Delilah swings her door open. Her face is covered in body glitter and mascara is streaking down her cheeks like she’s been crying. She looks like a character on Euphoria. Her words roll out like one long sentence, “Oh thank god you’re here. That OnlyFans girl is being so annoying right now. She’s refusing to sign our release agreement. If she doesn’t fill out this paperwork we can’t post any part of her presentation on our socials. I mean she’s on fucking OnlyFans why does she care who knows about it?”
Okay, this is not remotely close to sex-positive or female empowering. Does Delilah not actually believe in everything she claims to? Where’s the Delilah that supports women? “Is everything okay Delilah?”
Her living room is a mess. Her coffee table is covered with papers spilling out of piles and there is a stack of unwashed dishes in the sink. It smells like she hasn’t taken the trash out. Last Saturday her apartment was definitely maximalist and shabby chic but not...disgusting. I want to offer to help her clean up but I feel like she’d take that as an insult. Regardless, something has to be going on with her.
“Everything’s fine! Just a super stressful week right now.” She types out a text on her phone and then looks back up at me, “Okay. What did I want to talk to you about? Cherry. That’s right. So, we want Frida Nipple to do a piece on our dating app Cherry.”
I look around the room again. A stick of incense is burning on top of a stack of textbooks. Ash is collecting on the top book’s cover. A bottle of Trader Joe’s wine is half-empty by the sink. “To be honest Delilah I haven’t gone on Cherry besides the first night we made it.”
She scoops her hair and ties it into a messy bun, “Okay let’s change that right now. You weren’t super into the guys that were on there right? Let’s see if anything different happens when your settings include girls as potential matches. We also got like one hundred more beta testers for the app. It’s a bitch trying to get people off of Tinder and Hinge.”
Delilah throws herself onto her couch and I slide in next to her. She jolts up, “Oh my god I’m such a rude bitch. Do you want anything to drink? I think Andrew left some IPAs in the fridge and there should be a La Croix or something in there too. Sorry, I haven’t had time to go grocery shopping. Let me see if I refilled the ice tray.”
I watch Delilah run to the cupboard and pull out two plastic cups. They have faded images of Minnie Mouse on them. Has she ever been to Disney World? I don’t tell Delilah I want anything to drink but she pours a La Croix over ice anyway.
“Here you go.” She places the cup in my hand. I swear a spark of electricity shocks my fingertips when our hands brush against each other.
“Delilah are you sure you’re okay? You seem all over the place.” I take a sip of my drink. It tastes like someone left juice at the bottom of the cup and filled it with water.
“God you probably think I’m such a spaz. I just really need tonight to go well.” She holds her face in her hands. I want to wrap my arms around her but wait to see what she says next.
When she doesn’t say anything I figure it’s my turn to talk. “Delilah you can talk to me. I know we like, just met but I’m here to listen.”
She gives me a side squeeze, “You are way too sweet Erin. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
Her arms are so soft. She smells so good too. I don’t know what it is about Delilah that makes me trust her. Maybe she’s right and I should just go on Cherry and find someone to fall in love with. But all I can think about is kissing Delilah.
A timer goes off.
“Fuck, we should probably head out for the meeting. I have to meet with the new speaker and figure out an agreement still. Do you want to hang out here or help me set up early?” She throws her phone, wallet, keys, lip gloss, and a notebook into a canvas bag that says “STD: Suck This Dick” in bubble letters.
My stomach turns into knots. I want to ask Delilah if she thinks it’s a good idea to still go to the meeting. Did something happen with Andrew? Why does tonight need to go well? All these thoughts are caught in my throat and all that comes out is a murmured, “I’ll go with you.”
*
Delilah and I walk down the steps of the sex shop. The basement looks like the set of a Saw movie. All the exposed brick, cobwebs, and single bulb lighting turn my stomach. There are a few cardboard boxes scattered throughout the room. How does the store have such a small amount of inventory? Also, where are the red twinkly lights? Maybe it’ll be our job to set those up beforehand. Do we have a sound system to set up? It looks so empty without anyone in here.
“Hey girlfriend! You look amazing.” Delilah squeals as she scurries up to a pretty girl wearing a crop top and leggings. My mind races with thoughts about athleisure. I didn’t see her when I did my initial scan of the room. Was she hiding?
“Thanks D.” The girl looks me up and down and extends a hand, “Hey, I’m Liz.”
I’m caught off guard and try to string a sentence together, “Hey! I’m Erin.”
My face turns red as I realize I’m leaving her hand hanging. I reach out and shake her hand too hard. Christ, I am fucking this up. Why can’t I be normal for one minute?
“Erin’s a dear friend.” Delilah beams, “Triple X is seriously so much better with her in it.”
Liz nods and looks between me and Delilah. It seems like she can’t tell if she wants to talk in front of me or not. Eventually she says, “So, for tonight. Can we talk about what I brought up earlier?”
Delilah beams, “Of course babe! How about we go upstairs and review the outline of your presentation. I am so excited for everything you want to cover tonight. It’s going to be an awesome meeting.”
