Mid July.
Ryan lounges at the table, savoring her drink as her best friends Megan and Lori compete in a playful twerk-off, moving to the bass heavy beat of the hottest ATL stripper anthem.
"Girl, you need to get out there and shake sum." Lori exclaims as she plops down on the soft couch next to her friend, the rhythm of the music easing into a slow groove.
"Right, we're at this lesbian club for you. You're the lesbian in this equation." Megan playfully teases.
"You're here because the drinks are stronger and you don't have to worry about men hitting on you." Ry lets out a light laugh, her eyes rolling lightheartedly as she takes a sip of her drink.
"True, but also to get you some pussy." Megan says scooting into the booth next to Lori and downing her drink.
"I'm good." Ry says.
"You ain't good. You been lame as fuck since you and Dirty Cop broke up." Megan tells her.
"You gotta stop calling her that. She's a security guard and she has a name." Ry says rolling her eyes again, this time in annoyance.
Although her ex is dreadful, Ry would never show disrespect to anyone, not even to her.
"Fine. You been lame as fuck since you and Gabrielle broke up." She corrects.
"She's kind of right, B. You haven't been yourself in over a year." Lori says as softly as she can over the music.
Ry is acutely aware that her friends have a point but for her, the struggle to unwind and enjoy herself is compounded by the stark reality of returning to a silent house.
Lori is happily engaged to her fiancé, while Megan enjoys the company of whatever men she has at her beck and call.
Ry has no-one.
In the midst of her friends' bustling lives, Ry feels like a shadow.
"I'm fine." She tells her friends.
An avalanche of feelings hit her, sweeping her off balance.
The intensity of it stifling her ability to navigate through her thoughts.
She gets up.
"Watch my drink. I have to pee."
As she steps into the restroom, the noise of the club quiets.
The cool air greets her like a gentle embrace, offering her a moment to gather her thoughts and regain her composure.
She slides her hands beneath the automatic faucet, allowing the cool water to soothe her frayed nerves.
Then, a breathtaking woman emerges from a stall.
The beautiful hazelnut complexion of her skin complements the deep, dark chocolate tones of her mesmerizing upturned eyes.
Her makeup is impeccable, drawing attention to her luscious lips and defined cheekbones.
She is in a word: stunning.
As she strides toward the sink beside Ry, their gazes lock for a fleeting moment.
The sound of running water fills the space.
"You're gorgeous." The woman remarks, her voice cutting through the haze of Ry's thoughts as she reached for a paper towel to dry her hands.
"Thank you. So are you." Ry says softly.
"I'm Mickey." The woman says passing her a paper towel.
"I'm Ryan."
"You seem a little down, Ryan. I hope you have a better night." Mickey says.
