Chapter 1
While drinking a cocktail near the bar, Bob Wilder watched his live-in girlfriend Carol Curtis dancing under the spinning lights. Loud thuds from the bass music rattled his bones. This nightclub was just as packed on weeknights as it was on weekends. It appeared New Yorkers needed to be inebriated after hours every day of the week. Ted Monroe leaned against his side, also holding a cocktail, a Tartini. “She loves to dance.” Ted indicated Carol with a nod of his head. Ted’s boyfriend, Allan Lemmon added, “Go join her!” Bob choked. “I don’t dance!” Ted pushed his boyfriend towards the dance floor. “You go!” Allan gulped his drink to the ice and set the glass on a table. He scooted between twirling bodies towards Carol and danced with her. The pair went wild, arms in the air, hips pumping, heads bobbing… Bob leaned against Ted’s shoulder, trying to communicate in the din, which was nearly impossible. “She’ll wake with a wicked hangover!” “That’s the price you pay when you drink too much!” Bob limited his alcohol consumption to two drinks… well, on weekdays. Weekends were another story. Ted elbowed Bob and indicated a man approaching them. Little Drew Raft. He held a blue cocktail and looked tipsy. He said, “Well, well, the NYU alums come to play with the normal people.” He and Ted rolled their eyes at each other tiredly. Bob replied over the noise, “Beats Pratt!” Ted laughed loudly as frumpy Drew took offense. “Hardy, har, har.” Drew scowled and then watched the madness on the dancefloor. It looked more like a mosh pit at a grunge concert than a swinging New York City night club. Bob felt his good buddy Ted’s arm around his waist and reciprocated, holding him close as the deep bass vibrated everything in the place. ~ “You go, girl!” Allan held onto Carol’s hands as they twirled under the multicolored spotlights while a DJ ratchetted up the intensity. At least twenty people were dancing in what felt like a whirling dervish motion. Allan watched Carol’s long brown hair whipping around, her eyes were closed, and she seemed lost in the booze and noise high. The free spirit in Carol was what he loved about her. Ever since the four of them met at NYU they’d been besties. He glanced at Ted and Bob, and the two of them were laughing together as they watched them. Allan threw them kisses, teasing, and then held Carol by her waist and spun around with her. She latched onto him and said, “Don’t spin too fast!” “And you! Don’t barf!” He laughed loudly because no doubt, since she was tiny, the amount of alcohol she drank could easily make her nauseated. “Let’s take a break.” She clung to him as they ducked and dove to get away from the madness of the people in motion.
