he has no clue that I was leaving. Like I had just gotten lost in the parking lot and was still looking for the club.
“You're late, buddy,” I say the buddy part mockingly.
“Well, I'm here now. I'll meet you at the back of the line.” He rolls up his window and continues on, pulling into the parking spot I just vacated.
I roll my eyes, turning my car around to find a new parking space.
Despite saying he'd meet me in the line, Rodney walks over to my car. I look his attire up and down, wondering if I'm overdressed. He's wearing baggy jeans with sneakers and an oversized t-shirt with a logo on it.
“Wow. Look at you.” His eyes rake over the black suit I'm wearing. “You going to a funeral?” he jokes.
“The dress code said classy for men,” I mention as we step in line, noticing that I'm the only guy who seems to have dressed up.
“Yeah. I think they just say that to chase away the bad elements. You ready for all the hot virgins?” Rodney rubs his palms together as we approach the door.
“Do you really think virgins would come to a place like this?” I cock an eyebrow at him.
“They'll be here tonight. It's The Virgin Dating Game,” he says like a game show host, and I can't help but chuckle.
“Wow. You are really amped up for this.”
“Gotta get me some virgin pussy. You should get some, too.” He pulls out his membership card to hand to the cashier. Meanwhile, I'm ushered into a different line to fill out paperwork and pay my dues.
We step into the club, and it's nothing like I expected it to be. I had imagined writhing naked bodies all over the place, but what I see is more like a regular nightclub. There's a bar on one side, a big open dance floor in the middle, ample seating space, and the walls are lined with vendors peddling their adult wares.
“Want a beer?” Rodney asks, holding up the 6-pack of Milwaukee's Best he brought in. The stuff tastes like piss water to me, but right now I'd drink just about anything to take the edge off.
“Sure.” I pull one from the holder and twist off the top before drawing it up to my lips.
“Care for a tour?” His eyes are full of excitement.
“Sure,” I reply with far less vigor.
He walks me around the room, spending more time at each vendor than I would like. If I want sex toys, I can go online. The inflation from these little brick and mortar vendors is ridiculous, though I do find some things I've never seen before, not that I consider myself particularly kinky. Once we're done making the rounds, he takes me through a door that separates the private area from the rest of the club. We're forced to leave our beer on a table outside before entering.
“This is where they'll be busting cherries later,” he informs me unabashedly.
In the private area are multiple bays with beds. There are bowls filled with condoms throughout. Two of the bays are occupied with couples going at it. I'd be lying if I said the sounds and display of sex didn't turn me on, though it makes me a bit uncomfortable at the same time. It's like I'm looking in on something I shouldn't be seeing. But I know that the couples enjoy being watched. That's why they're doing this, after all.
“I doubt a real virgin would want to lose it in front of all these strangers,” I mutter.
“What was that?” Rodney turns to me.
“Nothing.” I shake my head.
We stand and watch the couples for a while longer. My arousal is only curbed by my racing thoughts, wondering if I'd have the balls to have sex with someone in front of so many people.
“This room gets pretty crowded,” Rodney mentions. As it is, there's plenty of standing room left. Only about a dozen people occupy the space. The viewing area could probably accommodate closer to fifty.
“So is this what you do here?” I nod towards the people having sex.
“I haven't tried it yet, though I have been to the private rooms in the back.” He glances towards a hallway I hadn't noticed before. “I haven't run into anyone kinky enough yet.”
“I'm surprised, given the nature of this place.” My eyes sweep around the room.
“Someday.” He rubs his palms together before turning to me. “Do you want to watch some more or are you ready to go register for The Virgin Dating Game?”
“Let's find a table first. I think you might be registering for The Virgin Dating Game alone.”
“Oh, come on, man.” His shoulders droop in disappointment. “Live a little.”
“I've lived a lot. I'm not really interested in banging pretend virgins.” I give him a side-eye to show him I'm serious.
“Fine.” Rodney throws his hands up. “I won't force you to do anything. But if you have a bad time, it's not my fault.”
“Noted.” I follow him out of the private area.
Just in the short time that we were in there, the club has filled up a lot. We're forced to take a table towards the back of the club away from the dance floor and where they have the area set up for The Virgin Dating Game.
“It's ours now,” Rodney tells me as he sets his 6-pack down as if that means the table is claimed.
“Good stuff.” I pull out my chair and sit before reaching across for another beer.
“What are you doing?” He looks at me like I'm crazy.
“Grabbing another beer. Is that okay with you?” I hesitate.
“Man, we've got to go sign up.” He gestures towards the registration table.
“You go on without me.” I twist the top off of my second beer, settling in.
He rolls his eyes and opens his mouth like he's about to say something, but then he just huffs and leaves me to go register. I smirk at his back. Nice try, buddy. But this place isn't for me.
My gaze washes over the occupants of the club, most of which appear to be happy couples. A wave of loneliness hits me. This probably isn't the best place to be when I'm still nursing a broken heart.
Maybe Claudia broke me completely. It's been two fucking years. I should be over her already. Yet every time I see people happily carrying on in their relationships, I miss what we had.
I can't be here, I realize quickly. My mood is sinking like a stone. I'm falling into a depression that I typically only feel on Valentine's Day, which I do good to avoid by staying home. This is worse than Valentine's Day. This place is couple's haven times ten.
I slip my half-drank beer back into the holder and scan the room for Rodney. As soon as he returns, I'm going to leave. My eyes land on the registration table and stick there. My search for Rodney ends as long brown hair and a tight ass in a red dress catch my attention. The woman is leaning over the table, scrawling her name across the sign-up form. When she turns to speak to her friend, I discover that the front of her is every bit as appealing as the back. The dress clings to her braless tits. I can see her nipples perked from across the room.
Something inside me stirs. Something that's been dead for a long time.
There's no way this woman can possibly be a virgin. She's entirely too attractive. But that doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is getting up the balls to talk to her. If I saw her at a normal bar or club, I wouldn't be able to gather up the nerve. Approaching women has never been my specialty. I probably wouldn't have even ever dated Claudia if she hadn't started working as a receptionist at my office. Being together with someone every day makes hitting on them easier. You start a natural dialogue, and things flow from there. Picking up someone at a bar is so rushed. You only have a few seconds to make a good impression. And then, of course, there's always the fear of rejection.
My stomach turns as dark thoughts overtake me. There's no way this beauty in red could possibly be interested in me.
But just as I think it, our eyes meet. And I know at that moment I have to register for The Virgin Dating Game just for the chance to meet her.