I yawned and leaned back in my chair. We’d been at the club for two hours. Most of the other patrons had cleared out to go back to their wives and girlfriends. AJ, however, was still freak dancing with a brunette in a black lace thong. His hormones never ceased to amaze me. I could imagine what Dahlia would do to AJ when she found out where he’d been. His last girlfriend had dumped him because of his “clubbing”. Kevin used to be the one who went with him, but he was now married and had other things to worry about. Being the next oldest and the most responsible I was elected to tag along with him. I thought about Sandrine. She had left the stage about fifteen minutes ago. I knew our date was in the bag; I just had to meet her first.
“Excuse me, are you Howie?” I turned around and saw her. She had changed into a red halter top and a matching pleather skirt. Her eyes shined.
“Yeah, are you Sandrine?”
“The only,” she said. “AJ told me you wanted to meet me?”
“Uh well it’s not quite like that,” I said. She laughed. It was a beautiful laugh.
“It’s okay, really, I know it’s payment for you coming here,” she said. I was amazed.
“How did you?” She cut me off.
“I know.” I didn’t ask.
“It’s late,” she said. “I have to get home. When do you wanna go out?”
“It doesn’t matter really, I have a pretty flexible schedule for about the next week,” I responded.
“Here’s my number,” she said. “Call me when you’re ready.” I took the piece of paper and watched her walk away.
“She’s great isn’t she?” AJ said, jumping over to where I was sitting.
“She’s definitely unique,” I agreed.
“We can go now, I’d better get back before Dahlia lynches me,” he said.
“I think you were in line for that about 2 hours ago,” I said as we got up and went to the car.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“But listen baby it wasn’t like that,” AJ yelped as Dahlia threw a shoe at him.
“Then what was it like? I know you were out at those strip clubs with those ho’s, get out!” she yelled.
“Give me a chance,” he begged.
“OUT!!!!” she shrieked. AJ ducked and ran back out to the car, where I was sitting. I tried to stifle my laughs. I’d known all along what she was going to do, but AJ hadn’t listened to me.
“Looks like I’m bunking with you tonight,” he said.
“Looks that way, I’ve got the other room already for you,” I grinned.
“What’s so funny?” he demanded. I snickered.
“Only you wouldn’t have seen that coming. I mean you’re out almost all night, no phone call, no page, no nothing, what’s she supposed to think? You died?” AJ blushed a little. He just realized how stupid he’d been.
“But that’s me D, I don’t think,” he said.
“You have a point there,” I said as I turned into my neighborhood. “And that’s also why you’ve had 27 girlfriends in the last four years.”
“Twenty eight thank you,” he said. I laughed.
“Well what about you How? How many have you had?”
“Three in the last four years,” I responded. “Girlfriends just aren’t my thing. I don’t have the time.”
“Maybe if I went by that philosophy I wouldn’t get so abused,” AJ grinned.
“Maybe so,” We got out of the car and went into my house. Fluffy came to greet us. She was my Rottweiler puppy. AJ had named her.
“Hey Fluff,” he said. She barked and licked his face.
“Who need a girlfriend when you have a dog,” I grinned. I checked my messages. I didn’t have any so I went upstairs to shower. I always felt dirty after going to a strip club. I guess it was just me.
“So you gonna go out with Sandrine?” AJ asked as he was raiding my fridge.
“Probably, she gave me her number,” I said.
“So call her,” he said.
“It’s three in the morning,” I said.
“So?”
“She’s probably asleep,” I said.
“She’s not,” he said.
“AJ I’m not gonna bother her at this time of the morning,” I said.
“Come on what’s one little phone call?” I had to admit it couldn’t hurt.
“Alright,” I said. He cackled.
“That’s my boy,” I picked up the phone and pulled out the paper she’d given me.