Page 28 of Linebacker
With my hand tightly around Lucy’s upper arm, I rush us both out of the hotel and onto the sidewalk. The air is cool and the shock of it has us both shivering.
“What the hell, Hope? It’s freezing.”
“Marshall. He’s left the hotel.” I search up and down the street and catch sight of him. “Look there, wearing a black hoodie and black jeans.” I tug on Lucy’s arm so she’s right beside me when I move off to follow him.
“Are you sure its him? Coach always puts a ban on players leaving the hotel before a game,” Lucy stammers between chattering teeth.
“Oh, its him alright, and he’s about to get up to some kind of trouble, no doubt,” I hiss back. “But the question is, where the fuck is he going?”
“I guess we’re going to find out,” she sniggers. I let go of my hold on her, sensing that she’s totally on board with the stalking malarkey. “Damn, with those long legs of his, we’re going to struggle to keep up.”
“Speak for yourself,” she sniggers. “Nothing wrong with my legs. But yeah, let’s hope that wherever he is going, it’s not too far.”
After around ten minutes of gentle jogging, Mars takes a right down a side street, and both Lucy and I simultaneously pick up speed to catch up to him. But when we get to the end of the street he disappeared down, he’s nowhere in sight.
“Fuck it,” I pant out, breathless from the sprint.
“Look, this street goes on for miles, so he must have gone into one of the first few buildings,” Lucy offers.
“Yeah, but which one?” I shrug, feeling foolish for starting this madness in the first place.
“Don’t be such a defeatist. Let’s take a walk down and see if anything stands out.” I nod in agreement, and we take our time checking out the different buildings, doorways and signs, which gives us both time to catch our breath. We pass a coffee shop, a number of eclectic retail units and an estate/realtor’s office, all of which are in darkness and look closed for the day. But when we get around halfway, there’s a large door that looks to be a less highbrow hotel than the one we’re staying at, which by the stream of light coming from under the closed door, looks to be open.
“Bingo,” I cheer, clapping my hands together. “This must be it. Not sure why he’s left a perfectly good five-star hotel for this… what? Three at best?”
“Err, Hope…” Lucy interrupts, instantly catching my attention. “This isn’t a hotel,” she says pointing at an inconspicuous brass plaque on the wall that I’d not even noticed. “This is a… men’s club.”
“You mean a strip joint?”
“Well, it doesn’t say that on the plaque. It’s called the Hot Honey’s Gentleman’s club, but yes, I’m sure that any dancing that goes on behind those doors are of the erotic type,” Lucy sniggers. “Do you really think that he’s in there?”
“Defo. And if I’m wrong and he isn’t, I’ll strip off myself and do a spin around a pole for a few dollars.”
“Wow, you’re that sure?”
“So much so that I’ll even let you take pictures and post them on insta.”
“Damn, you crack me up,” Lucy laughs out loud, crossing her legs like she might pee. “Not that it will come to that because it’s not like, we’ll be able to check.”
“Who said we can’t?” I give her a closed mouth smile that I’m sure looks sneaky and not so different to the clown from the horror movie IT. Hooking my arm around her waist, I push against the door. “Just follow my lead,” I whisper into her ear before we step inside.
Despite the club’s exterior being inconspicuous, the inside couldn’t be more different. Gaudy, pinky-red walls, with huge gold mirrors and architrave, is like ‘Bam’ in your face. A large ornate sideboard and matching armchairs against the wall are in the same tacky colours. At the other side of the foyer is a dark wood counter with a lamp, and a phallic-looking ornament on it. The floor is covered in a deep piled carpet, and yes, you’ve guessed it, in a baby poop, mustardy-gold tone. Ceiling to floor drapes in blood-red that are tied back give a dramatic effect to what I assume must lead you into the main floor of the club.
“Can I help you ladies?” A tall, slim, and not wanting to be too judgmental, sleazy looking man behind the counter asks us before we get more than a few feet in.
“What’s the entrance fee?” I direct at him.
“I think you must be mistaken ma’am. This is a not a night club.”
“You have female strippers here, right?” He nods back at me, but when he opens his mouth to say something, I cut him off. “Well, that’s what my girlfriend and I have come to see. Isn’t it, darling?” I squeeze Lucy even closer and nuzzle her hair for added effect. “I promised my honey a lap dance, and that’s exactly what my girl is going to get.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. This is a gentleman’s club, women aren’t allowed.”
“That’s a bit gender phobic, isn’t it?” I let out an exaggerated gasp of shock. “And a little narrow minded might I add. Don’t you know this is the 21stcentury and that gender equality is something that is taken very seriously? It’s not like we’re not aware of exactly what’s going on through there.” I gesture in the direction of the drapes. “Just because we don’t have a penis, doesn’t mean that as confident lesbian women we shouldn’t be allowed to enter your establishment and take pleasure in watching beautiful erotic dancers.” He opens his mouth again, but I don’t let him get a word in. “Maybe I should speak to the manager, or maybe I should call my lawyer.” My body language is one hundred percent mega confident and dominant. I ain’t giving up until I get what I want, and I must be giving off the right vibe because the guy looks like he’s about to shit a brick at the thought of being sued. He might possibly even throw in a free lifetime membership at this rate.
“No, no need,” he flusters, waving his hands around. “Look, it’s the regular members you see. They won’t like it in the slightest.”
“They’ll like it even less if I get my legal team involved and screw this place for every penny it’s got only for it to end up being shut down.” I warn.
