Tonight was girl's night. When we moved into our new neighborhood it was just being built so, naturally, a couple of the original homeowner's became very close. A group of girls formed a pretty close bond and we promised to have a girl's night at least twice a year.
The night was intended as an excuse for us to get dressed up and go out to forget about our daily duties as a mother and a wife. To me, it was the couple of hours I got to escape and almost be someone else for a little while. Like, truly GET AWAY! Not in the parent pickup line, not in the shower and definitely not in the bathroom as someone is repeatedly knocking on the door.
The last few weeks felt particularly stressful so I needed tonight. We were going to an 80's bar downtown and I had visions of us singing, dancing and drinking the night away. As I had gotten out of the shower, I saw that my friend Danielle had texted and said one of her boys' was sick and that she'd be staying home. Danielle was one of my favorites. Of all the women to cancel, why'd it have to be her? A couple of the girl's chimed in with either a "I hope he feels better!" and "Oh no! We're going to miss you girl!" Then it came, my best friend sends a "I'm also out. Sorry girls! Have one for me!"
"NOOOOOOOOOO" I yelled aloud in the bathroom.
"WHAT?" My husband yelled from the other room.
"Danielle and Jacky both cancelled! Now I don't know if I even want to go!" I contemplated all the excuses I could send back to get myself out of going. "I think I'm going to cancel, too"
"Oh no, you've been looking forward to tonight so much!" My husband, Jared, was now standing in the doorway. "You got all dressed up. Just go out and have a few drinks. You've been dying to try this place out. At least go and then decide if you really like it or not and we can always go back some other time with Jacky and Bruce."
I shrugged my shoulders and continued to get ready. Screw it. I need to get out of the house.
I got the text: "HERE!"
"That's my ride, I'll be back sooner than expected. Maybe we can hang out when I get back?" I yell to my husband from the front door.
"Sure! Take your time, have fun and remember... You're a girl. You shouldn't have to pay for drinks!!!" he shouts back.
He didn't see me but I rolled my eyes. I think that's his way of telling me not to spend a lot of money. Who's going to buy a 38 year-old a drink? The place will be crawling with 21 year olds.
The car pulled right up next to the bar and I thought "Of course, no one is here because this place is terrible." We walk in and the place is really nice. Ironically enough, I kind of wanted the place to be bad and validate all those thoughts I had in my head on the drive there. But the music was really good, it wasn't busy at all. In fact, there was hardly anyone there. The crowd wasn't super young, either.
A couple of women made a beeline for the bar to order our drinks. Normally, I'd just drink a seltzer or beer but Mallory ordered everyone a blue slushy mixed drink. I didn't even know what was in it but she ordered for everyone. Mallory was the eldest of the group. The "fun grandmother" almost. She always drove and she would always end up buying drinks. Being in her 60s, she never had any kids and I think a part of her viewed us as her daughters.
"What's this called?" I yelled out over the music. Two of the women just turned and shrugged their shoulders. I took a sip and thought "Wow! There's hardly any alcohol in here." We all found a booth in the corner and started talking. Next thing I know, another round of the blue slushy drinks. Again, hardly any alcohol. But man, did it taste good! The second one went down very quickly and I had no idea who bought the second round. "Hey! What are these called? I'll grab the next round!" One of the girls yelled back "I"ll grab the next round. I'm about to leave anyway so let me grab them and then I'll head out."
The third round came and the drinks were going down fast. I wanted something with alcohol. Not these sissy drinks. I'm not driving, I have no kids, no husband, no responsibilities.
I don't remember how much time has passed but a couple girls that drove separately were excusing themselves and slowly leaving one by one. Riding with Mallory, I knew she'd be one of the last ones to leave but also seemed like she was having more to drink than she should have if she was driving. She was slurring her words and really pouring her heart out. "Great, I'll probably end up driving home."
The third drink went down and I felt the urge to go to the restroom. Honestly, I'm surprised I lasted so long. As I excused myself, I stood up and tried to find the restroom, I realized this alcohol may have hit me harder than I had expected.