My eyes widen. Are they going to leave me here?
“Erin, could you help set up? I think Brayden is going to be here any minute. He’s bringing the speakers and lighting.” Delilah touches my bicep and I feel cared for. I would say yes to anything she asked of me.
I nod and watch Delilah and Liz walk back upstairs. I wonder what Delilah is going to tell her. I don’t really get why it’s so important that Triple X has Liz sign a release form. It’s not like we are super active on social media. Plus if they wanted me to write about the night for Frida Nipple I could make it semi-anonymous and exclude all identifying details.
I walk around the room like a health code inspector. What’s the maximum capacity for a basement like this? There is a huge spider in the corner and I practically run away from it.
“Hey! Are you Erin?” Someone shouts from the middle of the stairs.
I turn around and see a cute boy carrying a speaker down the steps. His smile stretches across his cheeks even though he is straining under the weight of the sound system.
“Hi! I am Erin. Are you Brayden?” I hope he didn’t see me freak out over a spider. He’s wearing skinny jeans and a Dolly Parton t-shirt. His round glasses are perched at the end of his nose.
“I am! Delilah just texted and said that you would help me set up for the meeting. Set up is super easy. I usually do it alone but it’ll fly by with your help. We just have to hang up the twinkly lights, the speakers, and the welcome table. I have all the pamphlets we need to put on the front table in my car out front. I’ll run out and grab those if you want to take care of the twinkly lights?” He sets the speakers down and wipes his hands on the front of his jeans.
“Sure! Where are the lights?”
Brayden tosses me a set of keys. The keys are all on a key ring with a plushy that looks like a cartoon sperm. Where does everyone in Triple X get this sexualized merch? Is Spencer’s Gifts relevant again? “The lights and extension cords are all in the supply closet over there. It shouldn’t be locked but here are the keys if it is. I’ll be right back.”
I walk across the room to the closet. It’s the type of door that looks like it has a dead body behind it. I twist the doorknob and it turns all the way around. I have to pull pretty hard because the foundation has settled a little bit and the door frame is the tiniest bit too small for the door. Once it flies open I start coughing.
It smells like moth balls had a sex party. The odor of stale sweat wafts out of the closet. I’m holding in a retch while looking for the twinkly lights. I open a box and see a stack of papers that says, Triple X is excited to announce that we are partnering with--
“Oh my god don’t look at those!” Delilah shouts.
“What?”
“That’s a surprise for the end of the meeting.” She shuts the top of the box. “What are you doing in this closet anyway? Where’s Brayden?”
Whoa. Where is this hostility coming from? “He’s grabbing pamphlets from his car. He gave me the keys to the closet. I’m supposed to find the twinkly lights and hang them up.”
Delilah’s eyes soften, “Oh my god sorry I’m such a freak. I’m an actual idiot because I forgot that we actually threw away the twinkly lights that were in here. One of the bulbs died and I didn’t really want to go through and find the exact bulb that died.”
“So...does that mean there aren’t any twinkly lights to hang up?” Not to be a snob but I think a sex positivity club should know the value of warm lighting. I know I’m a virgin but it is impossible to be horny in harsh lighting. It feels like I’m being interrogated or held captive. Then again, if Triple X has taught me anything, there are people who are into that.
“Hellooo?” Delilah asks. Has she been trying to get my attention?
“What?” I ask.
“Can you call Peter and ask him to bring those lights he bought?” She takes her phone out. I want to ask who is Peter but Delilah already seems annoyed.
“Oh! There you are. No luck finding the lights?” Brayden pops up behind Delilah.
“Brayden, you know we threw those lights out last week. Why are you sending poor Erin on a wild goose chase?” Delilah starts typing away on her phone. “Erin, don’t worry about calling Peter I just texted him and he’s gonna bring them in five. Everything with Liz has been figured out so we should be good to go for tonight. I’m gonna make a few phone calls with the exec board real quick so I’ll be upstairs if you need anything.”
I walk out of the closet and turn to Brayden, “Do you know who Peter is?”
Brayden laughs, “Peter’s one of the original Triple X members. He’s...different.”
“Okay what does that mean.” I giggle. How am I just now meeting Brayden? He’s so funny.
“It’s probably better if you just meet him.” Brayden unrolls an extension cord. “When did you join Triple X? I feel like I haven’t seen you around.”
My throat tightens, “I joined a few weeks ago.” What’s my origin story for joining? I can’t say that I’m here undercover. Am I even really here undercover anymore? How many people in the club know that I’m Triple X?
“Well, it seems like Delilah really likes you so we’re happy to have you here.” Brayden smiles.
Delilah talks about me?
“She doesn’t stop talking about you.” Brayden rolls a speaker against the wall.
My cheeks catch fire as I realize I asked that. “Oh my god I totally didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
“Haha it’s chill. Delilah thinks you’re dope so don’t worry about it.” He looks up at me, “Can you help me get the extension cord across to the speaker over there?”
*
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