Three Shots and a Baby

I glanced at Helen, who was laying on my bed, scrolling through TikTok and giggling.

"Do you think this dress makes my butt look fat?" I asked, tugging at the hem, feeling insecure.

Without looking up, she replied, "Girl, your butt's gonna look big no matter what you wear. You have a fat ass."

I rolled my eyes, but deep down, I knew she was right. I'd always been self-conscious about it. Back in school, skinny white girls would mock me for it, and that stuck with me. I avoided tight dresses for years.

Helen had bought me this red gown as a birthday gift and insisted on taking me out to a bar tonight. I prayed it wouldn't be anything too fancy, I hated when she spent money on me. She came from a rich home. I didn't. It always made me feel like I was taking advantage of her.

But tonight, I couldn't say no. It was my birthday, and Helen was very persuasive.

As I finished dressing, I turned to her. "Okay, how do I look?"

She looked up, finally, and grinned. "I knew that dress was going to look amazing on you, it hugs all the right places. But, Did you put on the lingerie I bought you?"

I gave her a look. "Why would I? It's not like anyone's going to see it."

She smirked. "Still. Just wear it. You never know, you might be leaving with a handsome guy by the end of the night."

I snorted. " I highly doubt it." But I still put it on. It was a little uncomfortable,it was made with red beads and matched the dress. Not exactly what I usually wear but it made me feel a little bold.

Tonight, I was planning to get drunk. It had been way too long since I had a proper break. Work had been a nightmare, my boss was a bitch, and I was exhausted. I needed to let go.

"Girl, hurry up! The driver's here!" Helen called.

I grabbed my heels and strutted downstairs. The sight outside made my mouth drop open.

"Oh my God," I whispered.

Helen winked. "That's our ride."

"You hired a limo?" I gaped.

"You promised me I could go all out for your birthday and you wouldn't complain. Stick to your promise," she said smugly.

I was stunned and a little teary. "Thank you so much. I love you. You're too much," I said, hugging her tight.

Helen had been my best friend since high school. I was the broke girl with baggage, and she was the rich girl who took no shit. When my aunt was battling addiction and I had nowhere to go, Helen's family took me in like one of their own.

"Aww, I love you too, but you're crushing me," she said, pulling back. "No time for waterworks, let the fun begin!"

She dragged me to the limo. Ruin Me by Muni Long was blasting from the speakers.

"Girl, I'm gonna make sure you get ruined tonight. We're finding a fine-ass man to chew you up. Loosen up!"

Before I knew it, we were singing along, popping champagne, and laughing like the world didn't exist.

Eventually, we pulled up at a sleek, fancy bar. My nerves hit me.

What if I looked stupid? What if people stared?

Helen saw it in my face that I was starting to feel insecure. "Girl, don't start. You look hot as fuck, you've got that olive skin and those Chinese eyes going on. And fuck Don for ever making you feel like you weren't."

"They're not Chinese, they're Mexican," I said, playfully glaring at her.

"Girl, same thing. Asians, Mexicans, they're all from the same continent."

I shook my head at her, smiling. She'll never change.

But her words did lit a fire in me. I didn't believe in myself just yet, but I believed in her belief in me.

I grabbed my purse and followed her inside. We found two empty seats at the bar counter.

The bartender came over, giving us a grin. "What'll it be, ladies ?

"We are taking shots of tequila with salt and lime," Helen said, grinning.

"Girl, we're going hard tonight. In fact, let's take pictures and post them. Show your shitty ex how much of a life you're having without him," she said, pulling her phone from her purse.

"Girl, you know I'm weird about taking pictures. I haven't taken any since that night you dragged me to that college party."

"Just smile. The pictures will look great, you have a cute smile."

As we were taking pictures, the bartender came over with two shots of tequila for each of us.

I looked at Helen. "How do you even take this stuff? Do I need to squeeze the lime into the tequila?"

"No, see," she said, pouring salt on her finger. "You lick, sip the shot, and suck the lime. Like this."

She demonstrated, her face scrunching up with a sour look.

"Why do you take it if it doesn't even taste nice?" I asked, copying exactly what she did.

It went down my throat, leaving a sharp, burning taste.

We did two more shots, talking and giggling like schoolgirls. The drinks were already kicking in when the bartender brought us a piña colada.

"We didn't order this," I said to him.

"No, you didn't," he replied, pointing toward a guy sitting by the window. "That guy sent it to you."

The guy gave a small wave, and I smiled politely at him.

"See what I told you? All these men are admiring your fine ass, and you're here feeling insecure."

As Helen talked, the bartender brought more drinks to us.

"Don't worry, they're not spiked. Those guys over there ordered them for you."

Helen picked up the piña colada and took a sip.

"Girl, let's enjoy these drinks from your suitors."

We drank, enjoying ourselves, making comments about the guys who sent the drinks, if they were our type or not.

Then my eyes caught something, or rather, someone.

He stood out like a sore thumb in the bar, sitting alone in the corner, sipping on a martini.

I'd never really been into white guys, but this one... he was different.

Looked different.

Like he didn't belong here, he belongs in all those fancy Italian restaurants with expensive wines where rich people dine.There was something sharp and commanding about him. He was broad-shouldered, looked sharp and daringly handsome, not too big or buff, just the exact size I liked.

I found myself staring, unable to look away, until his face turned toward me.

I sucked in a sharp breath, his gaze was doing something to me.

He had piercing light brown eyes staring right at me.

Realizing I was staring, I quickly turned away, my heart beating fast.

Girl, I see your eyes caught someone. He's fine, but you've never been into white guys before."

"Maybe it's time to change."

It's not like I was completely Black, I was mixed.

My dad was from Mexico, my aunt once said. My mother met him when she went on vacation with her college friends to Mexico.

"Girl, go talk to him," Helen said.

"Are you crazy?. I should just go up and ask a guy out?"

"It's not like you're proposing marriage. Just go over and say hi."

I started thinking about it, feeling a little liquid courage from all the drinks I'd had tonight.

"You know what?" I said to Helen, looking determined.

"I'll go ask him out."

"Hell yeah!" she said, hyping me up.

"Who said girls can't ask guys out?" I added.

I stood up, took one last shot of tequila, and walked toward his table.