"Holy cow", I thought to myself "This place got crowded quick!" I started walking around and lost my bearings. I turned and started to walk in the bathroom when the door opened in front of me and a young man stood there just as shocked to see me as I was to see him.
"Oh my god, I'm sorry!" I yelled
"It's ok." he laughed, "The women's is across the hall."
"What?" I asked...
"ACROSS THE HALL!!" he yelled back over the music and pointed.
I turned and saw the women's symbol on the door across the hall.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" I turned and walked across the hall to the women's restroom which was full of 20-somethings. "When did this place get so busy? It was dead like an hour ago."
I walked out of the restroom and needed to find the bar. I wanted a REAL drink. Not the blue slushy one. As I approach the bar, I can't even get up to it. I'm three people back and slowly inching my way up to the bar.
Once at the bar, it's impossible to get the bartender's attention. He's too busy attending to all the kids.
"You find your way across the hall?" I heard someone yell right in my ear. I turned around extremely annoyed only to find the same boy that was walking out of the men's room. Still embarrassed I just laughed and said "Yeah, thanks for the directions"
He laughed and asked what I was drinking. Here I was so anxious to get a drink and hadn't even thought about what I was going to order. I turn back "I don't know.... Something with alcohol"
"That leaves you with a lot of options!" he yelled back.
"I've been drinking some blue slushy drink... it had hardly any alcohol!"
"A Blue Hawaiian?!?!?!?" He shot back...
"I don't know. Maybe? It's blue and slushy"
"Yeah, it's also the drink special tonight. You know that thing is nothing but alcohol right?"
Just then the man turns his attention away from me and to the bartender "Can we get a Miller Lite bottle and a Blue Hawaiian?"
I turn and look at the bartender and he's already gone getting the bottle of beer and making the drink. "Hey! Was that for me?"
The boy nods "Yeah, I'm Chad"
"Thanks Chad, I'm Kris"
He grabs the drinks from the bartender and handed me my drink.
"How much do I owe you?" I questioned.
He just laughed AGAIN and said "I like you, you're funny. Can't a guy buy a girl a drink?"
"I'm twice your age!"
"I don't care, I think you're hot."
I rolled my eyes, thanked him for the drink and walked away. As I looked over my shoulder back at him he was standing there with his arms out in disbelief that I just took the drink and left.
"Wow" I thought to myself. Was he serious? He was cute. Super Tall... 6'5"? 6'6"? I tried to guess. Great shape but then almost all of these 20-year olds were. He looked so young. Where were these guys when I was in my twenties? I'd get hit on but not like guys like that.
As I find my way back to the booth we were sitting at, everyone is gone. Where's Mallory? Where are the rest of the girls? I sent something out in the group text and most of them replied that they were home. I text Mallory but no reply. I wasn't gone that long, was I?
I kind of just wandered around the bar drinking my Blue Hawaiian while looking for any of the girls. No way Mallory left me. I walked outside and saw her vehicle. Walked back in and around the dance floor. Finally, I text her husband Don because I was worried about her.
Text from Don: "I had to come pick her up. One of the girl's text me and said she couldn't drive. Practically had to carry her to the car. Do you need a ride home?"
I text my husband "Mallory left me!" But No reply...
I text Don back and hold him not to worry about it. That I didn't want to be an inconvenience and that Jared would come pick me up. Still no reply from Jared...
"Hey, I got you a refill?"
It was Chad.
"No, my friends ditched me" I told him.
"Well, I'll keep you company"
What am I going to talk to this boy about? His homework? We have NOTHING in common but I was alone at this bar and waiting for my husband to reply so why not?
"Sure, what the hell." I told him.
"Finish our drinks and dance a little maybe?"
I checked my phone... no response.
We somehow managed small talk and I finished my 4th drink... or was it 5th? Damn it... how many of these have I had? I don't even remember what we were talking about
He finally mustered up the courage, "So are we going to dance or what?"
I smiled. I'm not going to lie. I was so flattered and I couldn't figure out why this cute good looking twenty year old was spending his night talking to me when there are all these tight bodied college aged girls running around drunk.
"Why?" I blurted out.
"Why what?" he replied.
"Why do you want to dance with me? Look at all these girls!"