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She peeled herself away from the mysterious woman and faced the bouncer who was waving her forward.

As she walked, she felt a hand on her arm.

“Wait for us, you dick,” Tommy laughed, following behind Cass.

“Tom…” the woman in the orange dress tried to stop her friend from imposing.

Cass tried to hide her surprise as the bouncer waved Tommy, Cass, and the mystery brunette into the bar.

“Sorry, babe, just couldn’t stand waiting in the line any more,” Tommy said as she moved past Cass and into the bar.

As Tommy’s friend passed her, she nodded to Cass and said, “Sorry for her.”

“You’re good. I’m…” but before she could introduce herself, the woman pushed forward into the crowd.

Cass rolled her eyes,how rude.

Cubbyhole, true to its name, was a narrow bar with one path through the crowd and no room for deviation. As Cass followed behind the pair, she could feel every person scanning them over. Cass could only assume they were a couple or at least were so often mistaken for one that pretending to be one made getting into a bar far easier.

Eager to break off, Cass slipped off toward the first opening she spotted at the bar. As she tried to shoulder her way into the spot without hurting anyone, the woman in the orange dress slid effortlessly into it.

She let out a heavy sigh before leaning into the woman’s ear, “Excuse me, I was going to stand there.”

Surprised to see Cass again, she quickly tilted her body to create space for her.

“Thank you, god.” Cass muttered as she waved the bartender down.

“I’m Ari,” the woman said.

Cass looked around, “Did I ask?”

Ari laughed, “Well, you tried to.” Her laugh sent a shiver down Cass’s spine. Something about the deep rumble weakened her knees.

“What can I do for you?” the bartender asked as they slung a towel over their shoulder.

Before Ari could speak up, Cass said, “I’ll take a vodka cran.”

“And for you?” they turned to Ari.

“Whiskey sour,” Ari said.

The bartender grabbed two glasses from behind the counter and poured the well vodka into one of the cups, “Together or separate?”

“Separ…”

“Together,” Cass said.

Ari, shocked by her boldness, tilted her head.

“It’s the least you can do. I got you and your girlfriend in, and then you stole my spot.” As she waited for Ari’s reply, she allowed her eyes to wander down Ari’s dress. The cutouts near her breasts framed her chest beautifully. Cass couldn’t help but wonder what they looked like out of that skin-tight outfit.

Ari nodded to the bartender, approving the purchase.

The bartender placed the vodka cran on the sticky bartop.

Grabbing the glass, Cass nodded to Ari and began to turn toward the crowd, hoping to begin her prowl for the night.

“Cass?” A familiar voice asked from a few feet away.