"Goddamn, I just wanna know what it'll take for a bitch to get some free drinks around here?!"

Nichole breaks out laughing at her best friend, simultaneously shaking her head. "Girl, you are on level ten when I need you to bring that ass down to a cool three, please and thank you."

"I'm sorry, Nic. But I just can't with these prices! I came out here to have fun, shake a lil' ass, and maybe even pick up a body or two to bring home..." Bonnie says. "I did not come all the way out here to pay $26 for one damn hurricane! And that's only for a medium... Like, relax!"

"I swear you're something else. I don't know why you're sitting up here making a scene like you can't afford it when you literally own a whole hair salon and a nail shop," Nichole says. "Ol' cheap Mr. Krab's headass."

Bonnie laughs, shoving Nichole playfully. "Whatever. I'm just sayin' why buy your own drink when you can come out here, smile and bat your lashes at some gullible fuckboy and get at least three or five drinks out of him for you and your friends?" Bonnie taps at her temple, mimicking that one popular meme. "Work smarter, not harder, baby girl."

Nichole playfully rolls her eyes before finishing her drink and responding. "I see now that I should have brought Alicia out with me tonight instead."

"Oh, shut up! I love Alicia just as much as you do, but let's be real here..." Bonnie says, "the librarian isn't as lit as me. She's just not. End of discussion."

"No, no. I beg to differ. Get a few drinks in her and she'll show out real quick. You know how those Virgo's are. Quiet around strangers, loud around friends," Nichole says. "I know you remember how crazy she got at Malcolm's Christmas party last year. That was some funny shit."

"Hell yeah I remember! I remember that evening very well because the bitch ended up vomiting all over the backseat of my car on the way home," Bonnie mutters, a part of her still irritated about the clean-up job that she had to do that night. "I guess she's a bad bitch too when she wants to be. Still not as bad as me, though."

When I'm In Love by Junglepussy comes on in the club, everyone immediately gets hype.

Bonnie finally finds a reason to leave the bar and avoid purchasing any of the expensive ass drinks. Partying sober is nothing to her. She grabs her gold clutch from off the bar and then takes Nichole's hand, dragging her onto the dancefloor. They join in singing with the crowd, rapping the lyrics, and dancing like they didn't have a care in the world.

It isn't often that Nichole comes to wild out with her friends like this because she rarely takes off from work these days. Nichole and Bonnie, more so Bonnie, often tease their other friend, Alicia, about her being the "tamest" one in their clique. But in reality, it's actually Nichole.

For the last three years, ever since the official opening of her bakery, The Sweet Spot, Nichole has been working her ass off nearly nonstop. And in many ways, it's paid off. She's won countless contests and awards for her addictive goodies, has built a positive reputation for her brand, and she's absolutely loved in her city by the people.

Nichole's family and friends would call her a workaholic. On the other hand, Nichole would say that she's just trying to stay relevant and one step ahead of the competition. Hustling is in her DNA. She doesn't like to take breaks and rarely slacks off because she knows that nothing in this world is guaranteed. You can only rest at the top for so long before someone tries to sneak up behind you to stab you in the back and take your crown. Nichole would rather that not happen, so she stays on guard at all times, tries to anyway, when it comes to business... and pleasure.

"Okay! Who is this DJ because their taste in music is phenomenal? I need the name of this playlist, Mr. DJ!" Bonnie yells at no one in particular after a seductive slow jam starts playing.

At the start of the song, Bonnie and Nichole dance together, minding their own business and just vibing to the sensual beat. By the end of the first verse, they're dancing with other people.

Bonnie, without shame and completely feeling herself, grinds provocatively against a man who'd win the first runner up in an Aldis Hodge lookalike contest. Nichole, dancing a few bodies away from Bonnie, also sways sexily to the smooth beat, dancing against a dangerously handsome man with a honey brown complexion who occasionally whispers sweet nothings in her ear in Spanish. She doesn't fully understand what all he's saying, just a few words here and there, but Nichole has a feeling that it's mostly NSFW... just like the song that's playing.

🎵 see, I just want your hands around my throat...

ooh ~ just a little choke 🎶

Nichole stifles back a moan as the man behind her gently grasps her neck in sync with the risqué song lyrics, his other hand gripping her by the waist as they continue grinding. Nichole smiles and relaxes against him, allowing herself to enjoy the moment and the feel of the man behind her. His cologne smells absolutely divine, and with his body pressed tightly against hers, it has Nichole wanting to join the path that Bonnie is on in not leaving the club unless someone is coming home with her.

It's been a while since Nichole has let loose and indulged like this with the opposite sex. It's moments like this that make her realize she really does work too hard sometimes, and that sometimes it's okay to step back and just do her. Live a little.

Before the opening of her bakery, Nichole had just put an end to a disastrous two-year relationship with someone that, at one point, she thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. Since then, she's been on a healing journey and has only ever casually dated, not quite ready to take another shot at settling down or getting serious with someone.

The man behind her, however, through his dancing and words alone have Nichole questioning herself about what she wants... and right now, that'd be for her to take him home with her and fuck around with him until the sun came up and went back down. Nichole doesn't make a habit out of having one-night stands, but for the enticing gentleman who has just as much rhythm and swag as she does, she'll be happy to make an exception.

"Cuál es tu nombre?" the man asks after the song ends, his voice is deep and lush. He coolly spins Nichole around to face him, smiling big while drinking her beauty in. "Your name, gorgeous. You can't leave without at least telling me your name."

Finally face to face, the lights in the club get a little brighter as an upbeat song starts playing, and Nichole is able to get a better look at her dance partner. She thoroughly likes what she sees: strong and masculine features, short dark hair, a dazzling smile with pearly white teeth, pretty deep brown eyes, and muscles for days. Even in her heels, the man easily towers over her. He eventually raises a brow at her, patiently waiting on her answer.

He knows good and well that she's checking him out right now, and it takes everything in Nichole to not cup his handsome face and pull him in for a deep kiss. The urge to take him down on this dance floor is so strong that it scares her a little.

"Buy me a drink and maybe then I'll tell you my name," Nichole replies, grabbing the man's hand and pulling him towards the bar. She leaves Bonnie behind to continue making out with her new boy toy.

And so it seems as if one of them will end up getting free drinks tonight after all.