Victor and I are in his award-winning man-cave basement, drinking a couple of cold beers at his mini bar when the doorbell rings from upstairs.

Victor’s wife and kids are at ballet practice, so Victor has to go upstairs to answer the door. I follow him, curious to see who’s there.

When Victor opens the door, Jay from the club stands there in his signature leather jacket and a pair of jeans.

“Hey, Jay, come on in.” Victor gestures Jay inside. If he’s baffled by Expose’s manager ringing his doorbell, he doesn’t show it.

We walk back into the main living room.

“Please, take a seat,” Victor says, and both Jay and I do as he instructs.

Jay sits on the opposite couch across from Victor and me, and I gulp nervously and try to keep my breathing even. Jay isn’t in the business of making house calls, especially way out here in Connecticut, so to say I’m fucking freaking out is the fucking understatement of the year.

The three of us sit there, staring at each other like a couple of fucking chumps for a few minutes, then Jay finally breaks the ice and speaks.

“Here you go, man.” He extends his hand to reveal my beloved Gold Card.

“What the fuck is this about?” I ask with confusion. I don’t take the card at first, afraid this is some sort of fucking trap.

“This is for you. We’re officially reinstating you as of today,” Jay says and wiggles the card in his hand, beckoning me to take it.

I stare at him, then the card, then back at him.

“Are you going to fucking take the damn thing or what?” Jay chuckles.

I nod and grab the card before Jay can change his mind. I look over at Victor, whose expression doesn’t reveal that he has any fucking clue what’s going on either.

“This isn’t a joke?” I raise an eyebrow and look to Jay for solid confirmation.

“Nope, dead serious,” Jay says and nods, leaning over on his elbows.

“Why?” I ask the pressing question.

Victor begins to bounce in his seat, interrupting Jay from answering. “This is fucking badass, man.” He’s really hyped up, I can tell.

“What?” I laugh and look at him.

“You know,” he playfully slaps my upper arm, “this is like a true miracle. You’re getting your card back just in time for your date with Crystal!”

Victor high fives me, and I glance back at Jay, who’s just staring at us like we are a couple of dipshits. He’s not entirely wrong about that.

“So?” I ask expectantly.

“What?” Jay shrugs and looks between me and Victor.

“Why did you guys change your mind? Why are you giving me my card back?” I twirl the card between my thumb and index finger. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m super stoked to get it back.” I grin at him.

“I just want to know who to thank,” I chuckle.

Jay takes a deep breath and stands up.

“We got a call from ‘above.’” He even fucking uses air quotes.

He moves to the door. “Bye, fellas, I’ll let myself out.” Jay casts us a wave.

“Bye.” Victor waves back and grins at me.

“That’s all you are going to give me?” I shout back to Jay. “Come on, not even a little clue?”

Jay opens the door and leaves, closing it shut tight behind him.

“This is so awesome, dude!” Victor gives me a congratulatory slap on the back.

I absentmindedly place the card on the table, paying it no attention. I don’t even fucking care what it represents right now, and the fact that I have it back means jack shit to me at this point.

I stare at it blankly, not saying a word.

“Uh, Owen…?” I hear Victor calling my name. “You okay in there, buddy?”

He gives me a quizzical look.

“I’m fine.” I shrug. “Want to go back to drinking in your basement?”

Victor looks at me as if I’m losing my shit.

“Dude, are you even remotely excited?”

“For what?” I ask.

“Um, let’s see…to have your card back? You are officially back as a Gold Member, this is fucking epic!”

“I could care less, really.” I shrug dismissively.

“I thought the whole point was to score the rare date with Crystal?” Victor picks up the card and studies it. “It’s got your name on it; it’s really yours,” he says without looking up.

“Yeah…” I trail off.

“Owen, listen to me.”

I meet eyes with Victor, who’s wearing a serious expression.

“What?” I ask, feeling uncomfortable by his daunting gaze.

“Don’t make the same mistakes I made in life,” Victor confesses firmly. “You’ve been pining over Crystal for months.”

“I’m not making any mistakes,” I lie. I’ve made a huge fucking mistake by leading Molly on.

Victor shakes his head.

He doesn’t believe me, but he knows me better than anyone, so why should he?

“Men like you don’t settle down,” he affirms.

“I’m not trying to settle down,” I protest.

“You like Molly.” Victor finally makes his point and confronts me.

“Maybe.” I don’t pretend, I don’t deny it.

“So, I’m just telling you, it’s not a good idea. You’ll end up like me.”

I stare at Victor as if he’s a fucking idiot. “Victor, you have a great life, and I know you love your family,” I shoot back.

“Yes, I love them, but I would do anything to have a date with Crystal. You don’t know how lucky you have it right now, Owen. She’s almost untouchable, and totally out of the grasp of a married guy like me.”

“I’ve hurt Molly,” I say in a whisper.

“She’ll get over it.” Victor rolls his eyes.

“You think I should still keep my date with Crystal?” I ask, even though Victor is already selling his case pretty fucking hard right now.

“Absolutely,” he says, nodding with confirmation. “She’s fucking gold, brother, the pillar of manhood, the reason every guy at the Expose Club pays top dollar to have that membership.”

“I guess you’re right…” I trail off. He may be convincing me, but I still have Molly’s gorgeous face in my mind as I picture her slender legs wrapped around my waist and digging into my ass cheeks.

“Damn right, I’m right,” Victor laughs. “Crystal is fucking hot as shit. An opportunity like this doesn’t present itself everyday, Owen, my man.”

“All the other guys who haven’t had her yet will be jealous.” I grin. What? Don’t judge me, I can relish in that power for a few fucking seconds.

“Exactly.” Victor slaps my back. “She is the ultimate prize, the final destination, the fucking jackpot, man!”

Victor stands up and claps his hands together as if he’s getting pumped up for a marathon.

“Well, Molly hates me now anyway,” I say, and finally admitting that fact out loud makes me feel deflated.

“Look, Owen, I know you’re conflicted, but everything will work out. You can always apologize to Molly later.”

“That’s a good point,” I say, but I wonder if it’s a lost cause. I fucked up royally with Molly.

“So, are you going to redeem your prize?” Victor grins mischievously.

“Maybe we should switch roles,” I joke. Sometimes I think that maybe Victor is more adventurous than me and that he’s just trapped.

“Fuck you,” he laughs.

“I guess I’ll keep my date,” I say, still a little wary.

“They reinstated your membership. It’s a sign from the universe.” Victor nods proudly, as if he holds the key to all the answers.

“Okay, okay, don’t twist my arm. I’ll go see Crystal,” I laugh, teasing him.

“Excellent choice, my man,” Victor states.

I just wish my heart was all the fucking way in it for Crystal. Although I’m hoping maybe once I see her, everything will become crystal clear. Maybe I can get my head on straight, stop pining over a girl. Because that’s not me, not by a fucking long shot.

Still, as I leave Victor’s Molly’s is the only face I see.