The moment the words left my mouth....“Okay. Let’s do it.” the entire table burst into a cheer.
Dana clapped her hands. “Yes! Oh my God, you’re going to love it. I promise.”
Alan gave me a slow, satisfied grin that made my stomach flip in a way I was not going to acknowledge.
“Best birthday ever,” he muttered under his breath.
Maria hadn’t been drinking the whole night, so she said she was okay with driving the kids home and taking care of them until we came back. I tried to make eye contact with her, to gauge how she was taking all of this, but she seemed to be deliberately avoiding my eyes—looking at me, but not into me.
But you know what? I had already made my decision.
I was going to the club. I was going to dance. I was going to set myself free. I was going to have myself a good time because deep down, I knew this was probably the only time I’d ever get to feel this free, this alive. So I was taking this chance with both hands.
Dana and I walked the kids out to the car where Mar
