pte

ma

o scheduled for seven thirty, I take

joining the club. People go there to have wild s

should

ck dress I'm wearing and wonder whether it's too formal

isper before turning

r, my phone starts to ring. I answer the call and position the

ing." "Hey, swe

tone a little ligh

the knitting contest. Your mother is a wh

and as I head out of my apartment building, I chu

test." From the chopping sounds, I assume Mom'

rk

has been super busy si

he nearest subway station. Unless it's for wo

rspective about people. I never had trust issues until I met To

ear sizzling in the background before

ease, I lie, "Yes. I'm ac

o glad to hear tha

h

off the topic of my love life, I say, "I'm al

ave up and accepted her friendship. It took a while to get used to

cation with her boyfrien

m asks, "We're still seeing you for

n't miss it f

e vacation time I requested

ask him about

but I have to go." "Sure. I

bway to the heart of Manhattan, and as I near t

going to have a con

are security measures to e

s Paradiso are in large gold letters across the wall, and a red

, and I watch as a woman who seems to be in

th surrounding her as

u. If you feel uncomfortabl

alk toward the bouncer. The man's eyes settle on me

e a butler when he says, "Ev

iss Blakely. Seeing it's your first time visiting Paradiso, just fo

up. "How did yo

to a camera above the doorway.

. F

utch the strap of my handbag as I take in the gra

ee someone dressed in bla

ith a skeleton face the person is wea

intimidat

their identities, but damn, they cou

ould you like to take a seat with me, so we

over my lips. "Please."

ble. There are couches and tables where peo

between the tables. It giv

wall, and servers move bet

sional, and it helps ease m

" the woman assigned

it down on a black leather couch

, and not knowing what to say,

e to Pa

ll if she'

nk y

es first. Whatever you choose to do will rem

s a better chance

a conversation with a ma

equirements for age, p

mfortable, I grip my handbag tighter

for a server to come closer. "Wo

A martini w

ace where you can explore and live out your fantasies. There are cameras everywhere, and we h

ther people, wondering wh

estions?" she asks.

request change during the course of the evening, just

leaves, and feeling more anxious,

members again and fi

ting it on wherever there's an empty

e a martini, and I

take a couple of sips, and just as I pop t

Here

ies, his salt and pepper h

I stand up and say

his mouth, and he looks

e. It's nice

n it's clear he's not going to talk first, I clear my throa

his your first time coming here?" "Yes

virgin

ghty

ach other before I take

couch and glances around, and I

ro body muscle, so there's a good

nough to ask, "What do you l

fore he answers, "I never miss a chance to go camping.

do bugs and

l. I love spending a weekend in a cabin u

unding impressed with me. "So,

d you?" "I'm

again while I finish

nic attack, but instead

good

at me again, he looks a little bewildered as h

d, and it makes me fe

as first-timers," I say, ho

ea

't made a run for it yet. I'm

s at a server an

lass and asks, "Would you like

eas

gain, Doyle asks,

. My smile wavers as I answer, "Just to have a conversation. And you?"

d people, and dating ap

f the staff members who's standing with his a

y take security

taff, it's clear as daylight the man spends a lot of

mething familiar about how he moves, but then the server pulls my at