Miss Opportunity - Ch. 23.1

It was Friday again. Cami had just gotten off from her day job, didn’t have to report to her night job, and thus had some extra time on her hands. Instead of going home to do-nothingness, she agreed to go out with Towanna tonight.

Since they both had taken to bringing changing clothes to work, the two ladies exchanged their work clothes for clubwear before they left the hotel. Then they headed to a club in Littleview to unwind.

“I feel kinda funny being off on a Friday night,” Cami said as her friend guided them through Littleview’s evening traffic. They’d carpooled in Cami’s vehicle earlier in the week.

“It’s about time you were off on a Friday. Now that I think about it, you’ve been working every Friday since you started at that club,” Towanna replied.

“That’s because I’ve requested those days. Not only does Millsap come to the club every Friday, but tonight is a big tip night.”

“So you were trying to knock out two birds with one stone, huh?”

“Yep.” Cami chuckled. “I offered to work again tonight, but Tonja outright refused for the same reason you stated earlier. She said I’ve been working too many Fridays lately. That she didn’t want me to get burned out.”

“Kudos to Tonja. I knew there was something about her I liked.” Towanna smiled. “By the way, I’m the designated driver tonight, so if you want to get blitzed, you can.”

Cami shook her head. “My days of getting blitzed are over. The last time I got drunk was in Washington. I’ll never forget the look of disappointment in my son’s eyes when he came out of his room and saw me staggering down the hallway.” Her own eyes grew sad at that memory. “That night, I promised Little Man and myself that I wouldn’t ever get drunk again. I’ve kept that promise, which means all I’m getting tonight is a little buzzed, nothing more.”

“I hear you, girl. I think it’s great that your son is such a source of motivation for you.”

“Me, too. I just wish I had allowed him to be that five years ago. I could have avoided a whole lot of trouble,” Cami replied.

“That’s all in the past, girl. Leave it there,” Towanna soothingly advised. “Tonight we are shedding all of our troubles.” She chuckled and added, “I personally hope to shed another five pounds on the dance floor while we’re at it.”

Cami chuckled. “You’re fine just the way you are, Towanna.”

“Oh, I know that,” Towanna teased sassily, revealing confidence that so few plus-sized women had. “I’m just trying to get a little bit healthier for all those kids I want to have and live to see grow up.”

“I heard that,” Cami agreed, realizing that she was not the only one using children as a source of motivation.

Incidentally, Little Man had become his mother’s source of motivation in yet another way. After he praised her recent changes in speech, Cami decided to relegate her use of slang to close friendships and…Millsap since he seemed to like it so much.

Millsap, Cami mused, wondering what he was doing tonight.

* * *

Back in Enfield, Millsap was in his car en route to Daysha’s house. They had a date tonight. That date included dinner at a fancy restaurant, a movie, and then on to the club for a few relaxing drinks in the skybox.

Thinking about the club now, Millsap got on his cell phone and dialed its number.

Tonja answered the line on the second ring. “Good evening, you’ve reached The Urban Revue. How may I help you?” she said, issuing her usual pleasant greeting.

“It’s Millsap,” he said. “Did you do what I asked you to?”

“Oh, hey, Millsap. And yes, Cami has been given the night off,” Tonja replied.

“Good.” Millsap smiled, letting out a breath of relief. “Thanks, Tonja,” he said, glad that he didn’t have to worry about Cami blowing yet another date for him tonight.

“No problem,” Tonja replied, fighting not frown.

Then she quickly concluded the call before Millsap asked her to do something extreme like fire Cami. He’d already asked her to schedule Cami off on nights when he was bringing a date to the club and to restrict her from the skybox effective immediately.

To Millsap’s credit, he did authorize a significant raise for Cami and approve more work hours for her during the week so as not to reduce her earnings. But once again, those hours could not be during the times that he had dates at the club.

You can run from Cami all you want, Millsap, but you can’t run away from your feelings, Tonja mused, speaking from personal experience.

She tried her best not to fall in love with Mike-Mike, but it happened anyway. It was hard not to considering how thoughtful, benevolent, and downright lovable he was.

Although Tonja was one step above Millsap by at least admitting her feelings to herself, she wasn’t ready to admit them to anyone else right now. Not yet.

© 2008 by Suprina Frazier