Carson walked into the dark strip club with some reservation. He never thought of Ellie as the clubbing type, sure she loved to have fun, but nothing that looked this seedy. This place was more his speed. He weaved through the large dancing crowds keeping an eye out for her. He hadn’t seen her for two weeks, they’d texted and spoken the whole time but it wasn’t the same as seeing her. He wasn’t the type to admit it, but he’d missed her, a lot. He was getting attached, and that worried him. Usually this was the point he’d cut his losses and run, but Ellie was different. He just wanted more of her and the longing for her wasn’t completely sexual.
“So where is she?” Gwen yelled out, from behind him. She had insisted on tagging along. Carson wasn’t sure if it was out of curiosity or if she was assessing the threat. Audrey was right, he was beginning to realize how much of a mistake their hook up was. They were never going to go back to just being friends.
“She’s close to the stage,” he yelled back.
Gwen laughed, “Close to the stage or on the stage?”
Carson felt offended and a little irked. “Listen, Ellie is not a stripper. She’s an art teacher, and the only time she’s on stage is on open mic night in a karaoke bar not a….” he stopped once they got to the stage, hushed by what he saw. Ellie was wearing a pink crown and sash dancing in between two guys wearing only what could be classified as a G string.
“Are you sure about that?” Gwen laughed, sarcastically. She pulled at his arm, as she walked backwards. “Come on lets go to my place.”
Carson pulled his arm out of her grip and moved closer to the stage, “Ellie, what are you doing?” he yelled, out peeved.
“Dale!” Ellie chimed, drunkenly. She walked down the stage and leaped on him, locking her legs around his waist, “Today is my birthday!” She rubbed her thumb over his lips, “And I know what I want you to give me as a gift.” She slurred, before she planted a long sweet kiss on his lips.
Carson kissed her back; he pulled away after a few seconds and put her down. If it wasn’t for the taste of stale beer on her tongue he would have kissed her longer. “Let me guess, this was Kris’s idea?”
Ellie bobbled her head, “She said we were going dancing.” She sniggered, “We are dancing!”
“Hey, you told him about me?” Kris yelled, drunkenly holding onto Carson’s arm. “It’s nice to finally meet you! For a few days there I thought she was making you up. And she does have an active imagination.”
“Well I’m very real.” He held Ellie steady against him, as she attempted to climb back on stage. “Kris, did you spike her drink?”
Kris narrowed her eyes at him, as she drunkenly swayed on her feet, “Are you a cop?”
Before he could answer she went on, “If you are… no I did not!” She said, sternly then began to giggle, “If you are not…” she leaned in close as if to whisper, “I dropped a few fire bombs in her beer! She needed to loosen up!”
Carson felt his temper pinch at him. He knew Ellie wouldn’t be at a strip club unless she was tricked into it. Or that she’d consciously get drunk out of her mind! The thing that worried him was, if those fire bombs were some new street drug.
“Kris what are fire bombs?” He ordered, but she kept dancing and singing along to a tune Ellie was slurring out.
A tall guy with a short army hair cut moved closer to them. “Fire bombs are a mix of hard liquor shots. Don’t worry, she only had three.”
Carson gave him a slight nod, as he quickly analyzed him and took mental notes. He was about to ask for his name when Ellie jerked against him.
“Woohoo! Take it off!” She yelled, waving her arms around.
He whispered into her ear, holding her arms down, “Babe, there is nothing left for them to take off.”
“I’ll take her off your hands if you’d like?” The man offered, taking Ellie’s hand. He attempted to pry her free of Carson, which pissed Carson off even more.
Carson pulled her hand out of his. “And you are?”
“He’s Daniel,” Kris offered, “he likes Ellie, but she doesn’t like him back. Oops!” She bit her lips shut and placed a finger over them, “I wasn’t supposed to say that.” She waved her hand around, “Forget I said anything.”
“I don’t feel too good,” Ellie moaned, sagging down against Carson.
“Daniel, why don’t you take care of Kris and I’ll take Ellie home. Okay?” He swooped Ellie up in his arms and walked away not bothering to wait for his response.
Once they’d stepped outside the noisy club, “Do you even know where she lives?” Gwen asked.
Carson had completely forgotten that she was still there. “No.” He took a deep breath, happy to be out in the fresh quiet cool air. He looked down at Ellie when he felt her squirm in his arms, “Babe?”
“Dale… I need to…” her face creased and he knew what was coming.
He tossed her up, turning her onto her belly. Then he rushed to the side of the building and knelt down, supporting her lower body on his knee, and freeing his hand to hold back her hair.
She heaved all her stomach content into the grass, inches away from his shoes. “Ow god… never again…” She moaned, slumping in his arms.
He crinkled his nose. The air wasn’t so fresh anymore. “I hope so,” he whined, standing up to meet Gwen bent over laughing. “Save it!” His irked statement only made her laugh harder.
He opened his SUV and placed the now sleeping Ellie gently in the back seat. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and dialed the number of the only person who’d help. “What’s up babe?” Audrey’s voice sang through the receiver.
“Sweet cheeks, I need an address.”
****